The substantial ruins of St Ninian’s Chapel stand on the seaward side of the picturesque Isle of Whithorn, on what was originally a genuine island before the gap between it and the mainland was filled during the development of the village and harbour.
The chapel and the surviving part of the enclosure wall dates back to about 1300. It seems to have been built on the site of a narrower chapel dedicated to St Ninian in the 1100 erected for the benefit of both local worshippers and pilgrims to St Ninians shrine in Whithorn. But while it is tempting to think of the possibility of older structures which take Christianity here nearer to St Ninian’s own time, seven hundred years earlier, no evidence for this has ever been found on the Isle of Whithorn.
How to get there from The Old Smiddy: 4.2 miles (7 mins) via B7004. What3words: disclose.easels.fillings
