Wigtownshire Ramblers-Derry Farm to Wells o' the Rees ( SUW ) February 2011

It's Saturday the 5th of February 2011.
Todays walk is a circular taking in a section of the Southern Upland Way( SUW ).We were programmed to do this back at the beginning of December,but the big freeze meant it had to be put back.
This is a new walk to me.
Five cars carrying nineteen walkers took the winding potholed track to the walk start west of Derry farm and close to Loch Derry.
It's quite overcast today.

Starting the walk we headed west along the forest track for a kilometre or so before taking the footpath uphill towards Craig Airie Fell.

We're soon gaining height and looking back on Loch Derry.We can just make out the Galloway hills shrouded in cloud.
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My new years resolution to get fitter doesn't seem to be working,I't's been a struggle up the 320 metres.
 I need the break we have at the top.There's all round long distance views from up here.The nearly commissioned windfarms at Arecleoch and Markhill are prominent.

On the move again we continue over the undulations of  Killgallioch Moor before reaching one of the many cairns around this area.

A well constructed wooden signpost now directs us off the SUW to take a look at the ancient Wells o' the Rees.

They're certainly different to other holy wells I've come across

Here's what Canmore has to say.

Archaeological Notes

NX27SW 2 2297 7232. 

(NX 2296 7231) Old Kirk Yard (NR). 
OS 6" map (1957) 

(NX 2298 7232) Wells of the Rees (NR). 
OS 6" map (1957) 

The site of the church of Kilgallioch of whose history nothing is known. The churchyard is a small patch of raised ground surrounded by the foundation of an old well. There are no grave-markers. 
The Wells of the Rees, so named because of their proximity to sheep rees said to have been built from the fabric of the old church, are three springs covered by domed structures of large unmortared stones circa 3 ft high with square openings at ground level with, above lintel a recess 1 ft 2 ins square and 1 ft 3 ins deep. The best preserved of the three is oblong 6 ft long by 4 ft. 
They are traditionally said to have been resorted to by penitents for religious ceremonies etc. McKerlie found them reminiscent of the domed wells in the vicinity of St David's, South Wales. The name Kilgallioch is said to be a corruption of Cill na Cailleach - the Nun's Chapel.
RCAHMS 1912, visited 1911; Name Book 1846; E M H M'Kerlie 1916 

NX 2297 7232 The site of this church appears as an 'island' of dry, relatively high ground, bounded on the N and W by a semi-dry watercourse and on the E by a modern field dyke. An old wall can be traced around the perimeter of this rise but there are no other remains to be seen. The three springs are covered by crudely built stone domes and are described in the previous information. 
Surveyed at 1:10 000. 
Visited by OS (BS) 17 February 1976

After a good look around the wells we retrace our steps back to the junction.Since leaving Craig Airie Fell we've been heading in a generally southerly direction.

After another kilometre or so we cross the bridge over Tarff Water and reach the Laggangairn Standing Stones.

These two stones are all that's left of  what was a stone circle.Our walk leader is well acquainted with this section of the SUW,and imparts her historical knowledge to the group.

Another half a kilometre brings us to where we'll stop for lunch.Now I know why it's called the Beehive Bothy.

This is the first of six bothies located on the SUW.
It's basically a shelter for bad weather,but it's certainly well constructed with solid seating around it's interior.Our walk leader reads out her previous entry in the visitors book.We split into two groups (outdoor and indoor) for lunch.

After lunch we retrace our steps to the bridge over the Water of Tarff.
Here we split into two groups for those wanting to take a look at the ruined buildings at Killgallioch.

It was thought by some of todays ramblers that this might have been the location of the church ruins,but after a good look round it seems unlikely.
One particular rambler,once of the farming community seemed to think he'd visited here while it had been a working farm.
I spotted a large lintel that may have once been one of the Laggangairn standing stones.

The dampness in the air was now turning to drizzle.

Upon reaching the rendezvous point agreed with the first group,a message was found indicating they'd continued on the return route,but we eventually caught up with them to finish the walk together.

Here's a few extra pictures including some from Scoop.
A lot of historical stuff included made this a very interesting walk.
Back in Newton Stewart a fair number of walkers enjoyed tea,scones and a natter at the Cinnamon cafe.

I'll finish this post with the picture below,although I don't really know why.
Thanks Scoop !