St Ninian on the Isle of Whithorn, at the south-east corner of the Machars Peninsula, is known as the Cradle of Christianity in Scotland. This is the place where St Ninian, Scotland’s shadowy first Christian missionary, landed in 397AD and showed the pagan Picts The Way. A chapel for pilgrims was established for pilgrims, close to the beach where Ninian is said to have come ashore – but apparently was not built until the 12th century. The remaining ruined shell is 14th century, though there is evidence of an older building underneath. The chapel remains a stopping point and a magnet for heritage lovers – though there is little to see other than an attractive, slightly wild, location and a picturesque harbour. Modern pilgrims can add stones to a ‘Witness Cairn’ at the entrance to the field on which the chapel stands. Beside it is a bench commemorating the young fishermen from the Isle of Whithorn who died when their boat, the Solway Harvester, sank in 2000. St Ninian’s Cave is further round the coast. Three or four miles up the road is the slightly larger town of Whithorn, where tradition says that Ninian established his mission, known as Candida Casa from the Latin meaning ‘white house’ – from which we get Whithorn.
Post Code approximate – park and walk.