Wigtownshire Ramblers Wood of Cree to Loch Middle

Saturday the 7th of January.
I reccied this walk with four others on Tuesday, so a few pictures will be from that recce.
I'll also be using some of Scoops pictures.
It's nearly the same walk we did back in 2008 only today we'll also climb the small hill of Craigmurchie.
March 2008 Walk

Report follows after the pictures.

Fungi on the Wood of Cree car park table leg

Waterfalls on the Cordorcan Burn

Wood of Cree information boards

Forest Road

Forestry operations

Loch Middle

Jetty Photo Calls

Climbing Craigmurchie

Craigmurchie views

Trig Point

Craigmurchie Cairn

Walk leader courtesy of Scoop

Weathered boulders and lunch stop

Strange growths via macro

Crossing the Pulhowan Burn

More Pulhowan Crossings

(The bottom set (Action Shots) courtesy of Scoop)

The return leg

The Pulhowan Burn again

The Pulhowan Waterfall

Wigtownshire Ramblers 

Saturday the 7th of January 2012

The car park at the Wood of Cree nature reserve was the start point for the walk.

Nineteen walkers set off following the Cordorcan burn through the reserve.It's many tumbling waterfalls delighting the photographers in the group.

Every so often an information board would give details of the flora,fauna and wildlife likely to be around.The Wood of Cree is the largest ancient wood in southern Scotland with a great variety of birds,however with such a large group walking, it was always going to be unlikely to spot many.

At the edge of the reserve the ruined buildings at Cordorcan were explored.

Now the forest track was followed all the way to Loch Middle.Timber operation were in progress and trees could be seen being cut down and the branches being stripped.

On reaching the loch the anti-clockwise track was followed round to the short concrete jetty where group photos were taken.

Now a drystone dyke through a boggy forest was followed uphill.Once clear of the woods, the slopes of Craigmurchie were accessed.After a short but stiff climb the trig point at 286 mtrs was reached.Wide ranging but somewhat hazy views were enjoyed as peaks and landmarks were identified.

A short walk from the trig point was a small cairn on top of a larger one. 

More slippy boggy ground followed on the descent to the forest below.Here a  pair of roe deer were disturbed.  

Under the cover of fir trees, a lunch break was taken.Scattered about were large weathered boulders with unusual markings. 

Following lunch a drystane dyke was followed down to an interesting collection of old sheep pens.Old sheep dozing bottles were spotted in the dyke.  

The Pulhowan burn was next to be crossed.While most walkers found a narrow crossing point upstream some took the more unorthodox route across a tree .

Now the drystane dyke, muddy and boggy in several places, was followed to regain the forest track of the outward journey.

The forest track was now retraced back to the reserve where the Scrubland trail was taken.

Following a zigzag route and crossing a number of wooden bridges the large waterfall and viewpoint above Pulhowan Bridge was reached.After a short break at the viewpoint the undulating path back to the reserve entrance was followed.

A large group of deer was spotted on the drive back to Newton Stewart.

Tea,coffee and cakes in Cinnamon topped an enjoyable walk.

The next walk on Saturday the 14th of January is an easy 6 mile circular walk from Whitefield Loch to Knock Fell.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30am, Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.30am or the walk start at Whitefield Loch (NX 235 549) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone walk leader 01671 403351. New members are always welcome