Wigtownshire Ramblers-Creetown Circular

It's Saturday the 30th of May,and we're having a lovely dry and sunny warm spell.
Twenty two suitably attired walkers gather at Creetown's main carpark for todays walk.We welcome one new walker.Heading out of the village past Kirkmabreck Parish Church the first leg of todays walk takes us through the beautiful Balloch Wood.
Creetown Walks

There are lots of information boards covering flora and fauna throughout the woods.This particular one concerns an ancient chalybeate well with a warning not to drink the water.The path follows the Balloch Burn for much of the way...

...hand crafted benches and bridges adorn the route.Todays walk being a moderate six mile circular there's no haste.
We've come upon a wooden platform that looks like a outdoor dance floor.Anyone for a 'Hoedown'.
Looking at one of the information boards later,it seems it is or is going to be a red squirrel feeding station.

Now at the top end of Balloch wood we reach Garrochar Wildlife Ponds.This is part of the Balloch Wood Communty Project.

We take time out here.A few ramblers do a little exploration.
The wooden roundhouse situated at the Garrochar Wildlife Ponds was commissioned in 2007 by Balloch Community Woodland Project to provide an interpretation shelter and meeting point.
Back on the move again we've a short walk along the old military before turning into the track that will lead us to the summit of Knockeans Hill.


It's a steady climb,but no one's in a hurry.

The hazy sunshine today means a lack of clarity in distant views.
I blogged my last solo effort up here when there was more cloud cover.For a comparison click here.Knockeans

There's not a cloud in the sky as we enjoy the vista's all round.At the summit it's a bit breezy...

...so we drop down a little to enjoy our lunch.

Others drop down further.

Panorama of A view north from Knockeans Hill on CleVR.com

After a bite and drink,i get myself a 180 degree panorama to the north.This picture takes in the Clints of Dromore,Cairnsmore of Fleet and the Cree Estuary.It's a shame there's so much solar haze.

Lunch over we're now heading west to Larg Hill.

The summit of Larg Hill,obviously a late walkers favourite spot.


Larg Hill is thirty one metres lower than Knockeans,but has a more open vista to the west.We stop often to identify points of interest.

After a short unscheduled detour a short distance south,we're heading northward back towards Creetown.

Curly's enjoying his day out...

...while the sunshine appears to be having a different effect on some walkers.

This will be the last gate,it's downhill from here.

We saw no red squrrels as we passed Larg cottage,but blue tits and great tits were spotted.We soon get back to the cars.A few walkers call for ice cream...

...while a group of us go and enjoy coffee,tea and cake at the Gem Rock Cafe.
A most enjoyable outing.

Skyalbum

I quite like Skyalbum and will probably do more of them,but because they take a while to load,rather than let them slow down the blog pages,i'll only upload the link.
A day in May in the Machars
That way it'll be left to the blog reader to decide whether or not to click on the link.
Meanwhile here's a few sheep.

An Osprey in the Machars

Bank Holiday Monday 25th of May in the Machars in South West Scotland,i stumbled across this Osprey Nest.
It's the one shown on webcam in the County Buildings in Wigtown.
I quietly got myself out of sight for a few photograph and video.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Portpatrick to Port of Spittal Bay

It's Saturday the 23rd of May and todays walk is coastal south from the picturesque village of Portpatrick.
It's pouring rain as i leave Newton Stewart.Not to worry though,the forecast i saw last night was excellent for the Rhins.

Arriving at Portpatrick there's none of the expected sunshine.Instead it's overcast,windy and still some rime in the air.I only put my warm coat in the car as an afterthought.

Panorama of Portpatrick Front on CleVR.com

Judging by the car registrations,there's a lot of southern visitors...perhaps thinking they aught to have turned south.It's nine degrees celcius with us,but it's twenty two on the south coast.Oh dear !

There's sixteen of us as we begin the walk up the steep steps to the cliff tops...

...where we're accompanied by two canines,Lily (top),and Curly.

Dunskey Castle's our first point of interest.
I've mentioned the history of Dunskey previously so there's no need to here.It's quite dramatic the way it's perched on the clifftops though.

Heading through one of the caravan and camping sites at Portree,a kite flyer takes advantage of the strong winds.

This is quite an undulating walk,and here we have to drop down this wee glen to cross the Craigoch burn.There's a few slippery and muddy stretches of path to negotiate.Dunskey Castle's soon behind us.

It's a very colourful time of year for the wild flowers and plants,and as usual our amateur botanists are in full flow trying to identify different species.I know the central flower here is some form of wild orchid.

I assume this sign refers to this item i found.
A FORMER derelict radar building at Eagle View on the Portpatrick cliffs is destined to be renovated into a holiday home.
The 'Hush Hush', as it is known locally, has been given provisional approval for transformation from a "deteriorating eyesore" into a brand new house by a local couple.
Were heading inland for a short detour.There's some relief from the strong wind now.

I think i've said this before,but there's something about the livestock in Galloway that makes them look so much healthier than those from other regions.

We're well equipped with stiles and walkers gates along here.I'm still not losing enough weight,and occasionally find myself in a tight spot.No problem for the majority of our group though.

Our short detour gets us back towards the coast,and now a long slippy slope with an electric fence alongside takes us down to the Knockinaam Lodge road.(We wont come back up this way,a slip would make one automatically make a grab for something to hold onto,and that would be the electric fence-one walker was zapped on the climb down)

Port of Spittal Bay and lunch now.It's a case of finding a sheltered spot from the seaspray and wind.Some blue sky out to the west made us optimistic about the return leg being brighter.The sound of the surf is very loud here.
After a very pleasant and sociable lunch break were on the move again.
The car park of the Knockinaam Lodge Hotel is pretty full.It's a very popular place.Knockinaam Lodge

A steady scenic walk on tarmac...

...brings us to Port o' Spittal,a colourful proud peacock...


...Gypsy caravans...

...and a pair of Irish Tinkers (or Gypsy Cobs or Vanners-is there a difference?).

Back now towards the coast,and time for a Jelly Baby.

Morroch Bay below us.Take a look on their enticing website.Morroch Bay

As Dunskey Castle comes back into view,the threatened blue skies are failing to materialize.Despite the weather we're all in good spirits,and enjoying plenty of jocularity...

...such as testing the bridge over the Craigoch burn for weight limits,and referring to the muddy path down to it as a 'Midden'.

Back through the Castle Bay Caravan and Residential Park where sits an interesting looking trike motorbike .


Back down the steps to the village brings our walk to an end.To complete the day,I join fellow ramblers for tea and scones in a lovely and not expensive cafe.
Despite the sun not coming out,it's been a very enjoyable walk,and one i'll bear in mind for my visitors.

Cairngarroch Bay Revisited

Regular blog readers may remember me visiting Cairngarroch Bay last year.
Previous Visit
I thought i'd return for some more exploring.It's a very rocky and stony bay requiring careful negotiation of ones feet...

...but the whole natural beauty of the place is worth the effort.

I found the commemorative plaque that eluded me on my previous visit.

A shrine has been made with small pieces of wreckage (i assume) placed around the rock.


I found the following tract by the author Alan James O'Reilly on an Easy Company message board-hopefully he won't mind it's reproduction here. Band of Brothers
Dear All

I believe this belongs here - and especially to this site, for reasons which will become apparent. The book mentioned below is short but touches on a very moving aspect of the 506th's history.

In the World War 2 section of the 506th PIR Association web page, Private Jack F. Sheidler, 2nd Battalion HQ, 506th PIR, is listed as KIA on July 27th 1944.

Last Friday, at the conclusion of a family visit to friends in south west Scotland, I discovered, quite by chance, the tragic circumstances surrounding Private Sheidler's death.

Private Sheilder was one of the victims of a C-47A crash that occurred on July 27th 1944 at Cairngarroch Bay, Portpatrick, Stranraer, Wigtonshire, Dumfries and Galloway. It was the biggest air disaster in that area until the Lockerbie atrocity 44 years later.

A detailed account of the 1944 crash is found in "The Rhinns' Forgotten Air Disaster, One Man's Search for the Facts" by Sandy Rankin, ISBN 0 9535776-9-4, Stranraer and District Local History Trust, Tall Trees, London Road, Stranraer DG9 8BZ.

The C47 belonged to the 441st Troop Carrier Group, 9th Air Carrier Command. It was one of two that took off from RAF Merryfield in Somerset at about 1 pm on July 27th 1944 en route to Prestwick near Ayr, ferrying wounded from the Normandy campaign for the first leg of their journey back to the USA. Each aircraft carried a crew of 9, including medical personnel and 13 casualties.

Approaching the coast of Dumfries and Galloway at an altitude of about 200 feet, attempting to keep below the cloud base, the C-47s suddenly encountered thick sea fog. One of the aircraft avoided the cliffs above Cairngarroch Bay by the narrowest of margins - its undercarriage (only partially retracted for a C-47) actually gouged a furrow along the grassy clifftop. The other aircraft - on which Pvt. Sheidler was travelling - crashed into the cliff face at the northern end of the bay.

The Portpatrick lifeboat was the first rescue party on the scene, arriving at about 7 pm local time with an RAF doctor. They found that all but one of the 22 passengers and crew on board the C-47 had been killed. The sole survivor was the Crew Chief, S/Sgt Merl W. Skinner. He had sustained terrible injuries in the crash and died at about 8:15 pm that evening.

Sandy Rankin, the author of the account, had always had an interest in the incident, having grown up in nearby Portpatrick. His grandfather Alexander Rankin and uncle James Rankin had been members of the lifeboat crew dispatched to the crash site. Alexander Rankin had evidently stayed beside the stricken S/Sgt. Skinner until he died. Unable to move or even scarce touch him, the life boat crew soaked a circle of ground around Skinner with petrol and set fire to it in order to give him some warmth. The RAF doctor did manage to adminster morphine to ease the airman's passing.

Sandy spent many years tracing the background of the victims of the crash. It was not easy but among the most comprehensive summaries he obtained was that of Private Sheidler, who is now buried in Cambridge, England. Jack Sheidler was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Sheidler from Elkhart, Indiana. Jack had been wounded on June 7th 1944. He was 21 years of age at the time. Sandy Rankin has this word of commendation for the 506th PIR, p 35:

"Just prior to the landing of seaborne forces, the high ground overlooking the beaches was siezed and held by men of the 506th Regiment.

"From D-Day until 10th July, when the unit was relieved to return to England, the 506th was to fight in the toughest battles of the Normandy campaign. Many of the men were not to return and many more spent months in hospitals".

Sandy includes a very poignant letter from Pvt. Sheidler's parents to the parents of another victim of the crash, 29 year old 2nd Lieutenant Mary Edith Jackley, a nursing sister serving with the 813th Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron. The photograph of her which is included in the book shows her to have been strikingly good looking. The other details given about her reveal that she was a highly professional young woman of outstanding character.

Mr and Mrs Sheidler's letter to 2nd Lieutenant Jackley's parents reads in part as follows:

"This has been an awful shock to us all. So let's try to take comfort in the Lord. They tell us he does everything for the best. Even this, [though] he tears our hearts out.

"God bless and comfort you in your sorrow."

Sandy Rankin was instrumental in having a memorial plaque placed on the cliff face near the crash site. It was dedicated on July 27th, 1999. 2nd Lieutenant Jackley's sister attended the service on the shore of the bay, during which Pipe Major James Brown played the lament "The Flowers o' the Forest". He had been working near Cairngarroch Bay on July 27th 1944 and had heard the crash.

The bond between the local people around Portpatrick and families of the crash victims - one of whom was a Scotsman, LAC Samuel Gilmour, RAF, of Kilwinning, Ayrshire - remains very strong. It is a genuine example of the 'special relationship' between the United States and Great Britain.

Sandy Rankin has another reason for his pre-occupation with the Rhinns' disaster. (The Rhinns is the name given to the general area.) The Lockerbie atrocity of December 22nd 1988, where 259 passngers and crew of Pan Am Flight 103 died, was mentioned above. Then a serving officer with the Strathclyde Police, Rankin drove a police van into Lockerbie, where he recalls "I could see the smoking remains of Sherwood Crescent, which took the brunt of the crash and where eleven local people died".

He concludes his excellent booklet with the familiar lines from Laurence Binyon's poem, read out at the end of the memorial dedication service by the late Peter Starling, then President of the Wigtonshire Antiquarian Society "without [whose] will and organising ability there would have been no memorial service":

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,
"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning
"We will remember them"

Alan O'R

Close by is Red Cave