Kildrochet Cottage -Things to Do
Things to do
The South West of Scotland is popular with golfers and there are 3 golf courses extremely close to Kildrochet. For walkers, Port Partick, which is only 3 miles away, is the start of the Southern Upland Way and the peninsula has some beautiful coastal walks and sandy beaches. At the Ryan Centre in Stranraer there is a cinema and a large swimming pool, and for garden lovers there are number fantastic gardens with the Logan Botanic Gardens leading the way.For a lovely day out a visit to Port Patrick is a must with its lovely cafes, walks and some beautiful little shops.
Wining and Dining
Port Patrick
An 8 minutes drive (3 miles) away. It’s a very fun, picturesque harbour with lovely shops and some great places to eat. Along the harbour front, various restaurants and pubs have tables and chairs and when the weather is good people sit out to eat and drink and to take in the lovely sea views. Port Patrick is also an established centre for folk music, including a festival.
The Crown Tel: 01776 810261 info@crownportpatrick.com
The Crown sits a few yards from the waters edge overlooking Portpatrick’s historic harbour. The Crown has a long-standing reputation for good food and wine. It has a cosy lounge bar and outside seafront terrace offering and extensive array of fine food. It also has a stunning conservatory restaurant offering A la Carte dining. The Crown is renowned for its seafood (AA Awarded Seafood Pub of Scotland 2005).Campbell's Restaurant 1 South Crescent, Portpatrick, DG9 8JR, Wigtownshire, Scotland.01776 810314
Campbell's Restaurant www.campbellsrestaurant.co.uk is set in an enviable location on the seafront of Portpatrick, a picturesque village in south west Scotland. It was established by Robert & Diane Campbell in 1998, who, along with their excellent team of staff, have built up its renowned reputation for good food and service, making it a popular destination for local people and visitors also. From the extensive a la carte menu they offer a range of house specialties, including seafood and choice meat dishes, sourced from local produce as much as possible and there is a select wine list available to complement your choice of food.Port Logan
Has one pub that welcomes walkers and people who want to see the terrific sunsets over the sandy harbour. It’s a pretty port and the pub has an extensive menu.Stranraer
is within 3 miles of the cottage and has a number of excellent restaurants one of which is Aperitif, situated on dadada. It has a warm and friendly atmosphere and serves good quality food at reasonable prices. Also if you want some Chinese, dadada has a newly renovated restaurant and also does take-aways. As Stranraer is on the coast, if you fancy traditional fish and chips there are a number of small cafes and restaurants in the main street. Stranraer also has a ferry port with regular ferries to Belfast in Ireland, and a few miles further north Cairnryan has ferries to Larne in Ireland.Other restaurants in the area
Clansman Restaurant
The Clansman is situated in the square at the heart of Port William. Evening meals are their specialty.Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel
This romantic, award-winning restaurant caters to a wide variety of culinary tastes.Cream o' Galloway
Located at Gatehouse of Fleet, the visitor centre offers a fantastic adventure playground, covered straw play barn, cycle hire, ranger-led activities, nature trails, dog walk, picnic area, beautiful scenery, and a cosy tearoom with tasty home made snacks and fabulous ice cream!Downshire Arms
The cuisine at the Downshire Arms utilises only the highest quality produce sourced from local outlets, growers, fishermen and smokehouses.Gallie Craig Coffee House
Award-Winning Cliff Top Coffee House, providing a wide selection of delicious home baking and home made meals and snacks.Tigh Na Mara Hotel
The Tigh Na Mara Hotel is a comfortable welcoming hotel. The restaurant takes great pride in the quality of the cuisine. Their highly experienced chefs use fresh local seasonal produce and ingredients.Gardens
Castle Kennedy Gardens
These are the oldest and most beautiful gardens in south west Scotland. The gardens are particularly famous for the displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and embrothrims.Dunskey Gardens
An 18th century walled garden with working McKenzie and Moncur greenhouses is the focal point of these gardens.Glenwhan gardens
This plantsman's paradise, filled with exotic flora, is set in a unique location with spectacular views over Luce Bay.Logan Botanic Garden
Located at the south western tip of Scotland, Logan Botanic Garden is unrivalled as the country's most exotic garden. Because of the influence of the Gulf Stream, a remarkable collection of bizarre and beautiful plants flourish here, making this garden a plantsman's paradise.Golf Courses
Lagganmore Golf Club
This 18 hole golf course enjoys an elevated position overlooking Dunskey Castle and the North Channel.Portpatrick Golf Club
Portpatrick golf club has two courses. Set on the cliffs above the picturesque village of Portpatrick, Dunskey, an 18 hole course, has been described by Golf World as the best holiday course in the south of Scotland. Dinvin is a 9 hole undulating links-style course that will provide a challenge to golfers of all abilities.Stranraer Golf Club
Designed by James Braid and offering views to take your breath away, this fine course offers golfers an opportunity to play an unforgettable round.Wigtownshire County Golf Club
This 18 hole golf course on the shores of scenic Luce Bay is a true links course.Fishing
Charter a boat for a day's sea angling in the Irish Sea and off the Mull of Galloway.Portpatrick Charters - www.portpatrick.co.uk/charters.html
Silverline Fishing Trips
www.silverlinefishingtrips.co.uk/portpatrick.htmlDunskey Trout Lochs
www.dunskey.com/sporting.htmOnyer Marks Sea Fishing
www.seafishingscotland.co.ukKids Stuff
Cream of Galloway
www.creamogalloway.co.ukLocated at Gatehouse of Fleet, the visitor centre offers a fantastic adventure playground, covered straw play barn, cycle hire, ranger-led activities, nature trails, dog walk, picnic area, beautiful scenery, and a cosy tearoom with tasty home made snacks and fabulous ice cream!
Ryan Leisure Centre
www.stranraer.org/ryancentreThis four star leisure centre offers a range of facilities, including a leisure pool, sports centre, theatre with cinema facilities, health suite with sauna, steam room, spa bath, lounge bar and cafeteria.
Festivals
Portpatrick Folk Festival
Held each September, this three day festival celebrates folk music in the beautiful village harbour in Portpatrick.The Stranraer Show
Held each July, the Stranraer and South Rhins Agricultural Society's annual show promises a great day out for all the family.The Wickerman Festival
This two-day music and culture event, inspired by the 1970's cult movie of the same name, is held in deepest Galloway each July.Castle Kennedy Country Fair
Held in August each year, Castle Kennedy Country Fair and Scottish Carriage Driving Championships offers falconry displays, trade stands, craft fair, horses and much more.Other
Southern Upland Way
Whether you intend to walk coast to coast or keep to shorter routes locally in south west Scotland, this website provides comprehensive information to assist in the planning of your walking holiday.Galloway Forest Park
www.forestry.gov.uk/gallowayforestparkSouthwest Scotland, affectionately known as 'the highlands of the lowlands'; The wild beauty of Britain's largest forest park at three hundred square miles is waiting to be explored.
Forest, moorland and lochs rise to the rugged grandeur of mountains with names like The Merrick, Mullwharcher and the Rhinns of Kells.
Experience Galloway Forest Park with its host of features, from seashore to mountain tops and its outstanding variety of plants and animals.