Wigtownshire or Wigtown, former county, SW Scotland. Under the Local Government Act of 1973, Wigtownshire became (1975) part of the new Dumfries and Galloway region (now a council area).

The County of Wigtown, or Wigtownshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige) is a registration county in the south west of Scotland. It borders Ayrshire to the north, and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright to the east. Together The Stewartry and Wigtownshire are referred to as Galloway : until the 19th century Wigtownshire was also sometimes known as West Galloway.

As Wigtown, it is a lieutenancy area. The county town was historically Wigtown. On the establishment of a county council in 1890, Stranraer, the largest town in the county, became the administrative centre. Wigtown includes the southernmost point in Scotland, the Mull of Galloway, the Machars and the Rhins of Galloway peninsula. Major road links to the area comprise the A77 to the north, and the A75 to the east. It is currently administered by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Until 1975 it was a county.

Major towns

• Newton Stewart
• Stranraer
• Whithorn
• Wigtown

Other significant towns and villages

• Ardwell
• Sandhead
• Castle Kennedy
• Drummore
• Glenluce
• Kirkcowan
• Portpatrick
• Port William
• New Luce

References