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Visitor
Centre
Open
Daily April - mid-October
10.00am - 4.00pm
Entry free. Donations most welcome.
The building
which is now the Visitor Centre originally housed the workmen
building the lighthouse in 1828 and was later extended to
act as a byre.
Local
people have been anxious to provide facilities for those interested
in the area while at the same time being mindful of preserving
and protecting nature. Funding for the building of the Visitor
Centre was sought and secured from the European Regional Development
Fund, Dumfries & Galloway Council and Scottish Natural
Heritage. The Helen and Horace Gillman Trusts, the Northern
Lighthouse Board and the RSPB provided additional funding.
 It
was decided to utilise this derelict building, which has been
renovated sympathetically to blend in with its surroundings,
with the aim of keeping a balance between the needs of man
and nature. The wildlife had to be of the prime concern, with
protection of rare birds and plant life a priority. The South
Rhins Community Development Trust and RSPB now jointly manage
the Centre, which is maintained through donations and the
sale of small items.
 The
Visitor Centre contains considerable information about the
Mull of Galloway - the birds, rare plants and marine life.
It houses impressive audio and visual displays including a
DVD of the local scenery and wildlife. Here you will have
the opportunity to listen to the sounds of the birds, which
are common in the area.
 An
exciting addition to the Centre, in 2004, has been the showing
of live images from the Mull's cliffs, of the seabird colony
during the nesting season. Use of the control panel means
that visitors can see the wider pictures of the landscape
as well as close up ones of the arrival of the young birds,
transmitted to the Centre by cameras placed below the viewing
platform at the foghorn.
 Whilst
looking at the model of a ship and crashing waves you will
be transported to the past with tales of Myths and Legends
of the South Rhins.
The RSPB
warden is on duty at the Visitor Centre five days a week during
the summer months, and gives a wealth of up-to-date information
on the birds, plants and marine life. Volunteers are on duty
the other two days and are on hand to answer questions and
to ask some of their own - with a view to improving local
facilities and services.
Visitors
will find further information on the area - suggestions on
accomodation and what to see and do while here. There are
further improvements and additions planned for the Visitor
Centre during 2005.
Provision
has also been made within the building for toilet facilities,
with easy access for the disabled, and accommodation for the
RSPB warden.
There
is car parking available on the perimeters of the Reserve
and further access to the lighthouse and Visitor Centre can
be made by car for the disabled through the gate ( please
close it behind you): it is a short walk for others. This
can be extended to take a circular walk around the reserve
and experience the feeling of being at one with nature. Dogs
on leads please.
RSPB
Nature Reserve
Lighthouse
Visitor
Centre
Gallie
Craig Coffee House
Nature
of the Mull of Galloway
Geology
of the Mull of Galloway
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back to Mull of Galloway Experience
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