Wigtownshire Ramblers-Anwoth May 2010

It's a beautiful morning on this the 22nd day of the month of May in the year 2010.
Today we're repeating a circular walk we did last August.
August 2009 Walk

We're a group of 15 walkers as we gather at Anwoth church.The weather's in complete contrast to how last August's walk started.

Anwoth's Old Schoolhouse has been a private residence for a good number of years,but looks full of character.It was once the home of the renowned artist GPH Watson and his wife Dolly Watson,and oft visited by their friend William Caldwell Crawford another artist of renown.
As we head through bluebell strewn Killiegowan Wood,much bird sound is heard.One wren is particularly noisy,perhaps alerting others to our passage through the woods.

Out of the woods we've a short walk on the north bound old military road.We turn left at Pulcree Cottage and a steady incline brings us to Ornockenoch Loch.It's becoming a very warm day for May.Those walkers with two piece leggings divest themselves of the lower half,while other walkers roll up their trousers.A knobbly knee contest was suggested,but quickly abandoned when it was realised that there could only be one winner (On the right bottom right of the above collage).

There's a number of geese along the loch shore.They appear unimpressed with our passage.Now here at the entrance gate to Ornockenoch we take a right fork onto rough track.
I've mentioned Mount Pisga in previous blogs.It's to our right here.
Heading towards Upper Rusco we now get a clear view over to the Clints of Dromore,the Cairnsmore of Fleet nature reserve and it's visitors centre.
Upon reaching Upper Rusco we head south on a long undulating (though mainly upwards) forest road.
Reaching the end of the forest road,the mine workings at the bottom of Kenlum Hill is where we'll lunch.The water in the mine is at a fairly low level today giving walkers a chance to explore.
The mine goes in some 70 or 80 feet.There's one short branch off,It's about 10 feet long.There's quite an amount of calcium deposits being formed.This mine is mentioned in Scotlands Places.
Kenlum Mine
Is that a sweaty miner emerging?

After an interesting lunch break it's a short distance to the drystane dyke that we'll follow up to the top of Kenlum Hill.I mentioned previously the steepness of this climb,not everyone bounded to the summit.
At roughly a thousand feet up,it's not one of the bigger hills round these parts,but on a cloudless day like today it's fabulous.

I get in the picture....spot the new hat !
Now comes the descent to Kingslaggan farm.There's great views over to the Fleet and Carrick Shore from here.Ardwall Island's in this picture.We'll hopefully be walking over to it in a fortnight's time.

One kinda odd thing I've noticed in my time walking with the ramblers,is that not all those good climbers are as good at descending.Descent is my forte,It's never really bothered me.That's not really true,but it'll do today.I wonder what purpose this great block of concrete was built for.
After a break at Kingslaggan we now head south-east on the old military road.There's colour everywhere.
Looking back,we get a fuller view of Kenlum.
Considering how little rain we've had recently,there's quite a lot of water and mud about on this track.A look at the terrain on Google Earth shows many a boggy patch around here,so that'll explain it.
Arriving back in colourful Anwoth, a few of todays walkers explored the old churchyard where...
...this covenanters memorial was located.
An excellent walk in excellent weather with excellent company.'nuff said.

N.B. There may be more added to this posting. Scroll Down for additional pictures provided by Scoop.(I feature in a couple, but don't let that put you off.)

Addendum.
The walk leaders report follows.She knows and remembers so much more detail than I do.

Ramblers walk Saturday 22nd May.

The ramblers’ walk this week was taken in glorious sunshine on the first really hot day we have had. 15 members set off from Anwoth church to be overwhelmed by a blue haze from the bluebells in Killiegowan woods. The scent and sight of the flowers were breathtaking, rolling away beneath the newly greened trees as far as the eye could see. Other spring flowers along the path added to the enjoyment; there were wood avens, stitchwort, violets and ground elder, whilst the smart green swords of yellow flags in the ponds gave a hint of the glory still to come.

The road was followed for a while forking off to reach Ornochenock and passing another wood, this time floored with the white stars and unmistakable smell of wild garlic. A field of dandelion clocks shimmered in the sunshine and half grown ducklings were surprised on the loch where the party rested, whilst some members unzipped the legs of their trousers to take full advantage of the sunshine and walk in shorts.

The next stage of the walk took a path through fields and a lane, leading onto the forest road through Rusco wood. The views were constantly changing as height was gained with the Clints of Dromore and Cairnsmore to the north and Castramont and Dalmalin Hills to the east.

Walking gently uphill all the way the lunch spot was reached by the side of a drift mine which members viewed with the aid of torches. This was a perfectly excavated forked tunnel with good head height, hewn from the solid rock. It surpassed fifty feet in length,with one short passage off to one side.Perhaps an unsuccessful exploration for a mineral vein,or perhaps they'd extracted all they required.

A short but steep ascent to the top of Kenlum was slowly made, with many stops to admire the expanding views over the sea, to the hills, and looking down onto Gatehouse far below. The breeze at the top was very welcome and the new panorama to the west was greatly admired. Kenlum is only 300metres high but it is a wonderful viewpoint, looking over to Cairnharrow, Cambret Hill and the Corse of Strakes Road.

The way now led down to King’s Laggan and back to Anwoth via the Old Military Road , with more bluebells to admire. The sometimes muddy track ended by the beautiful gardens of the clachan where Rutherford ’s ruined church was explored and the Covenanter’s table grave found, opposite the gate. The cars were regained by a tired but happy group of ramblers after a very hot five and a half hours.

Next week’s walk is a strenuous 10mile jaunt from Backhill of Bush to Mullwhachar. Meet for car sharing at the breastworks Stranraer 9am, Riverside Newton Stewart 9.30 am or at Backhill o’Bush 10am. For more details please phone walk leader 01671 820527. New members will be made very welcome.