Mull of Galloway explained

Official Name:Mull of Galloway
Gaelic Name:Maol nan Gall
Country:Scotland
Os Grid Reference:NX 15747 30411
Coordinates:54.6351°N -4.8563°W
Post Town:STRANRAER
Postcode Area:DG
Postcode District:DG9
Dial Code:01776
Constituency Westminster:Dumfries and Galloway
Unitary Scotland:Dumfries and Galloway
Lieutenancy Scotland:Wigtownshire
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Galloway and West Dumfries
Static Image Name:Mull of Galloway 05-09-03 33.jpeg
Static Image Caption:Mull of Galloway headland
Edinburgh Distance Mi:112
London Distance Mi:292
Hide Services:yes

The Mull of Galloway (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Maol nan Gall, in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /mɯːlˠ̪ nəŋ ˈkaulˠ̪/;) is the southernmost point of Scotland. It is situated in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, at the end of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula.

The Mull has one of the last remaining sections of natural coastal habitat on the Galloway coast and as such supports a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is now a nature reserve managed by the RSPB. Mull means rounded headland or promontory.

The Mull of Galloway Trail, one of Scotland's Great Trails, is a 59km (37miles) long-distance footpath that runs from the Mull of Galloway via Stranraer to Glenapp near Ballantrae, where the trail links with the Ayrshire Coastal Path.[1]

Lighthouse

Qid:Q17568569
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
Location:Mull of Galloway
Wigtownshire
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates:54.635°N -4.8574°W
Yearbuilt:1830
Automated:1988
Construction:masonry tower
Shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Marking:white tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Height:26m (85feet)
Focalheight:99m (325feet)
Characteristic:Fl W 20s.
Managingagent:South Rhins Community Development Trust [2] [3]

An active lighthouse is positioned at the point. Built in 1830 by engineer Robert Stevenson, the white-painted round tower is 26m (85feet) high. The light is 99m (325feet) above sea level and has a range of 28nmi.[4] The lighthouse and lighthouse keepers' houses are designated as a Category A listed building.

During World War II, on 8 June 1944 at 7.30 pm, a French member of the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), Cladius Echallier, died by striking the Lighthouse in a Beaufighter, while making a low landfall from the Irish Sea.[5]

The lighthouse is now automatic, and an old outhouse has been converted into a visitor centre, run by the South Rhins Community Development Trust, a group of local people and businesses. In 2013 there was a community buyout and the Mull of Galloway Trust purchased land and buildings, with the exception of the tower, from Northern Lighthouse Board.

In 2004 a new café was built at the Mull of Galloway, called the "Gallie Craig". Its design incorporates into the landscape with a turf roof, giving views across to Northern Ireland and southwards to the Isle of Man.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mull of Galloway Trail. Scotland's Great Trails. 2018-09-17.
  2. 2016-05-16.
  3. http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Mull-of-Galloway/ Mull of Galloway
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-12-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091116114914/http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/Mull%20of%20Galloway%20leaflet.pdf . 16 November 2009 . dmy-all .
  5. The Forgotten Pilots, Lettice Curtis, Page 153