In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Gatehouse of Fleet was a thriving industrial centre with cotton mills, shipbuilding, a brewery and its own port. It was known locally as the 'Glasgow of the South'.
Traces of this industrial past can still be found in its buildings and street names and in the Mill on the Fleet, a former textile mill which is now an award-winning visitors' centre tracing the economic and social history of Gatehouse.
Gatehouse provides opportunities for a variety of sporting activities, including golf, walking, cycling, fishing and sailing. Port Macadam, once the town's harbour, is still used by small pleasure craft.
Among the local historical attractions are Cardoness Castle, a late 15th-century fortified tower house that was the ancient seat of the McCullochs, and the ruins of Anwoth Church with its atmospheric graveyard, complete with Covenanter graves.
On a visit to Gatehouse in 1793, Robert Burns penned the first draft of his famous poem, Scots Wha Hae, at the Murray Arms.
There are several shops and a grocery store in the village, and a variety of places to eat out.
Gatehouse is also a recognised UNESCO Biosphere community. Biosphere Communities are places where local residents and businesses have committed to being Proud Supporters of the Biosphere and to;
- Help to conserve the natural resources of the Biosphere.
- Support the economy to benefit local people and nature.
- Promote cultural heritage and local products.
- Contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community.
- Develop knowledge, understanding and promote research.
- Raise awareness of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.
They are destinations in the Biosphere where you can be assured of a warm welcome and an opportunity to experience some of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere’s hidden gems.
To find out more about UNESCO Biosphere communities, click here.
