Wigtownshire Ramblers Dailly Circular October 2011

A wet day as 14 of us gather at Dailly in South Ayrshire for todays walk.It's a bit wet so it'll be a different walk from what was originally planned.
For another view of this walk have a look at Gordon's Blog

Pictures will be poor as I'll only be using my little supermarket cheap camera.
The press report will be below.

A wet start at Dailly

A plaque on the nearby Dailly Parish Church

Curlingstone Waymarker

Alongside the Lindsayston Burn.

Through Kibbert Woods and fun crossing the burn

Friendly horses and retreating cattle.

Trotter Vision ?

Our first look at Dalquharran Castle.

Insurance Job ?

Bridge over the River Girvan

Old Dalquharran Castle.

The date refers to an extension,it was built earlier.
The motto below reads 'Ut Scriptura Sonat Finis Non Pugna Coronat.
It's a quote from a13th century book,"rhetorica novissima" by boncompagno da signa,published in 1235.
the quote means "when your writing sonnets,you're not fighting the crown" or something close.



More interesting features.

A handsome gatekeeper.

Tree lined avenue (I forgot to mention below there were quite a number of old Yew trees on the estate)

New Dalquharran Castle.

Fabulous stonework.

I've given the above picture the original title, "Through a brick"

Around the back.Autumn trees.

Magnificent.

View of Dailly, lodge house and cows in the mud.

Back into Dailly.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report.Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report.
Saturday the 29th of October 2011.

Fourteen intrepid walkers made the trip up to Dailly in South Ayrshire for the walk.
Wind and rain were the order of the day as the group set off eastwards from Dailly square.

After crossing the B741 Girvan road and passing the cemetery, the track followed the crystal waters of the Lindsayston Burn.Reaching Low Park a stile led to a path alongside the burn.Ornate walk markers in the shape of curling stones were seen at various stages.
A series of delightful waterfalls and pools graced this section.

The path now led through Kibbert and Lindsayston Woods.
A wide burn,a closed gate,a muddy path and a herd of cattle required some subtle manoevering before progress could be made.
Once through the gate a trio of friendly excited Clydesdale horses came up to the fence to say hello.

Reaching a minor tarmac road at Lindsayston the route now headed north.An outside piggery hut with a satellite dish attached intrigued and amused the group.
The original plan was to climb Barony Hill,but poor and sometimes worsening conditions prompted the walk leader to alter the route.
At Gettybeg a farm track now led back towards Dailly.
Stretches of standing water were carefully negotiated along here, and after passing Balcamie Farm they soon arrived back in Dailly.

Now,to make up for the abandoned climb it was decided to cross the River Girvan and walk to the old and new castles of Dalquharran.
After crossing a very fashionably designed footbridge the track followed the river bank until the ruins of the old castle of Dalquharran were reached.
Here the group had their lunch break.
Viewed during and after lunch, this 16th century ruin once the property of the Kennedys of Culzean proved to have some interesting points.
Coats of Arms,carved figures and a doorway lintel with the inscription "Ut Scriptura Sonat Finis Non Pugna Coronat" were found.

Moving north west 300 yards stood the magnificent 'New Dalquharran Castle'.
Last occupied in the early 1960's this Robert Adam designed country house stands on a bluff with a large area of open ground and was commissioned in 1781 by the husband of Adam's niece,Thomas Kennedy of Dunure.
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In 1967 the then owners of the house had the lead removed from the roof to avoid paying rates.Now only the masonry shell remains intact.
On the cards,there's a £20m project by Ritz-Carlton to turn the ruins into one of Britain's top hotels and golf complexes.Jack Nicklaus will be commissioned to design the new golf course.

Continuing through the estate grounds the group reached the north lodge house.A short road walk back to Dailly followed by tea,coffee and confectionery concluded a wet but very interesting day.
The next walk on Saturday the 5th of November is C + walk of 6.5 Miles in the Machars.Meet for car sharing at 9.00am at the  Breastworks,Stranraer, 9.30am at the Riverside, Newton Stewart or at the walk start at Kilsture North Car Park (NX 436 502) at 10am.New members are always welcome, for more information or if going to the walk start, contact the walk leader on 01988 840268.