Itinerary 1: A Coastal Adventure Day Out from Westview Cottage

This is one of our absolute favourite days out from Westview Cottage, and it is a route that never gets old. You are heading down the Rhins of Galloway peninsula, all the way to the most southerly point in Scotland, taking in some of the most spectacular coastal scenery you will find anywhere in the British Isles. Pack a jacket, charge your camera and prepare to be blown away.

The Route

From Port William you head north before turning south-west down the peninsula towards Stranraer and then following the road all the way down to the tip. This is a full day out, so we recommend setting off by around 9.30am to make the most of it. Breakfast at the cottage before you go is the perfect start.

First Stop: Port Logan Fish Pond

Your first stop heading down the peninsula is the wonderful Port Logan Fish Pond. This is one of those places that genuinely surprises people, and it is an absolute gem. It is a 200 year old natural marine fish larder, originally built for the local laird to keep fresh fish until he fancied them for dinner, and today it is one of the most unique visitor attractions in Scotland, rated 4.7 on TripAdvisor and a Travellers’ Choice award winner.

You can meet and hand feed lobsters, cod, rays, turbot, mullet, starfish and all sorts of other marine life up close. There is a small local history museum, a gift shop, a ladies Victorian bathing pool and a beautiful sandy beach right next door. It takes about 45 minutes to see everything, and it is brilliant for all ages. Parking is free and dogs on leads are welcome.

Open daily from 1st March, 10am to 5pm. Last entry 4.30pm. Tel: 01776 860606. Please note they may close early in bad weather, so it is worth checking their Facebook page on the morning of your visit.

Second Stop: The Mull of Galloway

Continue south to the Mull of Galloway, Scotland’s most southerly point and one of the most dramatic places you will visit anywhere. The lighthouse sits on clifftops with panoramic views stretching across to Ireland, the Isle of Man and back across Luce Bay towards Port William on a clear day. You can climb the 115 steps to the top of the lighthouse, visit the exhibition and experience the vintage engines and foghorn. The RSPB nature reserve surrounds the lighthouse with a beautiful clifftop walk and an abundance of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Allow a good couple of hours here, there is plenty to take in.

Lighthouse tours generally run from Easter to October. Check mull-of-galloway.co.uk for current opening times before you visit. Tel: 01776 840535.

Lunch: Gallie Craig Coffee House

Right next to the lighthouse sits the wonderful Gallie Craig Coffee House. It is a glass encased clifftop café with the most extraordinary views you will find over a sandwich and a bowl of soup. On a clear day you can see the coastline of Ireland and the Isle of Man, as well as back across Luce Bay towards home. The food is lovely, the setting is like nowhere else, and after a morning of fresh sea air you will have earned every bite. Tel: 01776 840558. Please note Gallie Craig is closed in winter and on some weekdays, so it is worth checking ahead before you visit.

Afternoon: Logan Botanic Garden

After lunch, head back up the peninsula to Logan Botanic Garden near Port Logan. Part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this is a stunning garden that benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, allowing exotic and unusual plants from around the world to thrive here in Scotland. It is a beautiful and peaceful place for a post-lunch stroll and a lovely contrast to the dramatic clifftops of the morning. Tel: 01776 860231. Check their website for current entry prices and opening times.

Optional Extra: Drummore Arts and Crafts Centre

If you still have energy on the way home, the village of Drummore is worth a quick stop. It is Scotland’s most southerly village and has a lovely community arts and crafts centre run entirely by local volunteers. Check their Facebook page before you go, as opening days vary. A lovely little find if they are open and a great place to pick up something locally made to take home.

Evening: Home to the Cottage

Head back to Port William for a relaxing evening at Westview Cottage. After a day of sea air, clifftop walks, extraordinary wildlife and stunning scenery, the sofa, the wood-burning stove and a glass of something cold will be very well earned!

Practical Tips

• Set off by 9.30am to make the most of the day
• Check opening times for the Mull of Galloway lighthouse and Gallie Craig before you go as both have seasonal hours
• Port Logan Fish Pond is open daily from 1st March, parking is free, entry is around £5 per person
• Logan Botanic Garden charges an entry fee, check their website for current prices
• Check the Drummore Arts and Crafts Centre Facebook page on the morning, as hours are irregular
• The roads on the Rhins peninsula are mostly single track with passing places. Take it steady, use the passing places correctly and enjoy the views
• Take binoculars if you have them, the wildlife spotting from the Mull is spectacular. See if you can spot Westview Cottage across Luce Bay from the lighthouse! Then when you get home, grab the cottage binoculars and see if you can pick out the lighthouse from the seafront. A little challenge to end a perfect day!