Wigtownshire Ramblers Creetown to Cairnholy November 2010

It's Saturday the 13th of November and todays walk is a linear walk from Creetown to Cairn Holy.It's two years since we last did this walk.
2008 walk

We're a group of 17 today.(I started writing this as a press report out of habit.After writing one sentence it struck me I had no need.I'm having a break from writing reports. Hallelujah !
The route isn't exactly the same as it was two years ago.
We head up past “The Whinnie Face” which I've blogged before. The words on the stones are in the Japanese poetry form known as haiku.
We continue south along the same path I took on Wednesday to climb Larg Hill.

As we take a short break at Ravens Crags,we're treated to great views over the Cree estuary.

Shorty, who's todays walk leader tells me that a light plane in trouble once made a successful emergency landing on the Kirkmabreck Jetty.
We'll walk between the quarries today.Looking at two articles regarding the nuclear bunker above Kirkmabreck quarry,I mistakenly linked them together.This led me to the conclusion that it was being used as a store for the bodies of ET's (Extra Terrestrials)
Perhaps it isn't a mistake! ?

Here's a stitch of a moving group.


Here's one of the many buzzards we saw or heard on todays walk.

Just below Fell quarries a large herd of cattle have to be avoided.There's a lot of mud about today and this is a bad patch.There's evidence of the high rainfall recently in the flooded fields.

Now we reach the ruins of the old Kirkmabreck kirk,where I take an 'over the gate' shot.Now there's a future project !

Some of the headstones date back over 300 years.Though there are a few youngsters in here,they're generally people who've reached a fairly mature age for the period.Some of the verses are quite poignant.

I wonder how the top of this stone came apart.Surely not vandalism here?

N.B. A comment by fellow blogger Ruthie 5preciousthings has shed some light on damaged headstones. Hairline cracks,weather and frost all add to the damage.
Thanks Ruthie.

On the move again and another rather muddy section.This hare scared the life out of me.I'd left the path and nearly stepped on him.

Now we reach the tarmac road near Bagbie sheds.A very old unreadable milestone sits at what once would have been a junction.
We've slowed down somewhat.One of our more active senior walkers(Spike) has picked up an injury.It's probably a pulled muscle,but he'll continue on till something can be arranged for him


We're now heading back towards the coast.It's still a grand day.

Here's a similar view to one I took on Wednesday.We're on a line to Knock Fell,with Wigtown in between.

Reaching Bagbie farm we stop for lunch and arrangements are made for our invalid to be taken to the hospital at Stranraer.


After lunch we continue past Daffin and the Cleuch of Doon.In old Scots,'Cleuch' means a deep, wooded valley or a narrow glen.A perfect description.

Undulating rolling hills take us above Stroans Glen.The lowering sun reflects off Wigtown Bay.

An old loop of iron makes a frame for some photographic jinks.

Now Barholm Castle and the chimneys of Kirkdale House come into view.
As I've mentioned in previous blogs,the Kirkdale estate has long been associated with the Hannay family.Nowadays you can self cater on the estate.See here Kirkdale

As we approach Kirkdale Mains farm,this is the only Belted Galloway we'll see today.

At 220 years old Kirkdale Mains looks in great condition.
Kirkdale House and Mains farm were designed by a fellow Fifer Robert Adam.Admiralty Arch in Whitehall,London is probably his most famous creation.

Next we head to Cairnholy.I've covered this often as well.There's some interesting stuff on the Megalith Portal about Cairnholy

Now we move up to Cairnholy 2.

Two years ago we walked down to Kirkdale Bridge,but today we're going to cross the Kirkdale burn and descend on the Barholm road.
We've an invite from the owners of the Steading, the next time we pass, to take a look at the 'Cup and Ring mark' rock in their garden.


The next two collages are courtesy of Scoop.

Very nice.

After crossing the burn and more muddy places it's all downhill to the bridge and the walk finish.
Back at Creetown we'll finish an excellent walk by having tea,speciality shortbread,cakes and scones.
It's been a good day.