Burrow Head

Burrow Head is a quiet headland on the southern coast of Dumfries and Galloway. It lies about three kilometres south-west of the Isle of Whithorn, marking the second southernmost point of Scotland. The Mull of Galloway holds the southernmost spot. St Ninian’s Cave lies two kilometres north-west along the same stretch of coast. Pilgrims travel to the cave because they believe St Ninian once retreated there. During the 18th century smugglers used the same remote shore to move goods between the Isle of Man and Ireland. In 1973 the headland appeared in the thriller film The Wicker Man. Until recently visitors could still see the remains of the wicker man prop. Today most of the headland belongs to a caravan park. The park sits beside the sea, offering views across the water. The cave remains a place of quiet reflection. The headland’s mix of history and isolation draws those who want to walk and think.