Portpatrick - Upland Way & Harbour

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Portpatrick's harbour and Southern Upland Way starting point, with Explorers following clues after harbour renovation work uncovers old documents and a treasure map, all to uncover the lost bounty of Phil Mapockets, a 19th-century salvage expert.

The quest covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 1.5 hours to complete. You'll begin at the square harbour in Portpatrick, explore the village and harbour area, follow clear paths and pavements, and take in upland stretches connected with the Southern Upland Way before looping back to the harbour.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route uses pavements and clear paths but has some steep paths with steps, and there are several places with either no or very narrow pavements. Single file may be the best way to navigate the narrower sections.

Please take great care around the harbour areas in Portpatrick. The optional Dunskey Castle detour is a 0.75 mile round trip for the bridge-walk and views, but the climb is steep and there are steep cliffs, so you are strongly advised to keep to the path.

The graveyard at St Andrews is currently off limits due to instability in the adjacent buildings.

Getting There

By car: Start your treasure-hunting expedition at the square harbour in Portpatrick (DG9 8TZ). The recommended parking spot is North Crescent Car Park (DG9 8TZ), which is free.

By public transport: Make your way to the square harbour in Portpatrick (DG9 8TZ) to begin the quest. This is a circular Trail and finishes back at the square harbour in Portpatrick.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are available at the car park at the start and finish points, so this is the spot to make a comfort stop before the map-reading begins.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers are welcome to join the treasure hunt. 🐾

The route includes harbour areas, steep paths with steps, narrow or missing pavements, and sections where single file may be safest, so keep dogs close around traffic, harbour edges and tighter stretches. If you take the optional Dunskey Castle detour, remember there are steep cliffs and you are strongly advised to keep to the path.

Food & Drink Stops

There is a convenience store en route near Clue 13 for topping up expedition supplies. Portpatrick also has quite a few pubs, restaurants and takeaways, giving hungry Explorers plenty of options before or after the quest.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Portpatrick harbour

The harbour is the heart of the adventure and the focal point of the village. Portpatrick began with fishing origins, and its crescent-shaped harbour later became important as a ferry port for transport to and from Northern Ireland. It was often used by young couples from there to come and get married, which adds a romantic twist to all that salty treasure-hunting history.

Southern Upland Way

Portpatrick is the start of the Southern Upland Way, one of Scotland's most popular official trails. It winds all the way across the southern uplands of Scotland to Cockburnspath on the east Scottish Borders coast, and offers superb and varied walking country - ideal inspiration for Explorers who fancy stretching their legs beyond Phil Mapockets' trail.

St Andrews Kirk

Construction of St Andrews Kirk commenced in 1622, and it was built in a cruciform, cross-shaped configuration. There is evidence to suggest it is the earliest church of its type in Galloway. The graveyard was still in use into the late 1800s, but it is currently off limits due to instability in the adjacent buildings.

Portpatrick lighthouse

Portpatrick has had five lighthouses over the years, which is a fine tally for any harbour village. The best known was built in 1836 but was undermined by storm damage and re-erected in the breakwater of Columbia, Sri Lanka. The one you can see today was built in 1883 but was no longer used after 1900.

Dunskey Castle

If your crew has the energy, the optional scenic detour to Dunskey Castle adds a 0.75 mile round trip up to a dramatic rocky outcrop jutting into the Irish Sea. The huge towerhouse was built in the mid sixteenth century for the Adairs of Kinhilt, the same family that owned the Castle of St John in Stranraer. By 1700 the whole building was derelict and remains so to this day. The climb is steep, there are steep cliffs, and you are strongly advised to keep to the path.