Referred to locally as ‘The Isle’, the Isle of Whithorn is designated an outstanding conservation area. The graceful crescent of shore and neat houses that make up the harbour presents a perfect spectacle in any camera’s viewfinder. Already in existence 1600 years ago, the community was at the very beginning of Scotland’s Christian history when Ninian, Scotland’s first missionary and saint, founded his church at Whithorn. The Isle Church itself, a former Free Kirk, stands prominent in defiance of the highest of tides. The Isle harbour, once the host of cargoes of coal, fertiliser and timber is now busy throughout the year with local boats fishing for crabs and lobsters, as well as catches of scallops brought in by the visiting Manx fleet. However, some of the best goes straight in through the doors of the award-winning Steam Packet Inn on the waterfront!
