Wigtownshire Ramblers-Damnaglaur

It's Saturday the 2nd of January 2010.I think i'll call the year 'Twenty Ten',since it's easy to say.
Looking outside the house,it's like an ice rink,i'm not sure whether to take the car out in this.
After scraping the ice off the car windows,i decided to risk a run down to the car park anyhow.After a couple of minor slides i got into Sainsbury's car park.(I went into Sainsbury after seeing someone's wheels spinning trying to get out of the Riverside carpark).Sainsbury's weren't yet open,so i set off.It took me a couple of attempts to get back up the hill,but now on firmer road i headed for the A75 bypass roundabout.Police blockade up...road closed.Was heading home,when i took a thought to look at the Barnkirk Road on to the A75.Maybe the police car coming towards me was a good sign.
The road's open and i'm heading along an extremely quiet A75 to Kiltersan where i'm joining a fellow rambler who's driving us to the walk start.

This is where i now take a shortcut,and cheat a little(That should be a lot).
An articulate and knowledgable fellow rambler who's also a member of the South Rhins Community has written this weeks press report.All passages in italics from this point on are hers.(She says it all better than i can anyway)

After early rain the ramblers were once again treated to a bright and clear day for their walk on Saturday.


In the tiny corner of Wigtownshire where there has been no snow, 22 walkers set off north from Damnaglaur on a mystery tour around Kirkmaiden.

At the hill fort by High Curghie a minor road to High Currochtrie was taken only to be abandoned after a hundred yards for muddy fields.
A view over to Artfield Fell Windfarm.
Not to be confused with Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart.Sounds the same.

The way soon became a farm track leading to Low Currochtrie where the road was once again followed along to Sandy Point and then along the Pulwhinrick Burn to Kilstay.
Hallyholm and Whitehill.
Galloway Hills View.

Just before joining the main Drummore road, a field gate led uphill to a large standing stone where the views across to the Galloway hills with their snowy tops was enjoyed. The Glen road was reached along by Low Curghie, one of the earliest Christian sites in Scotland .
This happy young lady extracted the sheet of ice from the trough for the ice fairies to skate on.Alas they'll only have small areas...it soon shattered as she dropped it.
There's a great variety of animals in the South Rhins.

Uphill again, the wooded glen made a pretty route which joined the Port Logan road once more at Curghie bridge opposite the fine Georgian house which used to be the Kirkmaiden Manse.
I didn't get a picture of the Manse,you'll have to make do with the Old Smiddy.


Soon the Old Covenanters Kirk, built in 1638, with its interesting monuments and gravestones was explored, and then the Old School road taken towards Drummore.
Time for a group photo.I'm in the one previous.
Memorials from the first world war,these are the headstones of those killed by the sinking of the Rio Verde by torpedo in 1918.For a really comprehensive set of pictures of these and other war graves in this churchyard look here.
Scottish War Graves Project

The views of Drummore from this road, with the tide in, the Galloway hills across Luce Bay , the Mull of Galloway lighthouse and the Isle of Man beyond were a constant panoramic companion on the downhill walk.

Kildonan road was uphill again with a handy seat half way from where there was a good view of Drummore harbour, built in the early 1800s to bring coal to the surrounding area and take farm produce away. The RAF took over the harbour in 1938 and built much of the surrounding sheds.

A short and welcome rest.

The ruins of Kildonan Croft, burnt down some years ago, were passed and the road regained at Several cottage from where the mixture of Shetland and Jacob sheep, along with a flock of geese at Bucky Knowe caused some interest.
How could you forget the turkey.Is this the one that got reprieved.

Now the appetites that had been stimulated were assuaged by a great buffet lunch provided at the house of the walk leader. A good start to the New Year!