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Historic Built Environment in south west Scotland: Scottish Architectural Photos.

post updated 28 September 2024

Clifftop House, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire

photograph © Isabelle Lomholt

This cliff top house at North Witch Point, Portpatrick is on the site of a former radar station, with sweeping views to the North Channel in this remote coastal corner of Galloway. The earth-sheltered design embeds the house in the plateau, affirming the relationship between humanity and nature, clinging to existence above the relentless sea.

photo © Isabelle Lomholt

The dramatic location is within the Rhinns coastal Regional Scenic Area. The design is by Robert Potter & Partners architects.

This build by Andy Stakes featured on Grand Designs, and also received a Glasgow Institute of Architects Design Award (GIA). The clifftop house also features in Living by the Ocean published by Phaidon.

Sweetheart Abbey, New Abbey

photo © Adrian Welch
This now-ruined Cistercian abbey was founded by Lady Dervorguilla in 1273 in memory of her husband John Balliol. New Abbey is a village in the county of Kirkcudbrightshire, 6 miles south of Dumfries.

10 September 2024

Dumfries & Galloway News

10 September, 2024

Online hub launches for Galloway National Park proposal

A dedicated online hub has been set up to share news, information and a space for conversation, as residents and communities in Galloway and beyond debate the Scottish Government’s proposed national park status for the area.

The Mull of Galloway:

NatureScot has been commissioned by Scottish Government to investigate its proposal for a Galloway national park and been appointed its statutory Reporter. No decision to designate a third national park has been made, and NatureScot’s advice on the Galloway proposal will be considered by Ministers in deciding whether to proceed.

The public has been invited to use the online hub to discover more about the government’s proposal and the existing national parks in Scotland, to explore opportunities to share their insights and views, through interactive maps and surveys, and to be part of the conversations taking place.

As well as launching the new national park for Galloway hub, this month NatureScot will be distributing leaflets to all households in the postcode districts in and close to the proposed park area, explaining the consultation process and how to be involved in it. NatureScot will also be hosting a series of meetings with local authorities, community councils and other local organisations, as well as holding drop-in surgeries across the area to provide everyone with information about the proposal, listen to any topics raised and seek ideas about what a national park could look like in detail.

NatureScot Head of People and Places, Pete Rawcliffe said: “Since the government’s announcement of Galloway as its proposed location for a new national park, we have been busy listening and discussing our reporting plans with community councils, farming and other land management groups, local politicians and public bodies. Ahead of the formal consultation in November, we are looking forward to hearing more from individuals in Galloway and beyond, either through this new online hub or in person at meetings and drop-in sessions, about what they value in the area, and how they feel about the potential of a national park.”

In November, there will be a formal 12-week public consultation, also available on NatureScot’s own website. The consultation will look at the detailed arrangements for a national park, including its area, powers and governance. The consultation will result in advice and analysis submitted to government ministers at the end of April 2025. All the views expressed during the consultation will be reported to Scottish Government as part of this advice.

Scotland’s nature agency previously undertook the Reporter role for the country’s first two national parks, in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.

NatureScot also has an email address for contacting its investigating team: nationalparkreporter@nature.scot.
Online hub for a new national park in Galloway

Background

Last year, Scottish Government sought bids for new National Parks from across Scotland. Five areas were nominated by local groups, including a joint bid from the Galloway National Park Association and Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve supported by Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils. Appraisal of these nominations by the Scottish Government led to the selection of the Galloway area for further consideration.

NatureScot has been asked to advise on this proposal to help Scottish Government decide:

• if it should be given National Park status
• what geographical area it should include
• what form its governance should take (e.g. number of board members)
• what powers it should have (e.g. planning, access)
• its likely structure and operation.

Following that analysis, Scottish Government will then decide whether to proceed with their proposal for a National Park in Galloway.

About NatureScot

NatureScot is Scotland’s nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on X at https://x.com/NatureScot.

Previously on e-architect:

Dumfries & Galloway Architecture

5 Apr 2022
New Dumfries High School Building News
Dumfries and Galloway Council has appointed hub Southwest Scotland, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership which works with local authorities and private sector enterprises in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, to develop the new Dumfries High School:
Dumfries Architecture

Architecture Photos from 7 Jul 2012:

Drumlanrig Castle – an imposing symmetrical mansion in the southern Scottish countryside:

photograph © Adrian Welch

Dundrennan Abbey, in Dundrennan, near to Kirkcudbright. This Cistercian monastery in the Romanesque architectural style was established in 1142 by Fergus of Galloway, King David I of Scotland, and monks from Rievaulx Abbey:

photographs © Adrian Welch

Modern Galloway property, Sorbie:

photograph © Daniel Lomholt-Welch

photograph © Adrian Welch

Galloway House is a Category A listed country house. Adjoining the estate village of Garlieston, on Wigtown Bay, the house was begun in 1740 for Lord Garlies, later sixth Earl of Galloway, to designs by John Douglas, assisted by John Baxter as site architect. Additions in 1841 were by the Edinburgh architect William Burn.

Sweetheart Abbey, in village of New Abbey:

photographs © Adrian Welch
The Abbey of Dulce Cor, better known as Sweetheart Abbey, was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1275 in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, 8 miles south of Dumfries.

Southerness Lighthouse:

photograph © Adrian Welch

Rockcliffe House, Kirkcudbrightshire:

photograph © Adrian Welch

Location: Scotland, UK, north western Europe

Architecture in Scotland

Contemporary Architecture in Scotland

Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list

Scottish Castles

Scottish Borders Buildings
Scottish Borders Buildings : photographs of some key architecture in southern Scotland

Dumfries Architecture

HALO Masterplan in Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Southwest Scotland
Architects: Keppie Design

image courtesy of architects
HALO Masterplan Kilmarnock

Abbotsford House Visitor Centre, Melrose, southern Scotland
Design: LDN Architects

photograph © Paul Zanre
Abbotsford House Visitor Centre

Scottish Architect

Historic Scottish House

Scottish Architecture

Ayr Riverside Development, Southwest Scotland
Architects: Keppie Design ; Masterplan by Niall McLaughlin Architects

image courtesy of architects
Ayr Riverside Office Buildings