news and details about events in and around portpatrick,
dumfries & galloway and south west scotland
Stranraer Museum 16 October - 4 November
Mapping Galloway - A fascinating collection of maps from the 17th century to the modern day which chart Galloway`s changing landscape.
Swallow Theatre near Whithorn 30 September
Low Pay? Don`t Pay - performance by Belfast`s Bruiser Theatre 2.30pm
Stranraer Museum 30 September - 9 October
Order of St John - Annual exhibition of paintings. ceramics and sculptures by Galloway artisits. Held to raise funds for local palliative care. All works are for sale.
Wigtown Book Festival 24 September to 3 October
A 10 day literary celebration with Scotland`s National Book Town.
Highlights include:-
24 Sept Ian Rankin
25 Sept Margo MacDonald , Val McDermid
26 Sept Alasdair Gray , Phyllida Law , Allan Massie
27 Sept Irma Kutz , Petrt Stanford
28 Sept Anne Lorne Gillies
29 Sept Anna Paaternak , Jim Crumley, Bladnoch Distillery Session
30 Sept Barbara Trapido , Andy Goram
1 Oct Martin Bell , Poems at Cruggleton Church
2 Oct Barbara Dickson , Sally Magnusson , Iain M Banks , Ronald Frame
3 Oct Charles Jencks , John Byrne , Kathrtn Schultz
Why not stay at Rickwood House B&B, Portpatrick during your visit to Wigtown Book Festival. www.portpatrick.me.uk
Portpatrick Folk Festival - First Weekend in September
Annual folk festival in Portpatrick from Friday 3 September - Sunday 5th. Concerts, sessions and fun all weekend.
Galloway Wood Festival 29 August
At Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Newton Stewart 10am -4pm
Falconry displays, puppet shows, chain-saw carving.forestry machinery plus various outdoor pursuits. At all Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart , South West Scotland.
Portpatrick Golf Club 28 August
Open Golf Competition at this spectacular golf course near Rickwood B&B
Stranraer RLNI Park Fest 21 August
Music all day in Agnew Park Stranraer in aid of RNLI. Includes The John Beattie Band ( ex Scotland Rugby team) and many others form 12 noon until late. Also fun fair, craft stalls and more.
Portpatrick Farmers Market 22 August
Sales of local produce in Portpatrick Village Hall 1pm-4pm
Portpatrick Dance 21 August
Dance in Portpatrick Village Hall. Live band playing 60`s &70`s music in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
The Crown Hotel Portpatrick - 14 August
The ever popular Life o Reilly
The Crown Hotel Portpatrick - 13 August
Stranrer`s Jim Hamilton
Meteor Shower above Portpatrick 12 August
From 11pm onwards - weather permitting (free)
Castle Kennedy Gardens near Stranraer host Pride & Prejudice. August 10, 2010
Chapterhouse Theatre present Pride & Prejudice in the gardens at Castle Kennedy by Stranraer. Performance starts at 7pm and the gardens will be open form 5pm for pre-performance picnics
Castle Kennedy & Gardens box office no is 01581 400255. Why not stay at Rickwood Guest House/ B&B in Portpatrick while visiting Castle Kennedy Gardens.
Wigtown Agricultural Show August 4
Something for all ages at this popular annual event in Wigtown
Portpatrick Lifeboat Week August 1-7
Annual Event organised by RNLI includes mock rescues, various events during the week and a bonfire and fireworks on the final night
Sunday 1 - Rib Raid, Service at Harbour - Live Music outside the Crown - Cabaret Dinner (tbc)
Monday 2 - Race night - Kiddies sports
Tuesday 3 - Ladies Golf at Dunskey Golf Club- Fun run - Wheelie Bin Race - Car Treasure Hunt
Wednesday 4 - Mens Golf - Pet Show - Family Quiz - Crown Hotel Music Evening
Thursday 5 - Coffee Morning - Greasy Pole - Fun Putting - Harbour House Hotel Quiz Night
Friday 6 - Sandcastle Competition - Fancy Dress - Raft Race - Dance (Rickwood Guest House are joint sponsors of the Portpatrick Race)
Saturday 7 - Coastguard Cliff Rescue - Combined Exercise - Wheel of Fortune - Balloon Race - BBQ - Bonfire & Fireworks
Stranraer Cattle Show 28 July
Entertainment, food & refreshments as well as livestock
Castle Kennedy Gardens nr Stranraer - Beauty & the Beast July 24
Open - air theatre at Castle Kennedy Gardens presented by Chapterhouse Theatre Company
Portpatrick Farmers Market 18 July
Sales of local produce in Portpatrick Village Hall 1pm - 4pm
Crown Hotel, Potpatrick Harbour July 16 & 17
Jim Hamilton from Stranraer on Friday Night and on Saturday Night, the Life o Reilly
Portpatrick Vintage Truck Rally July 10 & 11
A large number of vintage trucks and other vehicles arrive in Portpatrick on the Saturday afternoon and park overnight in the village. They all leave about 10 am on the Sunday morning which is quite a spectacle! Life o Reilly are also performing at the Crown Hotel in Portpatrick on Saturday evening www.myspace.com/lifeoreillyportpatrick
Crown Hotel, Portpatrick Friday July 2
The ever popular Life o Reilly sing and play music from traditional to Van Morrison and all points in between
Stranraer Museum , Stranraer 26 June - 25 September
A collection of curiosities including witch stones, cat-boiling troughs, plus a peek at some of Wigtownsire`s stranger nooks and crannies.
Crown Hotel Portpatrick Friday 25 & Saturday 26 June
Jim Hamilton, popular guitarist & singer from Stranraer - Friday
Life o Reilly- local band play mainly traditional/folk with a few extras!
Portpatrick Farmers Market 20 June
Local produce in Portpatrick Village Hall 1pm - 4pm
Castle Kennedy Gardens near Stranraer - Teddy Bears Picnic Party June 19
The first Teddy Bear`s Picnic Party to be held at Castle Kennedy gardens near Stranraer. Children bring their favourite Teddy Bear along with a picnic and enjoy all the Teddy Bear Games on offer all day. There will also be a competition.
Portpatrick Junior Golf Festival 12 & 13 June
Crown Hotel Portpatrick 11 June
Walk down to the harbour side and listen to the ever popular Life o Reilly from 9.30pm free
Stranraer Museum 22 May - 19 June
West Fest presents "Global View"
Stranraer half marathon 5 June
Crown Hotel, Portpatrick 4 June
Music with Life o` Reilly. The Crown Hotel in Portpatrick is only is only a few minutes walk from Rickwood House Hotel / B&B
Stranraer Ryan Centre 4 June
Mad about the Musicals - An award winning spectacular voted by many venues last year as on of the best shows in the UK visits Stranraer.
Craft Fair in Portpatrick Village Hall 30 May
Spring Fling 29 - 31 May throughout Dumfries & Galloway
Scotland`s Premier Art & Craft Open Studios Event throughout Dumfries & Galloway. Nearby locations include Portpatrick, Stranraer, Stoneykirk, Port William & Bladnoch, Wigtown
Crown Hotel Portpatrick 29 May
The ever popular Life O` Reilly
Stoneykirk Farmers Market 30 May
Locally sourced goods sold via local businesses to promote what the Rhins of Galloway has to offer. Stoneykirk Village Hall, near Stranraer 11.00 - 2.00
Stranraer Ryan Centre - Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Nicola Benedetti 27 May
Popular violin player from Ayrshire performs Vivaldi with one of Scotland,s top orchestras.
Glenwhan Gardens Dunragit nr Stranraer 16 May
Hog Roast to celebrate Garden`s 30th anniversary
Crown Hotel Portpatrick 14 May
Life O`Reilly 9.30 pm til late
Portpatrick Golf Club 8 May
Annual pro-am competition
Newton Stewart Walking Festival - Walkfest - 7-13 May
Walkfest, the Newton Stewart Walking Festival is the biggest walking festival in the South of Scotland. There are several walks each day, some days as many as 8 and range from moderate through moderate plus, strenuous and very strenuous. There are also evening events to enjoy.
Why not stay with us at Rickwood Guest House in Portpatrick while you are participating in the festival?
Cream o Galloway, Dawn Chorus Walk May 2 4.30am!!
Explore the different habitats of Cream O` Galloway listening to bird song as the birds mark their territories and look for a mate. Then back to the centre for sa light breakfast. Booking essential.
Wigtown Book Weekend 1 May
Wigtown (Scotland`s Book Town) is holding a "mini" book festival on Saturday 1 May.
There will be talks given at various locations in Wigtown, one of the highlights being the prizegiving of the Wigtown Poetry Competition where Liz Lochhead will give a talk and present the prizes.
In the evening, a performance of a play called Mr Darwin`s Tree takes place at the Swallow Theatre near Whithorn. The Swallow theatre is Scotland`s smallest theatre!
Why not make a weekend of it and stay for a few nights at Rickwood Guest House in Portpatrick.
Stoneykirk Farmers Market, 25 April
A wide range of locally sourced foods and crafts on display from 11am in the village hall, Stoneykirk near Stranraer
Stranraer Museum 24 April - 15 May
Spring Fling - a Taster Exhibition
Crown Hotel Portpatrick 24 April
Life O` Reilly 9.30 til late
Swallow Theatre near Whithorn 18 April 3pm
Two Little Pushkin Tales - a colourful & stylish show presenting two folk stories influenced by russian peasant life.
Crown Hotel Portpatrick - Life O` Reilly 10 April
Crown Hotel Portpatrick - Life O`Reilly 3 April
Walk down to the Crown Hotel at Portpatrick seafront to see the ever popular Life o` Reilly perform traditional folk and more contepmorary music from about 9pm until late.
Easter at Kirroughtrie, Galloway Forest Park 4 - 8 April
April 4 -Trails,quizzes.goodie bags,fancy dress competition, games and lots of fun. Bring a decorated egg for the egg rolling competition at 3.15 pm
April 7 - Up with the Lark, not the Grouse. Join the RSPB and Forrestry Commission Scotland for this special event at Loch Doon Car Park near Dalmellington
April 9 - Bats are Great! 6.30 pm at Glentrool Visitor Centre. Look at these stars of the night as they emerge from their daytime roost.
April 13 - Wildlife Recording Day 1.00pm Hunt to find and record as many plants and animals found in and around the park. Meet at Blairmount Car Park, Newton Stewart
Castle Kennedy Gardens - Easter Egg Trail 29 March - 5 April
Castle Kennedy Gardens, near Stranraer are holding an Easter Egg Trail. You follow the clues around the garden to wina large Easter Egg as well as a chance to wn a family ticket to an open-air matinee performance of Beauty & the Beast on Saturday 24 July at Castle Kennedy & Gardens.
Rickwood Guest House / B&B is an ideal base for you to stay whilst visiting Castle Kennedy.
Crown Hotel Portpatrick - Life o Reilly March 27
Excellent local group play a mix of traditional folk with some blues & rock thrown in for good measure.The Crown is within easy walking distance from rickwood (even on the way back!!)
March 2010 - All about Wild Geese
Wild Goose Chase takes place throughout March this year.This is a series of events organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council along with the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB, WWT & Castle Kennedy & Gardens.
14 March is an open day at Castle Kennedy Gardens run in association with Wild Goose Chase and is described as a Fun Day Out for All the Family. Good news is it`s free!!
21 March sees an event at Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve (LNR) This is a Wild Goose Chase Day with goose watching and activities throughout the day. This is also free!
Saturdays 20 & 27 March - Wigtown Bay LNR- Gaggle of Geese Dusk Walk. Free Celebrate sunset with the geese in the spectacular surroundings of Wigtown Bay. 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Sundays 21 & 28 March, 7.00 am. Wigtown Bay LNR Gaggle of Geese Dawn Walk Free. Celebrate sunrise with the geese in Wigtown Bay
B&B in Portpatrick Scotland