The seaside harbour town with the haunted road.
Stranraer is a strange place. The Scots both love it and fear it. Why? Back in 2013, the A75 Kinmount Straight road became Scotland’s most famous haunted road. Asides from that, the Scots clans of old had to travel miles upon miles over fields and through forests just to get there. Stranraer is remote, windswept, and absolutely worth the trip on a sunny day.
As usual, we are ready to pour our wee hearts into creating a tour guide for travellers heading to the south of Scotland. Here is everything you need to know about Stranraer before you visit, in one place. Aren’t we good to you?
The Early History of Stranraer
The history of Stranraer begins with Clan Kennedy. The clan built Castle Kennedy in the 1400s, leading many of the clan members to live in the area surrounding it. Scottish castles were like keeps back then. There would be the castle, and then surrounding it there would be a courtyard area. People would trade, work, and live, inside the courtyard walls for safety reasons. Usually, the only people the Scots had to hide from were the other Scots.
Clan Kennedy are originally from Ulster, thought to be descended from Duncan of Carrick. The clan crest displays a dolphin and the clan motto is Avise La Fin, which means “consider the end”. As early as 1360, John Kennedy owned lands in Dunure, which is further north along the same stretch of coastline that Stranraer graces.
John’s son Gilbert was a captive for three years, held hostage by King David II for being anti-English. His son became Lord Robert Kennedy, despite being in trouble with the British crown. Back then, if you weren’t in trouble with the British crown, you weren’t doing things right.
The third Lord Kennedy was named David and he died at the Battle of Flodden fighting for Scottish Independence… which is by no means a modern concept. The oldest clans among us know that the English will never let us go and that is the sad end of the matter. The Lord’s Kennedy died for a cause the Scots still don’t have. If that’s not sad, we don’t know what is. You can read more about clan Kennedy here.
In 1511, locals built the Castle of St. John. This medieval tower house has seen use as a prison, a country home, an estate, and a military garrison. It was originally constructed by Clan Adair of Kinhilt. The Adairs were first recorded in Galloway, in Wigtown, where Stranraer lies. Historians believe that the Adairs first came to the UK with William the Conqueror. There is another rumour that they are descended from a rogue Irish king. You can learn more about Clan Adair here.
In 1595, the crown made it official and gifted the Clashant of Stanrawer to the clan Adair for their service. By the 1600s, it had become the largest market town in the area and the second-largest settlement in the Dumfries and Galloway regions.
The Middle Ages
In 1596, Stranraer became a burgh of a barony, which basically means that it was able to rule itself instead of being ruled by the crown. In 1617, Stranraer became a royal burgh instead, meaning it was back in the hands of the crown. Why they swapped, we can only guess.
In 1716, Castle Kennedy was destroyed by a vicious fire. The castle was still seeing use as a garrison at the time. The Field Marshall was due to return from his diplomatic positing and the staff aired out his bed sheets. Somehow the castle caught fire, meaning the bed sheets were all that was left undamaged. You can still visit the ruins of Castle Kennedy to this day.
Fun Stranraer Trivia
We do like to dig up a few weird facts so that you can talk about the town if you’re invited to a party. In this case, we collated some of the best gossip we could find – but let’s be fair about this. You already know about the haunted part. Some of the best Stanraer facts include:
- The A75 has had more supernatural reports than any other road in the country according to a 2013 BBC news story. Wild cats and hens were seen attacking vehicles. In several reports, lorry drivers sleeping in lay-bys spotted bedraggled groups of ancient travellers pushing carts.
- Stranraer is the gateway to the Rhins of Galloway. This interesting geological site is a hammerhead peninsula which stretches more than 25 miles.
- Stranraer, Scotland, has a Wikipedia entry calling it Stanrawer. This is probably due to the fact that nobody knows how it is pronounced. It’s Stan-ra-er, FYI. If you’re adding in a “w” you’re probably too posh to go there.
- The railway arrived across Britain in the 1840s. It didn’t reach Stanrawer until 1861.
- Another last-to-arrive award goes to the football team.
- Although inside Dumfries and Galloway, Stranraer is in Galloway. The two counties are small and so merged as a council authority. Dumfries is the top one, Galloway the bottom.
- Stranraer FC didn’t get floodlights in their stadium at Stair Park until 1981. The poor guys were playing in the dark.
Let’s move away from football in the dark and get back to the history of this lovely wee port town. The Industrial Revolution didn’t hit Scotland as hard as it hit England. Nevertheless, there was still growth during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Industrial Revolution?
Stranraer might have become a royal burgh in 1617, but before that, it was the port everyone left from to travel to Ireland. The kings of England took part in the ‘Plantation of Ireland’ and sent many of their noble families over to Northern Ireland to rule it. It could be that the masses of ghostly carriages that keep getting reported on the A95 are from this period. The town upgraded the small port to an official harbour in the 1820s.
This is just about as industrial as the town got. Scotland missed the massive potential for industrial growth that England gained at about the same time. In 1776, the Old Town Hall opened for the first time. It has long since seen conversion into the Stranraer museum.
In 1862, the council built a train line directly to the harbour. It became the biggest port town in the area. Although the busiest port in the region for over 150 years, most ferries to Ireland run from nearby Cairnryan now.
In 1811, the recorded population of Stanraer was 1,923 people. It hasn’t grown all that much since. The Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press began in 1844 with the first Stranraer Academy following a year later. The ferry service and railway both arrived in 1861. The harbour received its own station the following year. The football club opened for the first time in 1870 and it’s still going strong. By 1881, the population of Stranraer was 3,455 people. The first modern creamery opened in 1899.
Modern Day Stranraer
In 1942, Winston Churchill flew from Stranraer to America in a Boeing plane. In 1951, the town’s population was 8,618. In 1953, the Princess Victoria sank in the North Channel killing all 135 souls on board. The Captain decided to set sail despite a gale warning, since Loch Ryan is sheltered it wouldn’t have seemed so bad. The wrong type of doors was fitted on part of the boat that was exposed to the sea. The doors opened, the ship flooded, and all the souls on board died. Since the gale was so bad, the rescue mission was thwarted several times. In the end, passing boats responded to their SOS calls, too late.
In 1975 the burgh was abolished and Wigtownshire became part of the Dumfries and Galloway region. The Local history trust was set up in 1998.
21st Century
In 2004, the town’s population was about 10,600 people. In 2006, the town opened a hospital called the Galloway community hospital.
Modern Stranraer is beautiful at its best and bleak at its worst. There isn’t a whole lot to do here if you are stuck waiting on a ferry. You won’t find a café at the terminal and you probably don’t want to hang around outside if it’s cold. Nowadays, most of the ferry business goes through Cairnryan and even some of now that has stopped thanks to P&O. The ending of the ferry terminal could spell potential disaster for this seafaring community. After all, they have depended on trade from Ireland for hundreds of years. It is a shame to see that trade dwindle.
Famous People from Stranraer
Now that we have broken down the history into bitesize portions, let’s discuss the famous faces in Stranraer. Who might you run into when you are out for your morning jog? Who does that private yacht in the harbour belong to? Here are the most famous names to come out of Stranraer:
- Lots of footballers, including Jamie Adams, Callum Booth, Frank Coulston, Alex Biggam and more.
- Scottish Curling champion Naomi Brown
- Thomas de Courcy Hamilton, winner of the Victoria Cross
- British Naturalist John Stewart of Nateby Hall
- And John Ross, a Royal Navy captain.
OK, so it’s not central London, but there’s still lots to see and do, even if there aren’t many celebrities. Besides, you never know who might be catching a ferry in nearby Cairnryan and stops to get Costa at the garage.
Best Things To See and Do in Stranraer
When you do decide to drive the haunted road up or the Ayr Coastal Route down to Stranraer, here are the best things you should see and do there before you leave. Take a gander, you might even be able to squeeze some of them in before you catch your boat.
Historic Sites and Landmarks
There is plenty to visit but the ones below are top of our list
The Castle of St John
Image: Stock for you/Shutterstock.com
Both a local landmark and historic site, the redeveloped Castle of St. John is open for visiting. The Adairs built the castle all the way back in the 1500s and it still stands to this day. The castle is an L-plan shape, reworked in the 16th century into the style of that time. The castle is sometimes referred to as Stranraer Castle, even though the original Stanraer castle belonged to Clan Kennedy and burned down later. The castle was one of the most important in the area, being Wigtownshire’s protection, garrison, and fort throughout the ages.
Kirkmadrine Chapel
Image: AndrewJS/Shutterstock.com
One of the most interesting things you can see and do in Stranraer is taking a trip to see the Kirkmadrine Stones. These early Christian stones are similar to a stone circle but have been in place since the early 500s. Some of the memorials on the stones date to two hundred years later. They are a fine example of early sculptures attributed to Christian followers.
The existence of these stones means Christianity spread far faster and farther than anyone could have guessed. When first discovered, the stones baffled scientists everywhere, who assumed it would have taken much longer for Christianity to spread to British shores.
Stranraer Harbour
Stranraer Harbour is a local attraction you should look out for. There are small boats, fishing vessels, and the odd posh yacht to spot. Remember that Stranraer is a deep water port so there will always be a danger of falling in. The harbour has a small marina and is situated at the heart of Loch Ryan. Loch Ryan is a deep-sea loch, which gives Stanraer its ability as a port.
Galleries and Museums
Stranraer does have its own museum. The museum is inside the old building that once housed the Town Hall. The historic building was first erected in 1776 but was later converted into a museum of sorts. The museum holds the history of Wigtownshire, not just the history of the town itself. The exhibits feature several 3D photographs of the town through the ages, as well as information on the many special people that have lived there over the years.
Although Stranraer Museum has a small number of paintings and artwork on show, it’s not the best gallery in town. If you want to browse fine paintings or potentially buy something to take home with you, check out the Mull of Gallery or the Gallery at Arndale House, instead. Both have ample choice in paintings for you to take home and enjoy.
Outdoor Attractions
Castle Kennedy Gardens are a rare treat for those that like flowers. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of the hills of Galloway, this stunning stately home has its grounds set out into beautifully tended gardens. Enjoy the flower beds and the rhododendron, daffodils, and Loch Ryan beyond. Billed as a hidden Scottish treasure, the gardens have a trail you can follow and run several events throughout the year. There are even holiday cottages for hire within the gardens, should you feel inspired.
Fany A Bit of Twitching
A second favoured outdoor attraction is the RSPB sanctuary found at Mull of Galloway. This sanctuary is home to countless varieties of wild birds which roost along the harsh craggy cliffs there. This is a protected area that you can pay to visit, or that you can have a walk-through for nothing. We do encourage clients to spend freely though since anything you do pay towards the RSPB goes back into protecting places just like this in the UK. This RSPB sanctuary is one of the southernmost in Scotland and reportedly feels just like an island.
There is a third set of gardens you can visit as an outdoor attraction in Stranraer. The Dunkey Estate is a country house which has amassed a huge variety of flowers over the years. Nowadays, the owners have so many plants that they open to the public to show them off. Be a good sport and go and see them.
Sports and Recreation
Stranraer Football Team opened in 1870 and is still in play today. They still play at Stair Stadium, too, where you can catch either a game or a show. Stranraer FC was playing without floodlights till 1981, so they all eat carrots every meal.
Since Stranraer is a Scottish town, there is a golf course. There are usually three golf clubs within striking distance of any Scottish town, but Stranraer is the remote exception. The course has 18 holes and a clubhouse, as well as sea views and all the wind you could ask for. Enjoy.
Shopping and Retail
There aren’t any large-scale shopping centres or malls in the Stranraer area. Unfortunately, there aren’t any big shopping centres until you reach Dumfries or Ayr, equally about fifty miles away to the south or north respectively. However, Stranraer town centre has its own M & Co, its own Dunns store, and its own Peacocks. When you have those three stores, you can always pick up a dashing outfit or party frock. Stick close to the town centre and promenade and you should find all the shops that you need.
Where to Eat and Drink?
There are loads of nice places to eat and drink in Stranraer. They have a long history of catering to folks that are fresh off the boat. Check out Lando’s Restaurant or the Driftwood Restaurant for a sit-down meal. If you want a pint with your grub, opt for Papa Rab’s Restaurant and Bar, instead. You can get a great kebab at the Istanbul Pizza and Kebab House in the town centre, too.
Can I Party in Stranraer?
You can party anywhere if you try hard enough. Plus, it’s Scotland. You can order takeaway alcohol over the phone. In Stranraer, there’s a pub that’s simply called “the Pub”, because this is Scotland and this area is quite remote. You can choose to drink at the Grapes, in Chasers, or at the Custom House. There are more places to drink in Stranraer than there are places to eat… but as we said, it’s Scotland. Other cultures’ children get time to grow up, we’re all drinking in the swing parks from fourteen…
Other Notable Attractions
We may have exhausted things to see and do in Stranraer itself, but it’s just one location along a coastline with some gorgeous, stunning, and breath-taking scenery. Here are other things you ought to make time for while you are in the south of the country:
- Take the kids to Agnew Park for a play.
- Visit the Collector’s Cabinet, an antique shop
- Take a trip out to Stoneykirk to the Aviation Museum and learn about planes
- Visit the Ryan Centre which has a local pool
- Go to the Green Valley Golf Academy and learn how to improve your shot
- Browse the coastal route north until you hit the Maidens, a lovely geological masterpiece with plenty of caves to explore.
- Have a pint in the Stranraer FC Fitba Bar while you are in town
You can have a great time in Dumfries and Galloway. Before you go, though, you need some directions. Maybe we will see you there, or on the A75, sometime.
How To Get To Stranraer
We couldn’t possibly send you off without loose instructions on where you are going. Let’s review how you can get to this lovely, remote, slightly ghost-y town.
By Road
Take the A95 north or follow the Galloway Coastal Route south.
By Rail
You are looking for Stranraer train station, usually from Glasgow but potentially from Dumfries.
By Air
The nearest airport is Prestwick International Airport. Elvis landed here once when he visited Scotland on a stopover.
By Sea
You are in a port town. Look for Stranraer harbour for moorings.
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