Stranraer (UK: /strænˈrɑːr/ stran-RAR,[4] in Scotland also /strənˈ-/ strən-;[citation needed] Scottish Gaelic: An t-Sròn Reamhar [ən̪ˠˌt̪ʰɾɔːn ˈɾãũ.əɾ]), also known as The Toon or The Cleyhole,[5] is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on Loch Ryan and the northern side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland.

It was formerly a ferry port, connecting Scotland with Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland; the service was transferred to nearby Cairnryan in 2011.

[10] The partial translation into English is: At Linlithgow, 12 November 1595, the King confirms and for faithful service again dedicates to Ninian Adair of Kinhilt, and the legitimate male heirs of his body, which failing his nearest legitimate male heirs whosoever bear the name and insignia of Adair[, various lands....] In addition, the King creates the village at Clauchane de Stranraer as a free burgh of the barony with a free port, called the Burgh and Port of Stranraer; and the said Ninian etc shall have the authority to appoint a bailiff, treasurer, Dean of Guild, magistrate, burgesses, officials etc; and the burgesses shall have the authority and leave to pack and unpack [meaning the selling of bulk merchandise (wholesale trade) allowed by law only by free men in a free burgh], to buy and sell [also allowed only in a free burgh] etc; [...] and the said Ninian etc shall have authority to hold the position of governor of the said burgh, [...] to hold weekly markets on Saturday, with free (untaxed) market days twice a year, viz Saint Barnabas' day the 11th of June, and at Peter's Imprisonment called Lammas on the 1st of August, [...] and the said Ninian etc shall have authority over all the port customs of the said burgh raised by sea or land among the land tenents of the said burgh and support of the said port; and the said Ninian etc shall have authority to receive resignations of lands of the said burgh etc [i.e. recover his lands from towns people who choose to sell them or give them up]; from those persons whatsoever who chose to dispose of them; the townspeople may meet three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.By 1600, Stranraer had become the market town for western Wigtownshire.

Around this time, Stranraer was reached by a military road built from Dumfries to allow easier access to Portpatrick for transportation of people to Ireland for the Plantation of Ulster.

The arrival of the railway from Dumfries in 1861 (closed 1965), giving the shortest journey to/from London, finally established Stranraer as the area's main port.

On 31 January 1953, 133 people died when the Princess Victoria sank near Belfast Lough after its car deck was swamped by heavy seas.

Stranraer and its surrounding area saw a significant amount of activity during the Second World War, as it became a focus for anti-U-boat work.

Flying boats operated from the area in an attempt to secure the waters of the North Channel and the south western coast of Scotland.

Winston Churchill himself departed from Stranraer in a Boeing Flying Boat on the night of 25 June 1942, when making his second visit of the war to the United States.

The existing port in Stranraer may be redeveloped with the departure of Stena Line; proposals to build a transport hub have been made.

The European Union was partly financing "The Stranraer and Loch Ryan Waterfront Project" to regenerate the area.

The Castle Square was formally unveiled in March 2011 and has so far hosted a range of activities, including music and family events.

[19] The town is also home to the North West Castle, built in 1820 and the first hotel in the world with its own indoor curling ice rink.

The school has around 1,200 pupils, 90 members of staff and serves the area of Stranraer, the Rhins, and parts of the Machars, Wigtownshire.

The town also has a swimming pool (with flume), fitness suite, gymnasium and large sports hall at the council-run Ryan Centre,[27] as well as other football fields, parks and all-weather multi-purpose pitches.

[33] Local newspaper the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press is based and was previously printed in the town's St Andrews Street.