Scotland ends here. The Mull of Galloway is the southern tip of the Rhins peninsula, and the land runs out in cliffs some 260 feet high with the Irish Sea on three sides. It is a long way from Girvan — the far end of our Stranraer and the Rhins day trip — and worth every mile.
The lighthouse
The white tower was built in 1830 by Robert Stevenson, and it is still working. In season you can climb the 115 steps to the lantern room, and there is an exhibition of lighthouse history in the buildings alongside, along with engine demonstrations and, if you are lucky with the timing, the foghorn.
The site is run by the Mull of Galloway Trust as a joint venture with the Northern Lighthouse Board, RSPB Scotland and the coffee house. Entry to the lighthouse, exhibition and quarterdecks is by donation — you collect a ticket at the exhibition and give what you think it is worth. The 2026 season runs from the end of March to the start of November, with the exhibition open daily, generally 11am to 5pm.
The RSPB reserve
The cliffs and heath around the lighthouse are an RSPB reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest — one of the smallest RSPB reserves in Scotland and one of the busiest for its size. Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, shags and black guillemots nest on the cliffs, with gannets passing offshore and choughs and peregrines about. There is a visitor centre with live camera footage from the cliff nests, and guided walks run through the season.
Ground-nesting birds breed here between April and mid-August, so dogs must be on short leads through that period. Barbecues are not permitted anywhere on the reserve.
Gallie Craig
The Gallie Craig Coffee House is built into the headland with a grass roof and a glass front, and is the most southerly café in Scotland. The terrace looks out over the rock it is named after, the lighthouse and the whole sweep of Luce Bay. Check its own hours, which are not identical to the lighthouse's.
The view
On a clear day you can see Ireland, the Isle of Man, the hills of Cumbria and the Galloway hills all at once — four countries' worth of coastline from one headland. It is exposed and it is almost always windy: take more layers than the forecast suggests.
Getting there
The Mull is about 130 miles round from Girvan and needs the best part of a day. Fuel in Stranraer, not on the Rhins. It pairs with Logan Botanic Garden ten minutes north and Portpatrick for lunch. In winter most of it is shut, which turns the trip into a long drive for a view — check before committing.
