Our Story

The Steam Packet Hotel in the Isle of Whithorn is situated on the quayside of a picturesque little fishing village, right down on the very tip of the south-west peninsula of Scotland. Its windows look out over the harbour where you can watch the activities of the local fishermen and sailors alongside the daily coming and going of the tides. The hotel boasts two bars and five en-suite bedrooms. It’s a building that clings to its heritage, radiates a family atmosphere and offers a comfortable bed for the night. The Inn is renowned for its food with an extensive menu served in either bar, lower dinning room or conservatory.

The History of The Steam Packet

The “Packet” as it is affectionally known locally has been in the hands of the Scoular family since 1984. Indeed, the pub has only had 3 owners since before the war, the Scoular’s took over from the redoubtable Nonnie Brown who had run it for over 40 years. She took the place over from the legendary local publican Jimmy Robertson who, as rumour has it, had won the pub in a game of cards before the war. John and Sarah Scoular successfully developed the business to its current format and their son Alastair joined them once he had grown up. Since then the business has continued to grow and prosper.

Isle of Whithorn

The Isle of Whithorn is a small fishing village built around a naturally sheltered bay on the tip of the Scottish Machars peninsula. Throughout its history the village has been focused around its relationship with the sea. Saint Ninian landed here in the 4th century before founding his church in Whithorn. For centuries afterwards the Isles primary role was to service the visitors travelling to Whithorn. It is only recently that the village became easier to get to by land than sea. For most of its history the Isle was an important transport hub as it was much easier to move anything by sea than land. The Steam Packet Company ran a regular ferry service between the Isle and Liverpool for passengers and cargo. Alongside this there was a multitude of smaller trading vessels working from the village, some official and probably more of dubious legality. 

Obviously fishing has been in integral part of village life over the years and  visiting boats still regularly land at the Isle alongside smaller vessels based here. The risks involved in fishing are highlighted poignantly by a Galloway granite memorial seat halfway up the Cairn along with the anchor memorial at the top. This commemorates the seven local men who lost their lives when the Kirkcudbright based fishing vessel Solway Harvester sank off the coast of the Isle of Man on 11 January 2000.

Why the "Isle" of Whithorn

The most asked question by anyone visiting the Isle for the first time is why is it called Isle of Whithorn. Originally the buildings on the quayside were only connected to the mainland by a shingle causeway meaning the village was an island at high tide. From the 1790s, houses were built on the causeway and a church was built in 1834 as the landowner at the time wouldn’t give any land for a church on the mainland. The village now only infrequently becomes an island when it floods due to a high spring tide along with a storm from the south.

In recent history with the decline of traditional industries the village has become much more reliant on visitors and tourism. It has managed to retain a strong local community with a healthy balance of locals and visitors moving in to live or retire. The village continues to evolve and develop and continues to be a vibrant and successful village as well as a welcoming place to visit.