Loch Ryan

For the Royal Mail Lines steamship, see SS Loch Ryan.

Loch Ryan Loch Rìoghaine
Aerial view of Loch Ryan.
Loch Ryan Loch Rìoghaine Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Location	Scottish Lowlands, Scotland
Coordinates	54.986°N 5.055°W / 54.986; -5.055
Type	Sea loch
Primary inflows	Water of App, Glen Burn
Primary outflows	North Channel
Catchment area	197 km2 (76 sq mi)
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	13.4 kilometers (8.3 mi)
Max. depth	16 m (52 ft)
Surface elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Settlements	Stranraer, Cairnryan, Kirkcolm
Loch Ryan Lighthouse Cairnryan Point
Cairn Point lighthouse viewed from the southwest in 2009
Coordinates	54.974468°N 5.030861°W / 54.974468; -5.030861
Constructed	1847
Construction	masonry tower
Automated	1964
Height	15 metres (49 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to 1-storey keeper’s house
Markings	white tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Power source	mains electricity
Operator	Northern Lighthouse Board
Heritage	category B listed building
Focal height	14 metres (46 ft)
Range	12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi)

Loch Ryan (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Rìoghaine, pronounced [l̪ˠɔx ˈrˠiː.ɛɲə]) is a Scottish sea loch that acts as an important natural harbour for shipping, providing calm waters for ferries operating between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The town of Stranraer is the largest settlement on its shores, with ferries to and from Northern Ireland operating from Cairnryan further north on the loch.