Rickwood House
hotel style guest house accommodation
portpatrick by stranraer
Heugh Road - Portpatrick - Dumfries and Galloway - Scotland - DG9 8TD
     
8 August 2010
Rickwood House Strikes Gold !!
We are delighted to have been awarded "Gold Stars" from VisitScotland - the Scottish Tourist Board.

The Gold Award recognises serviced accommodation providers which consistently achieve the highest standards within their VisitScotland grading. Is is only awarded to businesses which will excel in the areas of customer care and hospitality.
Some time ago, we mentioned on our home page that our aim was to be the best three star guest house in Scotland. As there are at present only nine Guest Houses or B&Bs in the whole of Scotland with three stars and a Gold Award, it seems we may have more or less achieved our goal.
Savour the Flavours - Flavour Fortnight
Dumfries & Galloway`s first region wide celebration of food & drink
4 - 19 September 2010
Almost 50 events throughout Dumfries & Galloway as part of Flavour Fortnight. Nearby events include a Taste of the Rhins - specials and Tapas Afternoon at the Port Logan Inn on 5 & 12 September, Lochinch Castle Food Fair on 5 September, Portpatrick Farmer`s Market on 19 September, Reading Lassies Local Produce (Wigtown) various times during the fortnight and a workshop entitled Food: A Health Revolution at the Sunnyside Deli in Stranraer on 8 September. A brochure can be downloaded at Savour the Flavours Dumfries & Galloway
5 August 2010 - Cairnryan Ferry Terminal
Work is well underway on the new ferry terminal at Cairnryan near Stranraer which is scheduled for completion in 2011. We are ideally placed for overnight (or longer) accommodation if travelling to or from Cairnryan and early breakfasts are always available if required.
4 August 2010 - Portpatrick Harbour - The Greasy Pole!

A busy Portpatrick Harbour on Thursday afternoon watching the greasy pole event - part of Lifeboat week. The winner is the one who knocks the other contestant into the water. The reward is one of the lifeboat crew pushing you into the water as well! You may spot a contestant suspended upside down above the water!
As you can see, the weather was fantastic and the days events continued with a quiz at Harbour House Hotel.
29July 2010
"Was that a Whale !!
On a walk this evening on the cliff path above Portpatrick, we spotted a whale jumping in the Irish Sea as it headed northwards. Reports from two other sources confirm this, including a sighting from nearby Sandeel Bay. In the same week, there have been sightings of porpoises and a basking shark near Corsewall Point. The seagull chicks on the cliffs near North Witch Rock are now almost fully grown. Meantime a small deer has been seen a few times recently in our garden!
22 July 2010
"Portpatrick" Wedding of the Year!

O.K., it was in Glasgow, not Portpatrick but our picture shows our son Graham and our new Daughter-in-Law Fiona Findlay outside the Chapel at Glasgow University shortly after their lovely wedding ceremony on 22 July.
Congratulations to both of you and welcome, Fiona to the Findlay clan!
Our photo shows Fred & Maggie, Graham & Fiona and our daughter and part-time helper at Rickwood, Alyson.
As you will see, the sun shone for the photographs and also for the reception for "al-fresco" canapes.
Graham & Fiona are now on honeymoon in South Africa and we wish them every happiness in their life together.
11 July 2010
Portpatrick Hosts Ayrshire Vintage Commercial Vehicle Club Rally

Portpatrick was temporary home to a large number of vintage commercial vehicles on Saturday when the annual rally fleet stayed overnight and filled all available accommodation in Portpatrick. Participant numbers were up on last year despite the economic climate and the event was enjoyed by all and provided quite a spectacle with a wide selection of vehicles on display
The rally started in Ayr on Saturday morning then drove to Cumnock for lunch. Then on to Portpatrick for a meal in the Village Hall and an overnight stay, with three of the owners staying with us for B&B at Rickwood. On Sunday the vehicles left Portpatrick in a procession and drove on to Wigtown before returning to Ayr.

Some of the more unusual participants were this fire engine (above) seen parked near the Portpatrick Hotel and, on the right, a Lomond Single Malt Tanker parked outside Rickwood, Unfortunately, it was empty!
Other interesting vehicles included a MacBraynes Coach from Islay and a Green Goddess.
9 July 2010
Congratulations to regular Rickwood guests, twins Sharon and Nicola, on a recent big birthday they celebrated in Portpatrick along with their family.
17 June 2010
First Portpatrick Farmers Market and other events near Portpatrick and Mull of Galloway
Theres a lot happening this weekend in and around Portpatrick. Portpatrick hosts its first Farmers Market on Sunday 20 June at 2pm in Portpatrick Village Hall.
On Saturday, 19th the Luce Bay Triathlon starts at 9.30am at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. The event is in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.
Also, from 18-20 June, volunteer anglers will be taking part in Sharkatag with the objective of tagging as many inshore sharks as possible from boats, kayaks and from the shore.
Finally, don`t forget the annual Vintage Truck Rally comes to Portpatrick on 10 July.
12 June 2010- Goldfinches at Rickwood in Portpatrick

We were amazed to see no less than six goldfinches outside our back window, this evening, feeding on the seeds from the long grasses.
Sail to the Isle of Man from Garlieston - 24 & 25 June 2010
Day trip to visit Douglas on the Isle of Man. The Balmoral leaves Garlieston Harbour at 10.00 am on the 24th and at 10.30 on the 25th and arrives back at Garlieston at 9.30pm and 10.00pm respectively
Either have a day trip to Douglas or join the Vintage Steam Railway for a trip round the island`s beautiful countryside.
We are happy to provide an early breakfast at Rickwood for anyone combining this trip with a visit to Portpatrick. See www.waverlyexcursions.co.uk for details
7 June 2010
Guests walking from Portpatrick to Killantringan recently were captivated by the seagull chicks on the cliffs near the old Coastguard Station and also by the orchids growing near Killantringan Lighthouse on the Southern Upland Way.

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