Monreith

Monreith (/mɒnˈriːθ/ mon-REETH; Scottish Gaelic: Am Monadh Rèidh) is a small seaside village in the Machars, in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Scotland.^[1]

Monreith
Monreith Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Council area	Dumfries and Galloway
Lieutenancy area	Wigtown
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEWTON STEWART
Postcode district	DG8
Dialling code	01988
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Dumfries & Galloway
Scottish Parliament	Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
List of places UK Scotland 54.7333°N 4.5500°W / 54.7333; -4.5500

A ruined church near Monreith is called "Kirkmaiden-in-Fernis" and was dedicated to St Medan. The chancel was rebuilt as a mausoleum for the Maxwell family of nearby Monreith House and in which is buried Sir Herbert Maxwell. Within the graveyard is the last resting place of Captain François Thurot, a French privateer captain who lost his life in a sea battle off the Mull of Galloway.

Above the church on the cliff is the memorial to Gavin Maxwell the naturalist, and author of Ring of Bright Water, an otter, sculpted in bronze by Penny Wheatley in 1978. On visits back to the family seat of Monreith House, Maxwell would exercise his tame otter Mijbil on the beach below.

The area around Monreith is also rich in prehistoric remains. Barsalloch Fort lies on the A747 west of Monreith between Monreith and Port William. It is the remains of an Iron Age promontory fort overlooking Monreith Bay. It is thought that the fort was associated with the Novantae people.^[2]

See also

• Monreith House