Wigtownshire Ramblers-Bargaly Woods Circular January 2010

It's another frosty morning on Saturday the 9th of January 2010.
Todays walk is a circular walk starting at Bargaly Woods and around the lower slopes of Cairnsmore of Fleet.
We're down to a group of seven today due to a large majority of our regular walkers being on a navigation course this weekend.
We welcome a new walker.A young lady from the emerald isle who's just moved to Stranraer.We head north through the woods.The ground is fairly hard.
Once clear of Bargaly Woods we're onto the crisp clear paths above Craig Head.I love this weather,it's so much more scenic and healthier than the dreich rainy type of weather we have to put up with.
East of Bargaly Farm we join a forest track.This is the traditional winter of my childhood.
The Knock Burn is one of a number of burns we'll cross today.Each one has a different tapestry of snow and ice.
A fallen rock is ideal for one of our group to do a leprechaun impression.
Still heading north we reach a logging area.Todays walk leader is a forester,and he answers questions about the type of wood and markings of the logs stored here.Galloway Forest Park has an output of about 500000 tons of timber a year.
There's an interesting Forestry Comission pdf regarding the forest park and it's Dark Sky Status here Dark Sky
From the logging area we've turned east and swinging south.A lovely view behind us shows Curleywee,now clear of the earlier mist on it's summit.
We continue south over the Blairbuie Burn,and take a short stop here at the Mill Burn.The pictures don't really convey the splendid spectacle of these burns,but clicking to enlarge gives a slighly better impression.
The forest obscures the sun,so we continue until we reach a spot with a view where we stop for lunch.I'm ready for the break,walking in the snow seems to use up a lot more energy.
On the move again and after breasting Ardwell Hill we're heading west.I set my camera on a stile and a ten second delay to get in the picture.I used to be photogenic.Honest!
Now we're back in open country.
We're on the slopes above Bardrochwood.The hills make a good backdrop for the group.
I take another panorama.
Above Bardrochwood we again head north up to the Blairbuies Burn.
At the weir,it looks as though the farmer or shepherd has created an ice bridge by the breaking up of the ice.We tread gingerly across.

I take a little video clip.
Now we're back in Bargaly Wood where we find some evidence of ongoing traditional forest industry.The cicular vessel in the centre of this collage is a charcoal burner.Our walk leader enlightened us to some of the other 'Tools' of the trade.
The last section takes us south on forest track back to the cars.This friendly dog was one of two being walked by a local landowner.
A very enjoyable walk today.