Castle of St. John - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Iconic Buildings

About Castle of St. John

The Castle of St John sits in a prominent position in the centre of Stranraer. Built in the sixteenth century this is a particularly fine example of the type of tower house built and used by Scottish Lairds in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It has been used as a home, a court, a police station and as a military garrison during the "Killing Times" of Covenanter persecution in the 1680s. During the Victorian era, the castle was modified to serve as a prison, and it was used as an ARP bas

Hotels near Castle of St. John

Hotels to stay near Castle of St. John

Activities Around

Attractions Near Castle of St. John

Stranraer Museum

Stranraer Museum

0.14km from Castle of St. John

A rather excellent small but modern town museum in the heart of dumfires. The museum features one of Scotland's oldest ploughs, while you can also look at Victorian Wigtownshire in 3D photographs and follow in the footsteps of Stranraer's own polar explorers. There are displays on archaeology, local history, farming and dairying. An exciting temporary exhibition programme also runs throughout the year.

Agnew Park

Agnew Park

0.57km from Castle of St. John

A beautiful park in Dumfries, which has a wide range of leisure facilities for all ages including a large boating lake with a range of boats, including canoes, skiffs and pedalos. It boasts a miniature railway which takes you on a full tour of the park, a play island featuring innovative play equipment, an 18-hole putting green and a mini car racing circuit.

Castle Kennedy Gardens

Castle Kennedy Gardens

4.83km from Castle of St. John

75 acres of spectacularly designed loch-side landscape, create a romantic garden paradise with quite literally something for everyone to enjoy – regardless of age. The gardens are the main reason for a visit and the ruins of Castle Kennedy really just serve as an impressively large ornament around which the gardens are sculptured.

Dunskey Estate

Dunskey Estate

7.27km from Castle of St. John

A secluded coastal estate in Scotland’s lowlands entrenched in living history and incomparable splendour. Amidst 2000 acres of spectacular Scottish arcadia sits Dunskey Estate, home to an Edwardian castle with 25 bedrooms and endless magic. The estate was the property of the Hunter-Blair family of Blairquhan in Ayrshire and was acquired when Jane (or Jean) Blair of Dunskey, wife of James Hunter, succeeded her brother to Dunskey estates in 1777. A house dating from 1706 was extended in the 1830s.

Rhins of Galloway

Rhins of Galloway

8.07km from Castle of St. John

The Rhins of Galloway, otherwise known as the Rhins of Wigtownshire, is a hammer-head peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Stretching more than 25 miles from north to south, its southern tip is the Mull of Galloway, the southernmost point of Scotland.

Killantringan Lighthouse

Killantringan Lighthouse

9.02km from Castle of St. John

Killantringan Lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The light came into activity in 1900, and filled in as a waypoint in the North Channel of the Irish Sea. The name Killantringan is gotten from 'Cill shaint Ringain' St Ringan's church; Ringan is a medieval iety of Ninian. The beacon is ensured as a classification B recorded building.

Discover More Attractions in Dumfries and Galloway, Home of Castle of St. John

Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway

90 attractions

Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It comprises the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire, the latter two of which are collectively known as Galloway. The administrative centre is the town of Dumfries.

Location of Castle of St. John

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For more information about Castle of St. John, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_St_John

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