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The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Castles · North West England

Castle of St. John

In or near Portpatrick.

Tudor & StuartFree admission♿ Wheelchair: limited👪 Family-friendly4.5 · 141 Google reviews

Castle of St. John — castle in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.

Castle of St. John, castles in North West England

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Stranraer · 0.5 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit the Castle of St. John, the nearest railway station is Stranraer, which is 0.5 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is DG9 7RT. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Castle of St. John is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1600. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 54.9044°, -5.0261°.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2020

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Heritage listing

The Castle of St John, also known as Stranraer Castle, is an early 16th-century L-plan tower house in the centre of Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It was built by the Adairs of Kilhilt (who originally came from Ireland) c. 1510. 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 base during the Second World War.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.

Official information

The Castle of St John, located in Stranraer, is a historic tower house built in the sixteenth century. It has served various purposes over the years, including a military garrison and a jail, and features exhibitions detailing its rich history and the lives of its former inhabitants.

From the Wikipedia article

The Castle of St John, also known as Stranraer Castle, is an early 16th-century L-plan tower house in the centre of Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It was built by the Adairs of Kilhilt (who originally came from Ireland) c. 1510. 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 base during the Second World War. The castle was refurbished in the late 1980s and is now a museum.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Coordinates
54.9044, -5.0261
Postcode
DG9 7RT
Parliamentary constituency
Dumfries and Galloway
Phone
030 33 33 3000
Established
1600
Nearest railway station
Stranraer0.5 km
Official site
www.dgculture.co.uk

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

The Bridge Arms, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 7324652📷 3

Cemeteries · North West England

Relief Church Burial Ground

Relief Church Burial Ground is a cemetery in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Church Street, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 7499617📷 3

Memorials & monuments · North West England

Reverend John Livingston

Reverend John Livingston — a memorial in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶dgculture.co.uk
Holy Ground Community Church, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 6498175📷 5

Historic churches · North West England

Old Parish Church, Stranraer

Old Parish Church, Stranraer — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

Free👶dgculture.co.uk
Stranraer Museum📷 3

Museums · North West England

Stranraer Museum

Stranraer Museum — museum in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.

👶dumgal.gov.uk
St Ninian's Church, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 5279670📷 5

Historic churches · North West England

St Ninian's Parish Church, Lewis Street, Stranraer

St Ninian's Parish Church, Lewis Street, Stranraer — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

Free
War Memorial, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 7243061📷 5

Memorials & monuments · North West England

War Memorial, Stranraer Sheriff Court

War Memorial, Stranraer Sheriff Court — category B listed building-listed memorial in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Where to eat & stay near Castle of St. John

Places to stay

Garden of Friendship, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 7324745📷 6

Hotels · North West England

North West Castle

North West Castle — a hotel in scotland lowlands.

mcmillanhotels.co.uk
Mull of Galloway Trail at Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 3164354📷 5

Campsites · North West England

Aird Donald Caravan Park

Aird Donald Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Freeaird-donald.co.uk
Ryan Bay Sign - geograph.org.uk - 2757208📷 5

Campsites · North West England

Ryanbay Holiday and Residential Park

Ryanbay Holiday and Residential Park — a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Freehagansleisure.co.uk
Entrance to Wig Bay Holiday Park - geograph.org.uk - 2169125📷 5

Campsites · North West England

Wig Bay Holiday Park

Wig Bay Holiday Park — a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Freewigbayholidaypark.co.uk
Homestead B^B - geograph.org.uk - 1946837📷 5

Campsites · North West England

Cairnryan Heights Holiday Park

Cairnryan Heights Holiday Park — a campsite in scotland lowlands.

cairnryanheightsholidaypark.com
Lochnaw Castle Walk - geograph.org.uk - 5542285📷 5

Campsites · North West England

Drumlochart Caravan Park

Drumlochart Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Freedrumlochart.co.uk

Places to eat & drink

St. Andrew's Church, Stranraer - geograph.org.uk - 7774388📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

Stranraer Tandoori

Stranraer Tandoori in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.

dgfoodanddrink.com

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Castle of St. John?
Castle of St. John is in the Scottish Lowlands, United Kingdom (postcode DG9 7RT).
What is Castle of St. John?
Castle of St. John — castle in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
How do I get to Castle of St. John?
The nearest railway station is Stranraer, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode DG9 7RT.
When was Castle of St. John built?
Built or established in 1600.
Is Castle of St. John a listed building?
Castle of St. John is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
Does Castle of St. John charge admission?
Castle of St. John typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Castle of St. John?
The nearest railway station is Stranraer, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DG9 7RT.