A full moon over Galloway

Thursday the 30th of August

It was a clear night, and I finally got my camera settings right to take these lunar pictures

I took a lots of shots at varying distances, but these three are probably the clearest

These are straight out of the camera with no editing, however I did try a few effects to see what would happen. 

The only effect that came up with a surprising result was the 'Pencil Sketch', and this is the result of that below 

Isn't that weird !

I'd love someone to explain it to me ?

Wigtownshire Ramblers - Craignelder - August 2012

I'm leader today.

The walk report will be after the pictures.

This is today's hill - Craignelder.

Monument at the Red Deer car park to John McDonald.

"John McDonald memorial, he was a ganging-body (itinerant worker) who died 1878 by the old Brockloch Bridge. When the bridge was replaced in the late 1970s this memorial was built to house the former bridge-side plaque."

Forest road above Craigdews

View to Craigdews. The prominent crag is part of the Wild Goat park.

Ruins of Dunkitterick Cottage, Alexander Murray's Birthplace.

The first bog

Mossy Bank 

Through the forest at Sleekit Knowe and on to the rocky slopes of Craignelder

Views back down to Murray's Monument and Craigdews

Zoomed in goats

I persuaded these lovely ladies to pose...

....and the other two as well (don't get me wrong, they're lovely too)

Final scramble to Craignelder Summit

Millfore Hill Summit

Overlooking Loch Grannoch

Views to Clatteringshaws, Benniguinea and Cairnsmore of Dee

By-passing Craignarget down to Craigenskulk and Millstalk

The butterflies were out by the time we got back to the car park.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report

Saturday the 25^th of August 2012

A dreich morning saw ten intrepid walkers meet at the Red Deer Car park for the start of the walk to the summit of Craignelder.

The forest road opposite the car park was accessed for the first section of the walk. Colourful Bell heather, Ling and Willow herb (fireweed) grew profusely along the roadside. A wren, a merlin or hobby and swallows were spotted in flight. After a gradual incline, the right fork at a road junction was taken leading down to the remains of Dunkitterick Cottage, the birthplace of Alexander Murray. One of Galloway’s most famous sons, and the son of a shepherd, Alexander Murray learned to read in several languages from a very early age and went on to become a Doctor of Divinity and Chair of Oriental languages at Edinburgh University. Sadly Ill health dogged him most of his life and he died at the age of 37. Murray’s Monument was prominent for much of the walk.

After leaving the cottage, a burn and a bog had to be crossed to reach the next forest road.

The euphoria of being on solid ground was short lived however as a forest ride signified the start of what was to be quite a strenuous climb.  Boggy in places the forest ride was followed up through the braes of Sleekit Knowe.  One ridged, moss covered dry section was delightfully like an oil painting.

After exiting the forest and crossing an old fence, a diagonal route over the boulder strewn hillside led to the rock climbing crags of the Fleshmarket and Big Gairy. This was a slow painstaking climb via tussocks and granite terraces.  Gradually the granite outnumbered the tussocks and the going got easier. Mountain goats were seen above on granite outcrops. 

 A lunch break was taken in a sheltered rocky depression. Midges which had been troublesome in the forest and the lower slopes were happily absent from the dinner table.

Sustained and refreshed after a leisurely break the summit of Craignelder (601) was soon reached. A break was taken to identify surrounding mountains and landmarks. The weather was improving, but distant views were still hazy. The adjoining Meikle Mulltaggart looked especially majestic across the Louran Rig and Deers Den.

Next came one of the highlights of the walk. Family groups of Ravens numbering 12 or 13 passed overhead giving a wonderful aerobatic display of turns and tumbles.

A path passing a mountain lochan now led across to the bigger cairn on the summit of Millfore Hill (602), its higher namesake now in a clear view to the north. Another break just below the summit opened up views to the east and the Lochs Grannoch, Fleet and Clatteringshaws.

The group now began the descent down the Stey Green of Kitterick avoiding Craignarget Hill. More heather and fewer tussocks made the going easy enough till reaching the boggy quad track at Craigenskulk.  A forest ride now led to the forest road at Millstalk. This road now led down to the junction near the Palfern Burn to complete the circuit.

The short distance back to the cars completed what was a more strenuous, but ultimately satisfying walk than was expected.

The next walk on Saturday the 1st of September is a 6 mile cliff top walk from St Ninian's Cave to the Isle of Whithorn.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.00am,the Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.30am or the walk start at St Ninian's Car Park (NX 431 366) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone the walk leader on 01988 840268. New members are always welcome.

The Wigtownshire Ramblers - Damnaglaur August 2012

It's Saturday the 18th of August and I'm back walking with the Ramblers.

Today's leader is Scoop, with the Weaver as her back up.

We're starting the walk from our leader's wonderful garden.

The press release will be written by the Weaver meaning I can take it easy with the report writing.

Her account will follow the pictures as usual.

So off we go

A circuit of the garden.

Leaving Damnaglaur

Kildonan Croft - Drummore Views

The Kirk Covenant and SS Main and SS Rio Verde Memorials

Scottish War Graves

Kilstay Standing Stone

Path to Kilstay Bay

Sea Wall Strollers...

Sea Wall Chancers ha ha

I had the camera poised for some swimming. 

Short walk to Drummore

Drummore.

The Ship Inn is a Thai restaurant these days.

Drummore Harbour to our lunch on the beach

The unfinished Limpet Hall

The only boat afloat on Luce Bay, and the shoreline walk.

Maryport Pavilion

Creechan Farm and view

Tea and confectionery at Damnaglaur.
Thanks for a great walk Scoop 

Ramblers’ walk August 18th 2012

The optimism of nineteen walkers was well rewarded this Saturday when a misty start to the day’s excursion turned into hot sunshine by its end.

A stroll around the beautifully kept garden of the walk leader at Damnaglaur began what was to be a ramble of continuous delights.  The flocks of geese, turkeys and hens at Buckie Knowe along the road, together with various breeds of sheep, gave an interest which was heightened when the old track across by Kildonan croft was taken, with great views down to the little harbour of Drummore, now filled with the incoming tide, shining in the sun.

The school road was climbed to the church on the hill, the Kirk Covenant, so named because it was built in the year of the signing of the Covenant, 1638, to replace the old Kirkmaiden kirk, the remains of which are to be seen on the Mull farm. A diversion into the graveyard was taken to inspect the memorial to those who died on the SS Main, which was torpedoed by a German submarine in 1917. The ship was raised and visitors were allowed on board for a small fee, the money was used to pay for this memorial.

Now the walkers took a route down the dappled Glen Road and across a field to view the standing stone near Kilstay. This is thought to mark an early Christian site and burial ground which is adjacent to another early church recorded nearby.

A little dog thought to join the walkers just at the corner, but was deterred by its owner, and the sea wall was taken to by well-balanced people for the next stretch of the walk, which now took the route of the new coast path. Entertainment was provided by a couple who walked along a ledge above the tide, which was not deep at this point, but gave a few wet feet before the road was once more gained.

A colourful garden at the entrance to the village was inspected and the abandoned shore road was followed past flowery and picturesque cottages, now a quiet corner fronting the sea. The harbour, with a half built or half demolished shed spoiling the view, was passed, and an old eighteenth century mill inspected, with its wheel and fast flowing water from the leat still intact.

Along Cailiness road a picnic site with comfortable seats on the beach welcomed the ramblers for a lunch break, a pleasant interlude with birds flying low over the water and the rushing music of waves close by.

A path cut through rampant wild flowers, including the now seeding cups of wild carrot and stands of aromatic mugwort, provided an interesting specimen of ‘robin’s pincushion’ on a wild rose – a hedgerow gall, looking like a mossy ball, which is caused by the minute gall-wasp which lays its eggs in the rose bud in spring.

The caravan site at Maryport was soon reached and the new coast path was left, to climb steeply uphill up past Creechan Farm, the exertion rewarded by splendid views over to the Mull and its lighthouse.

Now it was only a short distance through field and along the road back to Damnaglaur where delicious tea in the sunshine awaited hungry walkers, having completed a most pleasant and relaxing circular excursion in the southernmost part of this area.

Next week’s walk is a 6mile trek along forest roads, by tussocks and heather to the summit of Craignelder. Meet for car sharing at Breastworks Stranraer, 9.00am, Riverside, Newton Stewart, 9.30am, and the Red Deer Car Park,( NX 521731) 10am. If going directly to the start please phone walk leader 01671 403351. All walkers will be made welcome.

Ireland August 2012 - Day 9 & 10 - Lough Erne car drive, Splash, Claddagh Glen and Home

Day 9

Thursday the 9th of August

Me and the twins are going for a car ride around Lower Lough Erne while the others are away doing their own thing.

Our first stop should have been at the Ferry Terminal to Devenish Island to see if we could get a view of the 12th Century tower. We somehow missed it.

We did however get to the shore at Killadeas. The boats top right in the above collage were moored at the next place we stopped..............

........................Castle Archdale

I'm absolutely thrilled with this place. There's a World War 2 exhibition here.

I also have a connection with this place.

My Uncle David was based here for a short period.

My Uncle David was a Flight Sergeant in the RAF who lost his life in a tragic accident on the 8th of July 1945. He was the flight engineer in a Catalina that crashed into Lake Victoria,Kisumu, Tanganyika.

Although I couldn't see him in any of the pictures on display, I'm sure he'd have known many of the ground crew who were based here.

How unlucky he was to die and the war was over.

We continue our tour going through Kesh and onto Boa Island....

.....where we took the pulley boat over to Lusty Beg Island

It was an interesting short visit, but we didn't spot too much lustiness happening !

On now to Castle Caldwell

Where we enjoyed cooling our feet in the glorious water

This is the Super Slow Motion Video on my camera

I added the sound effects later


After a short visit to Belleek we made our way down to Garrison on Lough Melvin

A short walk from the main road took us through to the waterfalls on the Roogagh river.

We mostly lazed the rest of the day and watched the Olympic games with Nicola Adams, Katie Taylor and Jade Jones's gold medals among the highlights.

To me though, I thought the most impressive of the day was David Rudisha's world record in the 800 metres.

The bars of Blacklion and Belcoo were visited for liquid refreshments that night.

Day 10

Friday the 10th of August

The Cheltenham contingent head down to Dublin Port today 

Me, Sarah and Marie begin the day with a walk round the paths of Corralea.

Sarah takes charge of my camera for some shots.

I have not got the foggiest idea of how she's got that effect on the above picture, but isn't it brilliant !

Is it an Irish Fairy ring ?

A collage of some of Sarah's other pictures.

My four lasses together.

L to R = Marie, Michele, Lynn and Sarah

The next couple of hours were spent in the water.

It's a wonderfully warm day

Callum and Erin.

Charlotte and Jack.

All girls together

The good old self timer get's the whole gang.

There'll be a lot more pictures going on Facebook

Cladagh Glen was where the first goodbyes were said.

I blogged a post on this wonderful glen in November 2010

I get another short video clip

Marie makes airborne water patterns.

So as Phil,Sarah and Marie were heading off, we met Michele, Callum and Erin coming up the glen.

I got a second climb up to the caves.

There are some weird and wonderful rock formations up here...........

.................and a lovely family

I love this picture.

Doesn't Erin resemble an angel

Our last visit this trip is up to Doon (Dunmakeever)

Me and Charlie walk up to the waterfall.

Many's the trout I've enjoyed from that pool over the years.

Jack and Charlotte wave me goodbye (I've not gone yet !)

Thanks for these pictures Marie.

This is the P.McGovern who helped build the Trig Point. Oh sorry ! The Triangulation Station.

It was earlier than I'd previously mentioned . Not the 50's but 1948

Here we are with our hosts at the top of Doon, Helen and John. 

Thanks for all the lovely food, drink and the wonderful Irish welcome.

We'll be back.

Day11

After tidying the cottages and settling the fuel bill we say our goodbyes.

(I'll see some of the family back in Newton Stewart as they're staying overnight)

I've a whole day till my boat, so I'll go via Ballyshannon.

It's a few years since I was up this way in a car, and I'm amazed at the road improvements.

Ballyshannon now has a bypass.

Donegal town was packed.

This is the famous (or infamous) Barnesmore Gap on the main road between Donegal town and Ballybofey

Have a read of some historic accounts including the hanging of three innocent men for sheepstealing here on The Finn Valley Website 

After passing through Ballybofey I head up to Letterkenny............

.........where I do some shopping in Penneys 

I double back to Lifford/ Strabane and make my way over to Claudy where I'll have my lunch

After looking at this memorial statue by Elizabeth McLaughlin and reading the wall plaques to the victims, I had to dry my eyes. I honestly hope we've seen the last of this kind of suffering.

Read James Simmons "Ballad of Claudy" , and see what you feel. 

Dungiven is the last big town I pass through before I get back to the docks at Belfast.

A little further down this wall (inset) reads 'Céad Míle Fáilte' a hundred thousand welcomes.

Thank you again Ireland, we had them.

Long may you be peaceful.