East Challoch Farm holiday accommodation things to do

Wigtownshire is the perfect place for a relaxing break away from it all. But there is also plenty to see and do, ranging from historic attractions and museums to gardens, forests and coastal walks.

For keen golfers, there is a superb 18-hole links course situated on the shores of Luce Bay just a mile from East Challoch. Because of the mild climate brought about by the Gulf Stream, golf is possible here all year round. There are also excellent courses at Stranraer and Portpatrick.

The Royal Botanic Garden at Port Logan, just a 20-minute drive from East Challoch, is Scotland’s most exotic garden featuring many southern hemisphere plants which flourish in the warm Gulf Stream air. The gardens are open daily from March to October.

Other superb gardens include Castle Kennedy (three miles away), open April to September and Glenwhan Gardens, just a mile from East Challoch, which are open daily from March until October.

Logan Fish Pond and Marine Life Centre, around 20 minutes’ drive from East Challoch, is Britain’s most unique. The original pond was excavated out of solid rock in order to create a tidal pond from the Irish Sea in the 18th century, allowing fresh fish to be supplied direct from the sea to the then Lord of the Manor!

Visitors can feed the fish and view other marine creatures that are housed in a number of aquaria, touch pools and a cave aquarium.

Also 20 minutes’ drive away is the pretty harbour village of Portpatrick which boasts several good restaurants and small shops and is the starting point for the 210-mile long Southern Upland Way coast-to-coast walk.

Britain’s largest forest park, the Galloway Forest, is around 30 minutes’ drive from East Challoch. There are many forest trails for walking and cycling , a number of visitor centres and the world-renowned 7Stanes mountain biking trails.

Also within a 30-minute drive is Scotland’s Land’s End, the spectacular Mull of Galloway, which has an RSPB visitor centre, restaurant and a lighthouse which is open to the public at certain times. This is the most southerly point in Scotland which is on the same latitude as Sunderland in north-east England.

The historic abbey at Glenluce (10 minutes’ drive from East Challoch) is also open to visitors and is maintained by Historic Scotland.

In nearby Stranraer (10 minutes from East Challoch) is a range of shops and services. The town also has a museum charting the history of the area and Agnew Park on the banks of Loch Ryan which has a children’s adventure park, boating lake and miniature railway.

The area also has a number of unspoilt beaches to enjoy.