The historic Port of Palnackie is on the Urr Water, a tidal river on the Solway Firth and has a rich heritage of maritime commerce and smuggling.
Commercial cargoes to the Port came to an end in 1973 with the rise of rail and road transport in the 1960s. Palnackie continued to welcome the odd leisure boat, but various issues have since seen the Port go downhill from its vibrant heyday. Locals have faced a long battle to bring the Port back to life, they want to welcome leisure crafts and see long term ambitions and approved plans for a pontoon come to fruition. To do this, Buittle Parish Community Council set up a charitable arm in 2022, Buittle Quest.
The charity took over ownership of the Port’s North Shore to preserve it for the community through heritage and the leisure craft economy. However, over the last decade the villagers have faced many issues, culminating in damaged harbour walls in 2023. Scottish Water then closed the port for essential repairs to the South Shore and the wall containing their sanitation system. A focal point and important part of the village’s identity, the problems at the Port have thwarted any attempts at attracting new visitors, caused low morale and ultimately negatively impacted the village’s economy. Buittle Quest wants to empower the community to design the future of the Port and in recent surveys the universal message has come through loud and clear; no more dumped boats, no more trawlers, no more fly-tipping, the villagers want the Port back and they want it to start generating more leisure craft visitors and be an open, attractive community space.
Trustees at Buittle Quest were delighted then to receive news that their application to Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Coastal Benefit Fund for £40,943 was successful with £11.000 from Foundation Scotland in matching funds The project, Palnackie: People, Place & Port is the first positive step in taking forward the community’s wishes. The first priority is public safety and the North Shore will remain closed temporarily until professionals assess the failing harbour North wall. The funding also covers professionals to cost up the groundworks for a pontoon, will provide development support and cover the expenses of clearing the North Shore. A heritage project will encourage memories of Palnackie, events will keep the community informed, and beyond this project, able to shape the final stages of fully opening up this beloved Port.
Buittle Quest’s Chairperson, Angus Campbell said “Although there is a lot still to be done, we really appreciate that the funders see the value of our Port and this award will be a tremendous boost to achieving our aims” Reg Vereycken from Buittle Parish Community Council enthused “The award of this fund is the best news we have received in ages. We can now start seeing a future where our port is a beautiful and welcoming place for all, and that can only boost customer numbers in our local businesses, the village shop, Flounders café and the Glenisle pub.” It’s a dynamic time for the Port with Scottish Water works now finished, their spokesperson: Iain Jones, Planning Manager (Wastewater Treatment) said: “We’ve now completed our works at Palnackie Harbour, securing a key wastewater asset and helping protect the local environment for the long term. This was a complex project delivered in partnership with our delivery partners (George Leslie and Solway Plant Hire), and we recognise how important the harbour is to the local community. We hope the completed works provide a stable foundation for the area moving forward.”.
This funding will really help the community to feel ownership again and secure Palnackie’s future as a destination. With the rich heritage and natural beauty in the area, how could tourists not be attracted?
One partner. No competitors. Supporting local stories across the region.
