Isle of Whithorn Castle

About Isle of Whithorn Castle

As you enter the Isle of Whithorn from the coastal path, you will see, nestled away from the road, the Isle Castle, which is privately owned. It was one of the last tower houses to be built in Scotland : a date-stone gives the name of the builders, Patrick Houston, and his wife, Margaret Gordon. In the late 18th Century, smuggling in this area, from the nearby Isle of Man, was endemic. The Castle was the residence of the Superintendent of the Coastguard, Sir John Reid. One famous local story states that Sir John’s revenue vessel was in hot pursuit of smugglers when they entered harbour of the Isle of Whithorn. The cutter followed, but found, no trace of their quarry. This is because, at the time, the Isle of Whithorn still had an island, at least at high tide. The smugglers had charged the narrow channel, and was now out in Wigtown Bay, well away from the revenue men. Local story says that the keel had left a score mark about 100 yards long and dislodged stones in her flight.