Oystercatcher, Isle Of Whithorn

01/01/2023

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year from Ozzie and all the Oystercatcher team. All the best for '23.

25/12/2022

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas - thank you for following us 😁

24/12/2022

Drink connoisseurs...

In Scotland, we sometimes have a wee dram, maybe even two 😁. So a cheeky visit to the local Bladnoch Whisky Distillery, Crafty Distillery for Hills & Harbour gin or try Alistair’s fine selection of beers and ales at Five Kingdoms Brewery. Maybe not all in one day though eh?! Please drink responsibly.

17/12/2022

Stargazers..

We have a world famous dark skies park to fascinate you - at the nearby Galloway forest park. Spotter scope or telescopes are handy optional extras.

Or head over to Kirkcudbright's Dark Space Planetarium - very cool...

10/12/2022

Music lovers…

I love rocking…and I also like rolling. A bit of boogying is also good. So if, like me you like to let your hair down, shake your stuff and dig some grooves….then here are a couple of local live music/gig websites / pages that might just be music to your ears!

https://www.smalltownsounds.co.uk/gig-listings/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/234712713217967/

Looking for a live music event in Dumfries & Galloway to go to? Here's a complete list of what is currently on offer across the region.

03/12/2022

Food lovers…

With tasty local produce on offer at farmer’s markets (see DG Markets for locations/dates), or farm shops e.g. Kilnford Farm Shop & Farmhouse Kitchen Cafe or great nearby cafes e.g. St Ninians Tearooms or ReadingLasses or more formal lunch/dining, e.g. the Steam Packet Inn Isle of Whithorn or The C**k Inn at Auchemalg – you could be like a Ferrero Rocher…and really spoil yourself!

26/11/2022

Walkers...

Immediately from Oystercatcher’s front door you have a terrific coastal and cliff walk. You can see a super variety of seabirds, grey seals, marine life, flora and fauna.

There are nearby forest walks, loch strolls, river meanders and much, much more besides….walk suggestions listed in our Oystercatcher welcome information pack

19/11/2022

Castle hunters…

Don your sword and suit of armour, ye hunters of castledom history!

Because we’ve got a few castle delights for you to see when you stay at the Isle…

Castle , Dunskey Castle , Carsluith Castle , Maclellan's Castle and many more....

And because our area is so tranquil…you’ll not need to joust your way in!

A holiday at the Isle is a citadel of happiness.

12/11/2022

Art lovers...

From the Gracefield Arts Centre to Broughton House and Garden in Kirkcudbright; from the Lighthouse Pottery to Harbour Cottage Gallery Kirkcudbright; from glass artists like KGR Glass Design to art classes at Margaret S Milligan Fine Art ; …..D & G has rich pickings for most discerning tastes!

We’ve even got The Queen's Arms Studio and Gallery just one door along from our lovely holiday cottage – specialising in local photography and paintings. Lots to inspire – c’mon over….and check them (and many more) out!

05/11/2022

Harbour lovers...

Donna's dad was a sea fisherman for most of his working life....and so when they went on holidays, he couldn't resist taking them to any harbours they might pass...just to have a wee look at the "fishing boots"!

His 3 lasses might well have preferred a shopping trip or horse riding instead, at that time, but when you grow older, you can look back on holiday memories with a new perspective. ;-)

So if you like a harbour or two, then we have a fair share of them in D&G - one within a short walk of Oystercatcher, Stranraer Harbour , Kirkcudbright Harbour , Portpatrick Harbour just to mention a few...

15/10/2022

Drink connoisseurs...

In Scotland, we sometimes have a wee dram, maybe even two 😁. So a cheeky visit to the local Bladnoch Whisky Distillery, Crafty Distillery for Hills & Harbour gin or try Alistair’s fine selection of beers and ales at Five Kingdoms Brewery.

Maybe not all in one day though eh?! Please drink responsibly.

08/10/2022

Fishermen & Women....

With sea bass, po***ck, mackerel, dogfish and many other varieties, you can either choose a beach, loch, river or boat fishing expedition.

Or pop a hook/bait/line in at one of the local harbours and hoist up a crab maybe? Fishing tackle shop/bait available locally.

01/10/2022

Paddlers.....

Kayakers, canoe-ers and other vessel skippers can enjoy stunning rocky coastal adventures to empty their heads of normal life and fill their lungs with the holiday scent of the seas.

Or explore a more placid loch and enjoy seeing swans, moor hens and much, much more. Please take care in the local water and make sure you plan carefully and stay within your comfort levels 😁

24/09/2022

Cyclists...

Yearning for quieter roads? Bonnie viewpoints? A variety of terrain choices, from level ground (for those looking to take things a bit easier) to challenging hill climbs - and a top coffee/cake stop (or two) en-route….then come to the region where we have a blessing of choices!

17/09/2022

Bikers.....

Come and check out our fabulous scenery whilst bagging the South West Coastal 300 renowned route. Or get your knees down on the twisties up the Dalveen Pass. Or a day tour around St Mary’s Loch (top biking road).

Adventure biker? Well what about a toot through the Raiders Road in the Galloway Forest National Park (Apr-Oct)...

Plenty o' fuel stops, cafe stops and p*e stop opportunities... more information available on request.

10/09/2022

Nature lovers...

If you’re like us, you love natural habitat, bird life (including red kites, eagles), Scottish wildlife, pollinators, flora, fauna, porpoises, seals and even a rare whale sighting.

If you are... then get in down to Oystercatcher and get out into our incredible environment. Maybe bring your binoculars and camera (and maybe a flask)?….

03/09/2022

In my spare tyre @$ #@ TIME (I mean...ahem...) I like to try to keep fit….well, after all, I’m getting on and the waistline seems to be increasing in line with time 🤣😆😝

So even though holidays should also be about cake, tasty food and maybe the odd tipple, I think a spot of exercise can keep the body and mind in harmony.

A stroll on the beach maybe; a coastal path jog...possibly; a swim (in the pool, sea, loch)...yeh, appealing!; a bike ride (say in Galloway forest or one of our many quiet roads)...mmm, sounds fun - or whatever you fancy.

If you need some more inspiration, before your perspiration, just give us a holler.

27/08/2022

Tower go-ers…

Ours, powers, showers, who doesn’t love Towers!

Never to be short in resources in D & G, have a tour to see Sorbie Tower, Drumcoltran Tower , Orchardton Tower or Neilson's Tower

Like Jimmy Cricket famously said…. "And there’s more" 😉

20/08/2022

Horsey lovers…

We owned a big ol’ cuddy called Ron, for the last 30 years, so, as you’d imagine, we’re very fond of them.

Having a wee canter, a lesson or full on gallop could well appeal to you, while you are holidaying with us, at the Isle.

Not too far away, you have a few choices, including: Three Lochs Riding Stables (https://www.threelochsridingstables.com/), Barstobrick Riding Centre & Brighouse Bay Trekking (https://brighousebaytrekking.weebly.com/index.html)

So giddyup, grab your jodhpurs, hat and you whinny look back!

13/08/2022

Meet Ozzie - our new mascot!

Hand drawn by our very skillful and talented friend Betty Collins.

You'll see his best side captured and framed (but not stuffed) in our hallway at Oystercatcher. Thank you Betty - we absolutely love it! 😁🥰

06/08/2022

Lighthouse lovers…

Lighthouses are champion! Pillars of strength. Out there in all conditions, facing down bad weather to warn seafarers of peril. They are mysterious and create curiosity – wondering about the goings on and how many lives they may have saved….

About 30 minutes from Oystercatcher is Killantringan Lighthouse and then heading north from there, you have the tremendous Corsewall Lighthouse. Going south from there, there is the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse – tremendous views over to Ireland and Isle of Man. While you are there, you have the superb Gallie Craig café, again with stunning views.

And if you felt you still needed more….pop along back north to Port Logan where there is beautiful bay, a wee harbour and a lighthouse. Isn’t Dumfries & Galloway fabulous!

05/08/2022

Ice Cream lovers…

I know you can’t believe it - me neither – it’s summer. ;-)

And summertime calls for summer activities – and that can only mean one things….ICE CREAM :D!

And just by sheer frozen fortune, we have some tummy rubbing, frozen head tingling, satisfaction-quenching, ice cream makers in the region – praise be!

Near Gatehouse of Fleet, the superb Cream o' Galloway not only does an amazing sticky toffee pudding ice cream (my personal fav.) but you can then run around like a loony in their activity centre afterwards, to burn off the calories – just mind on not to knock the other kids over eh!

DRUMMUIR FARM ICE CREAM near Dumfries, have over deelish 21 flavours - all made nearby with their fabulous herd of milk-producing girly coo’s.

Rum ‘n’ Raisin is my top choice there or, if you’re brave (greedy), you could always do battle with a Drummonster!!

29/07/2022

Book lovers….

To be fair, you could not be in a better book lovers paradise-location than the Machars! The world famous book town of Wigtown has more book shops than you could shake a stick (a book shaped one) at!

So many books…and so little time to read them – unless you take a wee holiday at Oystercatcher.

There's the booktastic The Bookshop, the bibliotastic The Old Bank Book Shop, the hardbacktastic Well-Read Books of Wigtown Wigtown, the bookcakecoffeetastic ReadingLassesses where you can get a cracking coffee and amazing cakes!

Actually, I sit here exhausted after all those 'tastics I’ve just made up – phew! And I’ve only mentioned a fraction of the bookshops there!

And whatever you do, don’t miss the bookfestivaltastic annual Wigtown Book Festival.

Yes, we do know…you are spoilt for choice.

22/07/2022

Retail lovers (shopaholics)…

So, if we’re talking about a fuller day out shopping spree, you could tootle along to Caledonia Park, at Gretna (no need to get married while you’re there – unless you take a turn on the day!). You could get yourself a kilt made, in your favourite tartan, from the renowned Anderson Kilts, Dumfries.

And then there’s the fabulous Bladnoch Distillery where you can go for a tour and then buy a gift for him / her or even you! But if you were feeling earthly, you could always have a claytastic look around the Lighthouse Pottery at Portpatrick.

Need more suggestions….please get in touch.

15/07/2022

Family day out lovers....

Apart from being a serene and stunning seaside harbour village, Isle of Whithorn is close enough to some fabulous family day attractions.

Get the kids to make some chocolate at The Cocoabean Company, Twynholm – and then you could eat it. Take a journey into space and time at the amazing Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright. Or have an activity (and coffee & cakey) day out at Mabie-Farm Park or go mountain biking in the nearby Mabie Forest.

Plenty more to see and do, where those ideas came from…

08/07/2022

Castle hunters…

Don your sword and suit of armour, ye hunters of castledom history!

Because we’ve got a few castle delights for you to see when you stay at the Isle…

Cardoness Castle , Dunskey Castle, Carsluith Castle, Maclellan's Castle and many more....

And because our area is so tranquil…you’ll not need to joust your way in!

A holiday at the Isle is a citadel of happiness.

01/07/2022

Garden lovers...
Now.... just have a wee rest from pulling out your dandelions a moment. ;-)

When you come to stay at Isle of Whithorn, we have a bunch of stunning gardens you can visit locally, to give you some inspiration and temporarily stop some perspiration...

The stunning Logan Botanic Garden has a fabulous setting (and a top cafe), there's Galloway House Gardens at Garlieston, Glenwhan Gardens & Tearoom, Threave Garden and Estate ...to name but a few.

There so much to do, when you holiday at the Isle :D

24/06/2022

Escape from the bustle of everyday life...
Escape from travel delays, strikes and cancellations...

Swap hustle for chill...and come to gorgeous Isle of Whithorn and create some more fabulous holiday memories.

18/06/2022

Walkers...

Immediately from Oystercatcher’s front door you have a terrific coastal and cliff walk. You can see a super variety of seabirds, grey seals, marine life, flora and fauna.

There are nearby forest walks, loch strolls, river meanders and much, much more besides….walk suggestions listed in our Oystercatcher welcome information pack

11/06/2022

Food lovers…

With tasty local produce on offer at farmer’s markets (see Markets for locations/dates), or farm shops e.g. Kilnford Farm Shop & Farmhouse Kitchen Cafe or great nearby cafes e.g. St Ninians Tearooms or ReadingLasses or more formal lunch/dining, e.g. the Steam Packet Inn Isle of Whithorn or The C**k Inn , Luce Bay – you could be like a Ferrero Rocher…and really spoil yourself!