Portpatrick Lifeboat Station

Portpatrick was once the busiest sea crossing to Ireland, and is noted for the ferocity of its winter storms. Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1877 at the request of local residents. Today it is home to the new Tamar Class Lifeboat RNLB John Buchanan Barr. The current Lifeboat came on station in November 2011 and the new berth was completed in August 2012. The crew are all volunteers, ready to go out on a ‘Shout’ and get soaked and frozen: what you need, they say, is a sense of humour. Visitors to the Station can have a tour of the Lifeboat, a look around the station and browse in the Lifeboat shop and museum.

The beautiful seaside village of Portpatrick, recently made familiar to millions after Two Thousand Acres of Sky, is also home to the Lifeboat Station. The village once accommodated the busiest sea crossing to Ireland, and is noted for the ferocity of its winter storms.

177 years after its foundation, the RNLI is still supported entirely by voluntary contributions and the crew of the Portpatrick Lifeboat are all volunteers. They all live locally to the lifeboat station, are prepared to go out on a shout whenever necessary, undergo training, get soaked and frozen, and most importantly, have a sense of humour!

Follow the signs into Portpatrick. The Lifeboat Station is at the end of the harbour. Public car park north end of harbour. Sorry, no facilities.