Portpatrick

Today's the day …………………….. to go to the end of the earth

We took a meandering trip westwards today along the outstretched arm of land that is the Mull of Galloway - until we ran out of land.

We made it to the village of Portpatrick just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.  That dark shape that you can see in the far distance is actually the coast of Northern Ireland, some 21 miles away.  Portpatrick is a lively little place with a variety of hotels, guesthouses, shops and other buildings set around the sandy, crescent-shaped harbour (see extra).  

According to that well-known source - in the 18th and 19th centuries, when Portpatrick was an important ferry port for passengers, postal mail and freight between Ireland and Scotland, the village was described as the Gretna Green  for Ireland. There was a daily packet boat from Donaghadee, and marriages for couples from Ireland were conducted by the Church of Scotland minister in Portpatrick.  Rumour has it also that the rules about the publication of banns or the required period of residence  were often overlooked. 

In fact it seems that happy couples could disembark, complete the ceremony, and be back on board within an hour...………………..