Cairnryan Harbour

Cairnryan Harbour is a roll-on ferry terminal on Loch Ryan in south west Scotland north of Stranraer. In World War II it was developed as an emergency west coast port facility, in case Liverpool or the Clyde ports were put out of commission by enemy action. Portpatrick at firstPortpatrick, on the western side of the Rinns, had long served as a port for a short sea route from Donaghadee in the north of Ireland. Since 1620 the route had been used for importing cattle and horses, and for the transfer of military personnel. Later mail transit for the Post Office mails developed, by 1838 8, 000 to 10, 000 letters passed through the port daily, brought by coach from both Dumfries and Glasgow. However the small harbour was cramped and exposed to westerly winds. Although Government funding had been promised for improvements space for substantial expansion was limited. Also the development of more attractive alternative routes, in particular from Holyhead to Kingstown, (renamed Dún Laoghaire) led to a loss of commitment to Portpatrick. Next StranraerIn 1857 the Portpatrick Railway was authorised, its primary objective was to connect Portpatrick and Carlisle for the carriage of mails, passenger and goods. When it became obvious that Portpatrick Harbour was not going to be improved, it concentrated on Stranraer as its ferry port. Stranraer is at the southern end of Loch Ryan; although the passage to Irish ports is longer, Stranraer was a more spacious and better-sheltered location, thus it became the dominant port for transits to northern Ireland.

Cairnryan Harbour is a roll-on ferry terminal on Loch Ryan in south west Scotland north of Stranraer. In World War II it was developed as an emergency west coast port facility, in case Liverpool or the Clyde ports were put out of commission by enemy action. Portpatrick at firstPortpatrick, on the western side of the Rinns, had long served as a port for a short sea route from Donaghadee in the north of Ireland. Since 1620 the route had been used for importing cattle and horses, and for the transfer of military personnel. Later mail transit for the Post Office mails developed, by 1838 8, 000 to 10, 000 letters passed through the port daily, brought by coach from both Dumfries and Glasgow. However the small harbour was cramped and exposed to westerly winds. Although Government funding had been promised for improvements space for substantial expansion was limited. Also the development of more attractive alternative routes, in particular from Holyhead to Kingstown, (renamed Dún Laoghaire) led to a loss of commitment to Portpatrick. Next StranraerIn 1857 the Portpatrick Railway was authorised, its primary objective was to connect Portpatrick and Carlisle for the carriage of mails, passenger and goods. When it became obvious that Portpatrick Harbour was not going to be improved, it concentrated on Stranraer as its ferry port. Stranraer is at the southern end of Loch Ryan; although the passage to Irish ports is longer, Stranraer was a more spacious and better-sheltered location, thus it became the dominant port for transits to northern Ireland.