Stranraer
The port and town of Stranraer forms the main ferry link from Scotland to Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland.
Situated at the head of Loch Ryan in Dumfries & Galloway on the west coast of Scotland, Stranraer is the largest town in the south of Scotland.
The town’s history dates back 500 years. It was formed in 1511 following the building of Stranraer Castle, also known as St John’s Castle, which today houses a museum outlining the history of Stranraer.
By 1600, Stranraer had become an important market town with a ferry route to the main port of Ireland at Portpatrick. During this time Cattle drivers would use Stranraer as the main drove route between Scotland and Ireland. In the mid 1700s a harbour was built at Stranraer and over the next 150 years the port was established as a main ferry route between Scotland and Ireland.
Stranraer is quite an attractive town of pretty painted closely-knit buildings. The town has excellent train links from the ferry to and from the rest of Scotland and the port has regular ferry services to Belfast (1 to 3 hours) and Larne (1 to 2 hours).
