Are you a fan of/do you live near the Rhins of Galloway??

[OfftoPenzance]

Hi All,

DH and I are spending a few days in May on the Rhins of Galloway, the double headed peninsula bit on the western side. We’re hopefully staying in or near Drummore, near the Mull of Galloway. We're driving. No DC.

I’ve read all the threads I can find about Galloway on MN, but most of them describe places on the east side of the county. Can anyone can tell me anything they particularly like about the Rhins? We like birds and nature, history, peace and quiet – that sort of thing!

How are the roads there and in western Scotland in general, at the moment? I tried to ask DCousin about the pothole situation locally, but she just sent me a photo of an unblemished section of the A77 near where she lives, and implied I was being neurotic. Are Scottish roads really all like that?!?

I understand the weather is warmer than in other parts of Scotland, but a bit wet. Is it drier on the east side of the Rhins than the west, perhaps?

Can anyone say how much time should we allow to drive from Drummore to Glasgow Airport on a Monday, to get to GA in time for a 4.10 pm flight?

Unfortunately we only have a couple of days this time, and can’t walk too far due to DH’s recent cancer treatment, but we can have a look round and then go back again in the future.

NB I’ve received some very useful advice from Mumsnetters about a couple of other places we’ve visited, so this time I promise I’ll come back to this thread after I return to let you know how we got on!

Many thanks,

The A77.. certainly better than any of the roads near where I live!

We have never made it to the far west end

Our recent attempt - the potholes were the final straw in a bit of a disaster trip

We could tell where the D&G border was because of the deteriorating roads - although I gather they did get budget to do serious repairs

And I suspect the roads get somewhat smaller

Emmm...look up the fb page a77 campaign team...many many aspects of the road are shitty pothole sites!!

Gorgeous area, Portpatrick, Port Logan, Mull of Galloway, Logan Botanic Gardens, Galloway Forest Park. I'd allow 2.5 hours from Glasgow Airport.

Nothing helpful to add other than my most positive thoughts and best wishes for your husband’s treatment 💞

Sorry small person shrieking distracted me, it's a lovely area, there's the dark sky park in the Galloway forest, Culzean Castle to go visit and lots more! Know surrounding area well!

Logan Botanic garden is lovely. Port Logan Fish pond is wonderful for a visit too. The area is lovely and peaceful. Definitely drive up to the mull of galloway lighthouse, the views are fabulous. Portpatrick is also lovely but about 35 minutes drive from Drummore.

Drummore is a lovely little village , it has a little harbour and a few pubs including the Ship Inn serving home baking and they have sea shanty singer nights.
The road out to Drummore from Stranraer is mostly great , all standard one lane each side type road.
However after Ardwell there are a few twisty areas to keep an eye out for.
The potholes are no worse than any other rural areas. Just be vigilant.
If you continue on out after Drummore out the Mull of Galloway lighthouse , the road becomes single lane with passing places , however the condition is very good right out until the lighthouse , tarmac all the way .
The cliff edge views and walks at the lighthouse are spectacular, especially on a clear summers day.
The views down at the Rhins of Galloway area are all wonderful.
Port Logan is a little bay where you can park and walk along a stone pier to an old tiny lighthouse.
The circular sheltered bay at port Logan is great for going into the water , lots of people paddle board here and it’s popular with families and dog walkers.
Take a picnic though as there are no food establishments at all.
It takes us just over two hours to drive from Drummore to Prestwick so I would allow a good three hours to get to Glasgow Airport to allow for any traffic on the motorway etc.
The photo your cousin has sent you is in Ayrshire looks like between Ayr and Kilmarnock on the M77 , when you get down to Stranraer and head out to Drummore etc it is nothing like this , it’s single lane each side from Ayr onwards so not a realistic picture of where you are going at all.
The drive down is lovely and scenic , mostly coastal roads once you leave the two lane M77 type road .
Enjoy your holiday , it’s a beautiful area of South West Scotland that we have visited for many years.
Weather can never be predicted in South West Scotland sadly , we have had hot summers and rainy waterproof wearing summers !

I've known that area for nearly 50 years and it's beautiful. I live in Shropshire and the roads on the Rhins are in much better condition than the rubble I drive on down here.
My favourite places are Portpatrick, Dunskey Castle,, Mull of Galloway, Killantringan and Corsewall lighthouses, Sandhead (eat at the Tigh Na Mara), Port Logan (especially the fishpond and the ladies' bathing house, and the tiny lighthouse but it quite often smells of wee inside), and just parked up in the layby at Cairnryan watching the ferries and the birds. Kirkmadrine Stones are worth a visit as is a stroll to the Agnew Monument near Leswalt. If you're at all nerdy, there's an unmarked building just off the Hush Hush road between Portpatrick and Portospittal that was where early microwave technology was tested in top secret during WW2. Google will help you find its history and location.
If you head east slightly and across the isthmus, Galloway Forest Park, Wigtown (Scotland's Book Town) and Whithorn are lovely. Go north to Culzean Castle and enjoy the views of Ailsa Craig on the way up.
Only a few months till I'll be up there again - it's what keeps me going during the dark months.

And yes, be prepared for all weather. I've been there in snow in April and have got sunburn in October.

Thank you all. So useful! Of course I've googled the Rhins of Galloway and come up with some interesting articles, but nothing like the detail given here.