The Isle of Whithorn is not actually an island, although it was once. It was connected to the mainland back in 1790 by what is now the harbour and it’s buildings. It is famous for its connection with St. Ninian the first saint to bring christianity to Britain around AD320s.
The Isle of Whithorn is a beautiful harbour village at the bottom of the Machars peninsula and only 40 minutes from Otter Cottage. It used to be a major shipping port and a crucial trading link with Ireland. It is still used today as a fishing port however most of the boats are now yachts and sailing boats.
The Steam Packet Inn on the harbourside is the main pit stop for visitors. It is such a great location for chilling with a coffee or a pint. They offer really good food in the bar and restaurant and not surprisingly they focus on seafood.
Alternatively if you don’t fancy a pub location St. Ninian’s Tearoom at the start of the village has great views across to the harbour and has a nice selection of cakes, teas and coffees and a good lunch menu too.
The medieval ruin of St. Ninian’s chapel sits to the back of the town past the harbour. The site dates back to 1100s but the current ruin was rebuilt around 1300s. If you wish to connect the dots then St. Ninan’s Cave is also just a 10 minute drive away over on the west coast and many of the original artifacts from the cave are available to view at the Whithorn Priory and Museum which is just 3 miles back up the road in Whithorn town.
The image above looks back across the harbour toward the Captains Garden. This is now a private residence but was once associated with the Isle of Whithorn Castle. This drone video by Alan Love gives a great view of what you can’t see from the road. It shows how the garden extends into the harbour itself but it also give a better idea of how the causeway was built adding the island to the mainland.
