A Windy Day on Luce Bay

High winds had stopped most of Scotland's ferry crossing on this day in late November 2011. I decided to take a run down to Luce Bay to take pictures and video. In no particular order the following are just some of the photographs I took.

Here's an edited video clip. Music is Knocknagow by the Celtic Fiddle Festival.  

A bit cool,but a nice day for taking pictures and video.

I got my share of foam and sand.
I mostly use Youtube's own editor for my video's these days.They take my camera shake off nicely.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Glenamour Kirroughtree November 2011

It's Saturday the 26th of November. Today's walk is a variation and a lengthening of a walk we did back
in September 2009.
Kirroughtree Circular 2009

Which was first thought of back in 2008 but cancelled due to bad weather.
Cancelled Walk 2008

Today's walk will start from a favourite spot of mine.

There's a group of 20 of us as we set out from Glenamour car park.
It's a very dull day and the forecast isn't a good one.All my pictures today are on my small camera and won't be great quality....sorry !

We first walk up to the boathouse.I was here earlier this month,remember my post Misty-Wispy-and-Forest-Green

From here we go over to the south of the loch and climb a slippery drystone wall.

Now we climb a boggy Craignine Hill.

From where we view Barncaughla Farm.
Barncaughla Farm was the birthplace in 1669 of John McMillan,a well known member of the cloth during the days of the Covenanters.

Alexander Peden the covenanting preacher of the period known as 'The Killing Times' was believed to have spent some time here.

It's a boggy muddy field that takes us over to the forest above Bargaly Glen.

Here we join the path known as the Papy Ha trail.
The word ‘Papy Ha’ is derived from (Papy) the Norse for a preacher or teacher and (Ha) the Saxon word for hall or house. The name refers to a site of a holy dwelling long since derelict.

We reach the forest track running alongside the Palnure and take a short break a popular scenic spot.

Quick Water
Pattern springs between alder trees turns back to the wind at Tonderghie down Grey Mare's Tail and Clugie Linn falls pierce the mountain with their din through a strip for cattle,Carseveige Burn then the chattering one,the little Louran along Barhoise with it's field of thistles the yellow clearing where Blairbuis rustles In paradise Bargaly hazelwood grow nut and leafy branch and root Under Bardrochwood field at the bridge round Kirroughtrie's brindle ridge between Muirfad Flow's long marsh and the rich loop of Meikle Carse clear Palnure,stream of the yew tree winds to the fish trap Cruives o Cree

No matter the weather this is a great spot.

I've included a few of Scoop's pictures today.Thank for getting me in the picture.

The forest road takes us along to the bridge over the burn to Corwar,
No horses anymore and the house is all shuttered up.It's a shame to see so many of the more remote dwellings being closed up.

More of Scoop's pictures.She loves to take pictures of people in difficult situations.

Lunch was taken by the burnside close to the old Bargaly lead mine shaft and memorial stone to a forestry worker.

This nice big mushroom's on a tree close by.

Back on the move after lunch it's again raining so there's not many pictures taken.
We natter to the farmer at Bargaly, then continue on through Craignine farm till we're into the grounds of Kirroughtree Visitors centre.

There's a few new boards up since I was last here.These are illustrations promoting the Dark Sky.

Most of the group are up for finishing the walk as planned along the Lade Trail.
Here's the details. Sulwath Connections-Lade Trail

It's getting really dull now but at least it's faired up.

The trail is well signposted with lots of information boards.

We get to Bruntis Loch and the Gem Stane. Each of the 7stanes Cycle Centres has a sculptured stane by Gordon Young. The Gem Stane is polished pink quartz weighing approximately 1.75 tons, and is located on the blue and red cycle trail near Bruntis Loch.This was recently vandalised when some total idiots managed to break it off it's pedestal.It's taken a while to repair and the rejoin is very visible.

From Bruntis it's a short walk via the waterfall back to the Visitors Centre.......

.......and a welcome warm drink at the cafe.

It's been an ok walk despite the weather.I think I've mentioned before that the Palnure is my favourite burn.

Below is the walk leader's report.

Saturday 26^th November. Ramblers’ walk

Although there had been quite a horrific weather report for the day, twenty ramblers turned out for a walk through Kirroughtree woods and the Bargaly glen. After parking at Glenamour car park the forest road was followed to a beautiful loch of the same name. Set in a defile amongst tall trees this man made stretch of water is a quiet and hidden gem of the woods.

The open hill was the next objective where the views were shortened by the overcast skies, but the farm of Barncaughla could be seen clearly, where the prophet Peden stayed at one time. Underfoot the boggy ground meant stepping from tussock to tussock until the trees were entered once more; a forest track alongside the Palnure Burn eventually being reached via footpath and country road.

Stopping by the side of some rapids for a photo shoot, a plaque was found, inscribed with a poem portraying the delights of the Palnure burn, with an accompanying sculpture reminiscent of a ladybird.

The river was followed to Dallash and crossed by a dry ford at Corwar. The farm is unfortunately no longer inhabited, a sad reminder of the demise of small farms in the hills. The old road was just about visible leading back alongside the Palnure, but was very wet in places and another ford had to be crossed, this time by walking through the water.

Lunch time back at the rapids, on the east side of the river, the rain began to fall. It did not dampen the enthusiasm of the walkers, who examined the memorial stone to a forestry worker, and then the shaft and adit of a lead mine close by.

Belties and Shorthorns alongside the farm track leading to Bargaly farm added interest to the now wet walk, but the Visitor centre at Daltamie was soon reached. This was not the end of the walk, for now the Lade walk constructed with the assistance of Sulwath Connections brought the industrial past of Kirroughtree forest to life.

When the military road was being constructed in 1763 lead was discovered in the excavations. There began a period of mining here which lasted until the beginning of the twentieth century. Some of the shafts reached a depth of 900 feet.

The lade walk follows the route of the water collected in Bruntis loch and travelling down to the washing floors where ores were crushed and cleaned. Information boards along the way point out water holding pits, bridges for farm carts to cross, the stone and clay construction of the lade itself and eventually the sluice gates where the water was released from the dam at Bruntis Loch.

The loch is the jewel of the forest. This description is reflected by the 1.75 tons of a polished, pink quartz sculpture of a diamond, one of theSeven Stanes of the Galloway bike trail. It was designed by Gordon Young and is reached across a wonderful circular bridge over the Bruntis Burn.

The walkers now followed this burn past a tumbling waterfall back to the Visitor centre and well-earned refreshments. It had been an interesting and well suited walk for the short and damp days of November.

Next week’s walk takes in the SUW, Knockquhassen reservoir and Dindinnie. Meet for car sharing at Riverside, Newton Stewart, 9.15am and Breastworks, Stranraer, 10am, (NX 059 610). New walkers welcome. Walk leader can be contacted 01776 700707.

Croy to Culzean November 2011

It's Monday the 21st of November 2011 and today I'll be making a long overdue visit.
I'm meeting up with my fellow rambler from Cumnock and we're going to walk from Croy to Culzean Castle and Country Park,have a look around before walking back. ( Culzean was spelt Cullean in the Victorian age and is generally pronounced like other Scottish words with the 'Z' silent.To the locals it's Cullane )
The car park is on the shore north of Maidens on the coastal route to Ayr.
Croyburnfoot Leisure Park is also next to the shoreline.(you can hear the waves on their website)

It's a better day here than it is in Galloway as I later learned.

Although in need of a clean up there's a very good information board by the beach.

I get a fully zoomed shot of the castle across Culzean Bay.

Apart from a couple of dog walkers we're quite alone as we set off.

It's a couple of kilometres along this lovely beach.There are a few small burns which discharge into the bay, but only one needing any negotiation.
There's a fair variety of  birds in and around the beach.Above bottom left is a flock of Shelducks.

An enterprising person or persons have done a nice job connecting a couple of cottages into a nice beach house.

I take quite a few pictures of the castle.I'm only uploading a fraction of them.

Another burn  making it's way inexorably to the sea.

Swans and Oystercatchers.

We're getting closer and the castle looks quite spectacular.

Upon reaching the grounds of Culzean the first point of interest is the Gas making plant.
It's been restored and when open in the season,a full size realistic model can be seen in the Retort House.
This link is quite detailed.     Hevac Heritage Gas Making

We won't get to look inside any parts of the castle today.It's open from April to October.
During the winter season the shops and restaurants are open weekend and Christmas.
Here's their own website. The Culzean Experience

Side view of the castle.

Most of it's original grandeur is still in place.

Front view

The Viaduct.

Reaching the Deer Park my walking companion has found her bearings.As an ex teacher she used to bring her class out here.We'll be heading to the Swan Pond a 15 minute walk away.

An educational tree top walk to be accompanied by a park ranger.

This will be beautiful once the Silver Firs again reach maturity.

Late November in the walled garden is still amazingly colourful.

As befits a a place of splendour, there's a great variety of trees.

We reach the Swan Pond.

There's more ducks and other birds than swans.They don't take a lot of notice of us as they enjoy the warmth of this late November day.

I've no problem getting colourful pictures.

Close by is one of the entrances and the play-park.
We have our lunch watching all the activity on the pond.
I left my video camera running.Here's a little bit of the footage.

After an enjoyable lunch we head up to the Pagoda.There's no one in today.

We're now walking along the opposite bank of the Swan pond.I should have changed my camera setting for the Swans.

This is the sort of tree all kids love.If the branches hadn't been damp I'd have had a clamber myself.

The southern outlook of the castle comes into view.

Below is the Dolphin House ,in Victorian times it was the laundry,now It's an educational outdoor activity centre.

This is the Battery.The cannons go back to the glorious days of Scotland's industrial heritage and Ironmaster and Merchant Thomas Edington

Now we're back at the gardens at the front of the castle.

This is Dudley,a big friendly Bernese Mountain Dog.We pass the time of day with his owner.

More exotic and colourful blooms.

Our last port of call is the Visitors Centre where I try out my ten second delay feature on my camera.

This was Culzean Home Farm.It's all closed today but I imagine they'll get a few visitors at the weekend.

Chaffinches are enjoying sharing someone's lunch.We saw the robin earlier.

Back on the beach and the tide's well on it's way out.

What a fabulous place Culzean is.

We had a great day.