Ardwell
| |
|---|---|
  Ardwell Location withinDumfries and Galloway | |
| Population | 123 (2001 Census) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Stranraer |
| Postcode district | DG9 |
| Dialling code | 01776-860 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 54°46′16″N4°56′28″W / 54.771°N 4.941°W /54.771; -4.941 | |
Ardwell (fromGaelicÀrd Bhaile meaning "hightown", pronounced as "Ardwell") is a village in the Scottishunitary council area ofDumfries and Galloway. It lies on theshores ofLuce Bay in the southern part of theRhins of Galloway. TheA716 road toDrummore or theMull of Galloway passes through the village. The only other street is Ardwell Park, a street of new houses.
The community is served by the nearby Ardwell Church, a small public church with a bell tower, built in 1900–1902.[1]
Many of the houses are still owned by Ardwell Estates, and Ardwell House is located around 800 metres (0.5 mi) west of the village in the grounds of Ardwell Garden and looking across Ardwell Pond.
In the grounds of Ardwell House, on a ridge above the road, are the remains of a medievalmotte; the castle bailey may have stood to the north.[2] In addition, south of the church are the ruins of Killaser Castle,[3][4] the ancestral home of theMcCullochs, who formerly held Ardwell.,[5]Stoneykirk,Rhinns,Wigtownshire.
Near High Ardwell, on the other side of the peninsula, are the remains ofDoon Castle, the best example of an Iron Agebroch in Dumfries and Galloway.[6][7]
Ardwell used to hold the Leek Fair, where plants were sold.[5]
Ardwell Gardens is a 342 ha (970 acres) garden surrounding the 18th-century Ardwell House.[8][9] It has awalled garden, and a large pond which has ducks and swans with an approximately half-hour walk round it. There is also access to Ardwell church (to the west) and Ardwell village (to the east) with a beach and boat shop.[10]
Logan Botanic Garden, a branch of theRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) by road from Ardwell. Logan's mild climate allows a variety of exotic plants to grow outdoors.[11] There are many beautiful plants which can be found in few other gardens in Britain. It has awoodland garden, and a walled garden and a terrace garden with an avenue of Chusan palms.
