Stranraer was the ferry port for Ireland for a century and a half, until the terminals moved up the loch to Cairnryan in 2011 and took the town's purpose with them. What has happened since is one of the more interesting stories in south-west Scotland: a community-led effort that has pulled in tens of millions of pounds of investment and set about turning a working harbour into a waterfront. It is not finished, and parts of the town still look tired, but the direction of travel is unmistakable — and for a visitor from Girvan it is a half-hour train ride to a proper town with free museums and a fine setting at the head of the loch.
In the town
- Stranraer Museum, in the Old Town Hall of 1776 on George Street, reopened in June 2024 after a full refurbishment. Displays cover Wigtownshire archaeology, farming and dairying, local life, and the Arctic explorer Sir John Ross, who was born on the Rhins. There is a collection of early Christian carved stones, and one of Scotland's oldest ploughs. Free, and generally open Tuesday to Saturday — check hours before travelling.
- The Castle of St John, a stubby 16th-century tower house in the middle of town that later served as a courthouse and a prison, including for Covenanters. Small, free and seasonal.
- The waterfront, where the old Harbourmaster's Building now houses a heritage exhibition on the piers, the ferry years and the Loch Ryan oyster fishery, with a listening station of local recollections.
- Agnew Park on the shore, with a boating lake, a miniature railway and play areas — the obvious stop with children.
Loch Ryan oysters
Loch Ryan holds Scotland's last remaining wild native oyster bed, fished under a royal charter dating back centuries. The Stranraer Oyster Festival, started in 2017 and run by the Stranraer Development Trust, has become one of Scotland's significant food events: three days in September around the harbour and marina, with a huge oyster bar, chef demonstrations, live music and the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships. In 2026 it falls on 11–13 September. Accommodation across the whole area gets tight that weekend, so book early — or stay in Girvan and take the train.
Around the town
- Castle Kennedy Gardens — three miles east, seventy-five acres between two lochs with a ruined castle, a walled garden and monkey puzzle avenues.
- Stranraer Golf Club at Creachmore on the loch shore — James Braid's last course design.
- Portpatrick, seven miles west across the Rhins, and the long run south to Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan and the Mull of Galloway.
Getting there
Thirty-one miles from Girvan, about 45 minutes by car on the A77. Better, Stranraer is the end of the railway line from Girvan — around 35 minutes, which makes it the easiest long day out from Girvan without a car. The town has supermarkets, a leisure centre with a pool, and plenty of places to eat. See our Stranraer and the Rhins day trip.
