Portpatrick (Dumfries and Galloway)

Lat:54.842 Lon: -5.121

Portpatrick is a village on to the extreme south-west of Dumfries and Galloway, dating back around 500 years.

From 1661 to 1849, Portpatrick harbour acted as the main ferry port for passengers, mail and freight between Ireland and Scotland.

In the late 19th Century, the village's exposed location and vulnerability to strong westerly winds made it unviable for larger ships. Most of the profitable trading routes were diverted to nearby Stranraer. The more sheltered inner harbour remains a home to the village's small fishing fleet.

Features of the area

• Coast
• Harbour
• Fishing
• Village

Dumfries and Galloway Group

Dumfries and Galloway is one of Scotland’s 32 unitary council areas. It was created in 1975 by uniting the historic region of Galloway to the County of Dumfries for the purpose of council administration.

To the north, the council borders South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire; in the east Scottish Borders; and to the south the county of Cumbria in England.

Elsewhere on the BBC

• BBC South Scotland

Elsewhere on the web

• Dumfries and Galloway local studies and archive
• Wikipedia entry on Portpatrick