I have family who live in Stranraer. The station is located on an walkway where the old stena line ferry terminal was. I live on the Glasgow South Western line! I personally would go via the WCML as the ride would be more pleasant on a pendolino and trains can get quite busy here! The station itself is just a single platform with a small shelter, not very interesting! As you leave the station, you would need to take a walk up a long road until you meet the main road at the beach. You would out near Agnew park, which is just a large children's playback with a pond and island. It does have a small railway at it, but it's only for the kids :P
From there you would need to walk up one of the many connector streets between the seafront and the main street. The high street has just the usual shops, with a mini Tesco. Locals usually use the Morrison's located on London road a little further up. The main street features a castle ruins, which I believe you can go into during summer months. From there it's really just shops, and restaurants. For a nice meal, I highly recommend the 'Custom House' located on the seafront, delicious food!
If you feel like a walk, you could always go up to stair park, just go up to London road and stay on it, heading east. There is the football stadium, a band stand, a playback and a moderately sized walking area, but personally I would walk either across the shorefront or around the island on Agnew park.
To be completely honest, there isn't that much in Stranraer, there is a decently sized swimming pool and sauna at the 'Ryan Centre', it's not too far from the main street, and it is mostly signposted! I hope you enjoy Stranraer, you may unknowingly see me there!
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I'm not sure what I'd recommend doing but there's worse town centres than Stranraer.
If you like colourful bars then hunt out chasers.
The line from Girvan to Stranraer is pretty spectacular, climbing up and over moors.
Personally I think the Dumfries to around Sanquhar section of the GSW is very scenic. Look out for Drumlanrig Castle. I think this is the reason line goes in a tunnel
I am
very local to this area, and sadly they built the railway purposely so it cannot be seen from the castle estate! The run from Dumfries to Sanquhar is nice! Departing Dumfries you can see a signal box, before turning right and accelerating up to full line speed. The next POI is a small bridge with a girder you pass just south of Holywood. You then pass Holywood gardens, a very beautiful scenic tourist attraction! Following that you pass through the village of Auldgirth, and then you run almost parallel to the A76 past Kirkpatrick and Closeburn before diverging to the right and passing over cample viaduct, after this the line turns left and passes where I live, Thornhill! From the line you can see the local school, church, golf course, and you pass through the old stations platforms. The reason they built the station way out of the village is so that the line could not be seen from the castle estate. Following this you would pass under Drumcork bridge, near Drumcork farm, and then you would turn left, following the road to Morton Castle. You are then whisked over the Dalveen pass, a road that links the A76 to the M74 motorway. You then pass under Drumshinnoch bridge, just seconds before hitting the south end of Drumlanrig Tunnel. This tunnel always feels very long when I pass through it! The train then runs next to the A76 for a while before heading into Mennock, before it diverges to the right slightly. The railway line then simply takes a long right hand curve just before arriving at Sanquhar Station!
I hope you enjoyed my route summary!