Portpatrick village is on the extreme south-westerly tip of mainland, cut into a cleft in steep cliffs. Anciently known as Portrie (Port Rhin), its quay was protected by baron of Dunskey (dun meaning castle; key meaning quay) Castle and his local men. When being invaded, the fishermen and their families probably scrambled up the cliffs to Dunskey for protection.
Dating back some 700 years and built adjacent to the ruins of nearby Dunskey Castle, Portpatrick's position on the Rhins of Galloway affords visitors views of the Northern Irish coast 21 miles to the west, with clifftop walks and beaches both north and south. The Gulf Stream, flowing in from the north, gives the coastline a pleasant climate, in which subtropical plant life can flourish.
It has a Community Council, and a hugely-popular annual Life Boat Week, featuring parades, activities, and a firework display.
There are bowls clubs, a very active golf club (Dunskey), many guesthouses and hotels, and rustic public houses. The village is also home to a mini putting course.
To the north of the village is the starting point of the scenic Southern Upland Way walking route to Cockburnspath on the east coast. The Portpatrick Hotel, built in 1905 and extended in 1907, sits on the cliffs above this point.
An informative audio tour of Portpatrick can be rented from the Post Office. Commentary is offered at twenty-one points around the village, with additional historical information and interviews available as well.
