Wigtownshire Ramblers - Portpatrick Knockinaam April 2010

It's Saturday the 24th of April 2010.
Todays walk is a repeat of a walk we did back in May 2009, with a little bit added on at the beginning.
May 2009 Walk
Once again, the walk report will double as the blog dialogue.

It was a chilly sea breeze that greeted the 16 walkers who assembled at Portpatricks south car park for the walk.

They began by walking in a northerly direction through the village, and up the steps that start the Southern Upland Way trail.

At the Shearings Hotel they turned right onto Heugh road, and then made their way up to Dunskey Golf Club.
Nice drive Sir!
Keeping a lookout for wayward golf balls they made their way over the course to the grounds of the Dunskey estate at Nursery Wood.

Shades of purple and blue on the woodland floor were heralding the arrival of the bluebell.
Next they passed the historic buildings of Dunskey Home Farm, before turning south and back towards Portpatrick.
I was intrigued by this plaque, but have discovered they're names of holiday cottages.Nice website though.
Ben Ma Cree

Back on the main road into the village they next turned south into Portree Terrace.Passing the caravan and camping parks already busy with holidaymakers, they reached the Portree Bridge where they made their way back to the coast along the south side of the Crailoch Burn.



Perched on the opposite clifftops were the ruins of Dunskey Castle.
Those at the back in this group picture were on the edge of a drop, and Scoop couldn't go back any further but she wanted the castle in.It's potentially hazardous having your picture taken!

Next they descended a deep gully.After crossing a footbridge over the burn they regained the cliff top up a steep and muddy path.It was noted by regular walkers that this section is always muddy, even in the driest weather.
No route march today.We have lots of short stops for taking pictures.
I'm above a spot called Greggary as i take this cave picture.It looks as though it would be hard to get access to it.

Next they crossed Crailoch Park Moor where budding Goatwillow was spotted.

They continued over the cliff tops of the scenic Morroch Bay.


Here they passed the sign for Hush-Hush, a former derelict radar building now believed to have been converted into a holiday home.

A sign at the road entrance to Morroch Bay stating 'Private-No Unauthorised Access', prompted much discussion about Scotlands 'Right to Roam' law, and whether the sign erectors were themselves guilty of law breaking.

A short steep climb down Antonlew Glen saw them arrive at the Port of Spittal Bay and the Knockinaam Lodge Hotel.

A lunch break followed on the beach.The earlier chill in the air had almost disappeared.
A seal, three shelducks, and the hotel labrador provided the lunchtime entertainment.


Because of it's remoteness, Knockinaam Lodge was the location for a secret meeting between Sir Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower during the Second World War to discuss the D-Day plans. It also featured in John Buchans 'The Thirty-nine Steps'.

Congratulations were shouted to a wedding party as they came down to the beach for photgraphs.

After lunch they followed the road alongside the tumbling Port of Spittal burn up to the Portree road. Turning north where Gypsy Cobs grazed and a peacock strutted in all it's finery, they continued on tarmac for some time before making their way back to the coastal path.
As well as this blaze of colour, primroses are in abundance this year.


Now they retraced their steps till the reached Dunskey Castle...

...from where they took the clifftop path back to the village.

The walk was nicely concluded by a visit to the nearby cafe for tea and cakes.
A very enjoyable walk in the best of company again today.

A walk on Carleton Fell

Friday the 23rd of April 2010.
No descriptions or commentary today....just pictures.

South Ayrshire nr Colmonell

It's Wednesday the 21st of April and I'm having a day out in South Ayrshire.
This summer I'm leading a walk in the area,and I'm deputy on a walk a week next Saturday.
While heading through Colmonell, I decided to go look for Peden's Mount.

This has come about through a young lady on Islay getting in touch with me and others for a project she's involved in.
Becky Williamson takes great photographs.
These are her links.
Made on Islay
Becky Drew Pictures
Solus is Sìth

Stopping at the ruins of Craigneil Castle (A future project)to ask about road conditions, I found I was conversing with another of Becky's contacts.
Mary Hogg and her brother Angus have well over 5000 photographs indexed with Geograph.org.uk
This is their page.
Mary and Angus Hogg on Geograph

Thanks for your help Mary.

Driving south east for a couple of kilometres,I came to the end of the tarmac road at Reuchal.
The first thing that struck me was the amazing views over the Galloway Hills.
The shepherd on his quad has a lot of area to cover nowadays.I had a long conversation with him when I reached Pedens Mount.As well as confirming my map reference, I learned from him that Fred Olsen of shipping fame once owned all the land around here.
Nice talking to you Tom.
Here at Wheeb Farmhouse an intriguing sign says Cable Telephone. I wonder whether this was the exchange for all the neighbouring farms.
This little mite was only a few hours old.
Now this was what I believed to be Peden's Mount,but have just learned that, according to Scotlands places,it's a small rocky eminence said to have been the preaching place of "the prophet Peden" (ie Rev Alexander Peden, 1626-1686).A 'Spit of Rock' protruding into the Water of Tig.
Looks like another visit's in order.
There's three earthy humps here.No other bumpy bits around ?
The view south east.Another empty farmhouse Glenour is on the right
A nice summer house overlooks the Water of Tig.
A picturesque waterfall just below the summer house.The Water of Tig joins the Stinchar on it's way to the coast at Ballantrae.
Now I retraced my steps back to the car.

Back down at Ballantrae I managed to find a possible alternative route to the summit of Knockdolian.
I've taken this view of Ailsa and Arran often enough, but never from just above Ballantrae.
It's been another enjoyable day of exploration.