Stranraer Tourist Information

The town of Stranraer has largely been thought of only as a ferry port in recent times. However, it used to be part of the Grand tour of Europe and is a wonderful place to visit.

Situated at the head of the beautiful Loch Ryan, Stranraer is the perfect centre for today's active holidaymaker. Surrounded by 4 golf courses the town boasts several great attractions:

• Wonderful sub-tropical gardens
• Leisure centre
• Theatre-cum-cinema
• Sea diving
• Walks along quiet country lanes
• Scenery made famous by the television show '2000 acres of Sky'

The people of the town are very welcoming, many being of Irish decent. The new marina currently being built is part of the town's return to its heritage - In the 1840s the town had an enormous regatta on the loch. Today, we have water skiing on the summer weekends in the harbour.

There are now a number of events that take place in the town such as:

• The Garden Festival
• The Half Marathon
• The Fishing Festival
• The Model Aeroplane Club of Scotland's main event of the year
• Carriage Driving Trials
• The Summer Agricultural Show
• The food weekend

For the children, there is a wonderful park with a boating lake, miniature railway and a special section for the very young.

In summation,I have lived from Bordeaux in the south of France to the North West Highlands of Scotland and I have to say that I find this the most wonderful area in which to live, with its low crime rate, fantastic history and its beautiful scenery.

Description by Philip Miller