Cairnryan is a linear settlement looking across the main A77 road to Loch Ryan. It was established as Lochryan by 1701 when Lochryan House was built at the northern end of today's village. The house was remodelled in the 1820s and the imposing structure just visible from the main road today was the result. During the Second World War, Cairnryan became No.2 Military Port, and three harbour piers and a military railway linking the village with nearby Stranraer were built by the army. Thousands of troops were based locally in military camps. At the end of the war the Atlantic U-Boat fleet surrendered in Loch Ryan and were anchored here before being towed to sea and sunk. Ship breaking became the main industry; the great British aircraft carriers Centaur, and most famously the Ark Royal were all sent here for decommissioning. As recently as 1990, Russian submarines have been dismantled here for scrap.
Transportation in Cairnryan
By Car: Cairnryan is situated in the South West corner of Scotland, 5 miles north of Stranraer on the A77.
From the North follow the A77 south from Glasgow/Ayr.
From the South follow the M6/A74 to Carlisle then the A75 via Dumfries towards Stranraer. 2 miles south of Stranraer turn right onto the A751/A77.
By Coach: There is a frequent National Express service to Glasgow, Ayr and Stranraer.
By Ferry: The Cairnryan port is located on the northern edge of Loch Ryan in the south west of Scotland. Following a major multi million pound development by P & O Irish Sea Ferries, Cairnryan ferry port now offers excellent facilities & services to both passenger ferry & freight customers. P&O Irish Sea's first class passenger ferries sail from Cairnryan to Larne ferry port (near Belfast) in Northern Ireland.
Cairnryan is itself situated on Loch Ryan. There is a sandbank, 'The Scar', running down the west side of the loch near Kirkcolm. The loch has a headland, Cairn Point on which the small village of Cairnryan stands. A lighthouse was built here in 1847.
The local area has many different attractions. Varying from the Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park to the Barnbarroch Pottery.
