A couple of Machars hotspots.

Headed down to the Machars for a little exploration today.


My first stop was here at Druchtag Motte near Mochrum.I've passed it on numerous occasions,but never stopped till now.
See full size to read the information board.

Gazetteer:-A mediaeval earthwork in the Machars district of Dumfries and Galloway, the Druchtag Motte lies just north of Mochrum village. It forms a steep-sided mound and has a summit area 20m (65 feet) in diameter. Druchtag once formed part of the barony of Mochrum of Druchtag held for a time by the McCullochs of Druchtag.
There's a rope provided to get you up all of the 20 feet.
Next a look at these substantial ruins at Auchengallie.I'm not including 'Bully' in that statement though.
Now with walking boots on,I'm heading over the Fell of Carleton as I promised I would,to take a look from above.
I'm soon overlooking Carleton and the coast.On the OS map,there's a Machermore's Mill Stone,though I doubt whether this is it.

Now I'm overlooking Laggan Pond and Laggan Camp.
This is from Scotlands Places dot gov.

(NX 3976 3725) Laggan Camp (NR)
OS 6" map (1957).

Laggan Camp: Fort - This pear-shaped fort occupies a strong position on the summit of a steep-sided hillock, connected to Carleton Fell on the NW. It is defended by double ramparts and a medial ditch, drawn round the flanks of the hill. The ramparts were probably earth- works, now mostly reduced to terraces. The top of the hill has a well-defined margin which might be expected to have carried an inner rampart, though there was no trace of one in 1951. The entrance is on the W, where the terraces are 12' wide, one 8' below the other. At the E end, the ditch is 20' wide, 5' below the crest of the scarp, with the external rampart visible as a mound.
RCAHMS 1912, visited 1911; RCAHMS TS., visited 1951; R W Feachem 1956.

Generally as described. The enclosure area measures 76.0m NE-SW by 57.0m NW-SE. A slight stony scarp is suggestive of an inner rampart around the summit of the hill, whilst on the E is a possible internal quarry ditch. An old field bank crosses the site from N-S otherwise the interior is featureless.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (DWR), 1 February 1973.
There's the thickest drystone wall I've seen going up the hill here.I wonder how many man hours went into the building of it.
The raptor in the middle was circling and I wasn't sure whether it was what I thought it was,but it's call was very distinctive.After looking at this page,Harrier Sounds I can confirm it was a Hen Harrier.
Now I'm heading back along the clifftop.Remember the flotsam and jetsam from the ramblers walk? This would be a great spot to watch for shoreline wildlife.I might do that in warmer weather,there's still a lot of features along this coast to explore.
The clouds and damp weather are moving in as I get back to my car at Craiglemine.Doesn't seem to bother this fella though.
More to come from this stretch of coastline.I'll be looking for a way over the clifftops to St Ninians Cave.