Wigtownshire Ramblers Culvennan Fell September 2012

Saturday the 29th of September.

Lofty is today's leader.

This is a walk we did two years ago.

2010 Walk

Once I get Lofty's report I'll publish it below.

Thirteen of us today. We start on the Three Lochs road north of Kirkcowan. 

Another account of this walk will appear on my good friend Gordon from Ayr's Blog

This place is very interesting.

It's an old farmstead that goes by the name of Drumbuie and looks like there's a lot of history about it.

There's a stone in the wall marked 1734.

There's a genealogy page which says a Moravia Charteris was born here, a possible descendant of Malachy King of Ireland.

And there's also a tree (I think that's a picture of it on my last post of this walk) called 'The Boy Tree', where a young 11 year old Peter Douglas was murdered by a tinkler or tinker called Alexander Cochrane.

Details are found in Andrew McCormick's 'The Tinkler Gypsies' (pages 134 to 139) or have a quick look HERE 

These dead trees are at the back of Drumbuie

Our next point of interest is in the grounds of Shennanton.

Several theories were put forward to what the enclosure above was used for.

Shennanton

Views over to the Galloway Hills from the River Bladnoch.

The flock of Texel's all had what looked like mud spots on them.

Here's a rare looking work of natures art

Sheep, precarious crossings and the Black Burn.

Looking for anything on the Black Burn, I came across a government document about the proposed Glenchamber Windfarm near Glenluce. Now I've never been anti windfarm, but I'm sure we have enough in this area now. This proposal was rejected by the local authorities, but somehow the Scottish Government believe they have the right to disregard the wishes of the local people.

Here's the link to that document should anyone wish to read it.

                                 Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals

Lunch overlooking Barfad Loch

Another look at the enclosed memorial on the loch side. The wreath, bottom right looks well weathered now.It may be in memory of a McKie who were resident at Barfad. 

Barfad

Mud. The hill we go past is called Killymuck.........quite appropriate !

A carpet supplied by the Stationmaster gets us over the barbed wire.

Here we head into the Shennoch Plantation.
Shennoch:- from the Gaelic Sean, old and cognate with the Latin Sen-ex

The final climb to Culvennan Fell.

Culvennan Fell. Vent breccia. Breccia with generally angular clasts adjacent to the margin of a diorite intrusion. Finely laminated fine sandstone clasts are typical of the host sediments. Coarser-grained white sandstone clasts, sometimes rounded, are exotic.

Don't ask me, I know nothing about geology.!

One triangulation pillar and one flush bracket

The group picture.

The trig point is 213 mtrs, the cairn is 215 mtrs.

The Ayrshire Blogger is less than 2 mtrs

Over the fells

I think this may be Chanterelle, apparently edible and delicious.

A wide ranging view east.

We have a feeling that this is a prehistoric site (not the sheepfold), but there's nothing on the O.S map.

The last leg of a nice nine mile hike.

Shorty's report will appear here later.

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 29 September 2012

Thirteen ramblers assembled on the Three Lochs road just north of the A75 on a morning that promised crisp autumn weather.  Dark clouds to the north suggested something else but the group headed off in good spirits along the old Military Road.  Some sections were wet and muddy but the solid base created under the direction of General Caulfield in the 1760s provided a good foothold.

They soon reached the old farmstead of Drumbuie.  There they paused to inspect the unusual archway which served the courtyard of the old house.  A stone gave the date of 1734 which predates the Military road.  The group continued eastwards along the road which soon reached a tarmac section which took them to Doonhill Wood.  From there they squelched through a gateway and followed the edge of the wood over a low hill below the main power line.  From there they took to the attractive woods around Shennanton House.  In the woods they found an unusual dyked enclosure about 4 metres square with the sides sloping down to the south.  There was no entrance into the enclosure nor any obvious structure inside.  There was much speculation as to its purpose.

The ramblers skirted the main gardens and emerged onto the road at Shennanton Sawmill.  They followed the road past the home farm and as far as the Bladnoch bridge.  There they took to the fields and followed the course of the river northwards.  As they went along a couple of shots were heard and, fearful of disturbing a shoot, they proceeded carefully until it became clear that the noises were only a pair of gun dogs under training.  Burn crossings added to the entertainment and they soon reached the road again.  After crossing the road they entered another wood and soon reached their lunch stop overlooking Barfad Loch.

Lunch was curtailed by a sudden sharp shower so the ramblers donned their wet weather gear and headed for the old track which crossed north of the fells.  The rain soon stopped but the track got wetter and the presence of cattle made the going a little difficult.  The route crossed a fence into the forest and the going got easier.  There was a short pause at the ruins of Shennock farm where the walk leader recounted a tale of an army exercise where the unsuspecting shooting tenant was confronted by a troop of armed soldiers supported by small Scorpion tanks.  He felt somewhat out-gunned.

After leaving Shennock the ramblers followed the little used forest road to the top of Shennock Fell.  The main users seemed to be red and roe deer which had left many tracks in the muddy sections.  The group then cut through the trees and emerged onto the open moorland.  A short climb led them to the cairn and trig point on the top of Culvennan Fell.  There were excellent views in all directions with odd features picked out by patches of sunshine as the clouds scudded over the sky.  A pair of diggers were working away on the summit of an adjacent hill but it was not clear what they were up to.

The group descended the southern side of the fell and then a short rise led them to the summit of Crunlae Fell.  After admiring the views over the Machars and Wigtown Bay they continued on down following a well-used sheep track.  On reaching the lower ground they found evidence of several ancient structures.  One had the appearance of a chambered cairn and another seemed to be the outline of a building but there was nothing marked on the current maps. 

The route then followed a rough path over green fields and bracken knolls with boggy sections and deep burns between them, after which they re-joined the Three Lochs road and regained the cars.  It had been an enjoyable but testing walk of 9 miles.

The next event, on Saturday 6^th October, is the popular walk around Newton Stewart.  Meet at the Breastworks Car Park in Stranraer at 09:30 to share transport.  The walk will start from the Riverside Car Park in Newton Stewart at 10:00. (Grid Ref: NX 412 653)  New walkers are always welcome.  For any queries, please contact the walk leader on 01671 403351.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Carsegowan September 2012

Saturday the 22nd of September 2012

Todays walk is one we did last December.

December Walk

We've parked up in the farmyard at Mains of Penninghame.

Thanks to the farm owners for their hospitality in allowing this.

As usual the report will follow the images.

(A great idea I got from my good friend Gordon the Ayrshire Blogger)

The local 'Bully'

There's only one small hill to climb today, but the bracken's high.

Climbing White Hill

Views to the north.

Twenty three of us today.

(Thanks to Scoop for a number of today's pictures)

Now here's a nice border collie

Local author Dennis Sawden

Incorporation Runner Mills

Carsegowan Moss

Sundew

Alongside the A714

Drystane dyke stile

Disused Newton Stewart to Wigtown Railway

Headstones at Clachan of Penninghame

Last stretch.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report

A bright but crisp sunny morning saw twenty three walkers gather in the Mains of Penninghame farmyard for the walk. Thanks must go to the farmer for the parking arrangements.

The walk started by following a farm track south to the Wood of Auchleand. A friendly wave was given to anglers at a popular fishing pond. 

A short distance along a forest road a rough track was taken to ascend White Hill. After surmounting an awkward ditch and dyke and long wet grass the hill top was reached via a cattle grazing field.

A short break was taken to enjoy the wide panoramic views across Wigtown Bay and north to the Galloway Hills. The sunshine made this a great day for photographs.

A gradual descent brought them to a farm track. A herd of cattle decided to precede the group along this track. A farming member of the group was dispatched to herd them together to allow the group to pass. This transition was successful but muddy and Auchleand Farm was reached.

After passing through Auchleand Farm a solid track was followed to reach the main Newton Stewart to Wigtown road. Here another short break was taken to talk to the farmer and to learn of a cattle track that could be used on future walks, taking out the need for walking along the busy A714 road.

 Now the busy A714 was followed in single file for almost eight hundred yards north before turning in to Carsegowan Cottage. Here a delightful surprise greeted the group.

Having learned of this walk taking place, Dennis Sawden, the author of the book “Carsegowan Moss Explosives Factory”, gave the group an outdoor presentation of history, facts, plans and photographs of the former ICI plant. After the enthralling talk, Mr Sawden was thanked profusely and the group continued into the works.

Now the walk went through the northern end (Unit2) of the ruins. The largest concrete structure they passed was identified as 'Incorporation Runner Mills' within which nitrate, sulphur and charcoal were mixed by rotating rollers set in a metal bowl. Bunkers, Press Houses and Magazines were amongst other structures Identified.

After completing a circuit, lunch was taken by the old Home Guard quarters.

After lunch the group made their way to Carsegowan moss. This raised moss is one of only a few left in Britain. The surviving bog is blanketed by sphagnum mosses and heather amongst which lichens, bog asphodel, cranberry and sundews can be found. Various plants were identified, and the elusive sundew was photographed. The walk leader also mentioned the RAF plane crash on the edge of the moss in 1942 which resulted in the death of all five crew, two of who are interred in Kirkinner graveyard.

Leaving Carsegowan, a track alongside the old railway line took the group up to Bishopburn Bridge from where they followed the old road running parallel to the A714. The A714 was crossed at Causeway End where the minor road north west was taken.

A short way along this road a stile over a drystane dyke accessed a grassy field which led to the disused Newton Stewart to Wigtown railway track. The track was now followed to reach the old graveyard at the Clachan of Penninghame.

Headstones, some dating up to 300 years old with familiar local names were viewed. It was noted from certain headstones that in many cases there was continuity of ownership of farmland and property.

Back on the minor road they continued north to the T junction at Barwhirran Croft where a depression in a field goes by the name of Foul Hole. Half a mile west the Mains of Penninghame road was taken back to the walk start.

Enjoyed by all, the day was capped with a visit to the Cinnamon Café in Newton Stewart for tea and scones.

The next walk on Saturday the 29th of September is a 9 mile B+ walk around the Wigtownshire moors including Culvennan Fell.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30am, Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.30am or the walk start on the Three Lochs Road, Kirkcowan (NX 231 563) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone walk leader 01671 401222. New members are always welcome  

Leuchars Air Show 2012

September the 15th 2012

I was only a young lad when I went to my first Leuchars Air Display.

I remember seeing a Meteor that time, there's a picture of one among these.

I accompanied one of my aunts from Glenrothes to what may well be the last ever Leuchars Airshow.

A windy but sunny day meant I got hundreds of pictures.

Here's a few starting with some of the Red Arrows.

Red Arrows

Choppers

Static Planes and Displays 

Runway Pictures

Typhoon

Leuchars is home to the amazing Eurofighter Typhoon

You've just seen one of the cockpit in the last set of pictures.

Here's the best airborne ones I managed (they go that fast you see)

Sentry AEWI(complete with AWACS)

Vulcan B2

B-52H Stratofortress

Meteor T7

All other displays

Including Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire ,Hurricane and Dakota).

Tornado GR4. Tucano T1. SE.5a

Wildcats Aerobatic Team. The Blades - 2Excel Aviation.

Venom FB50, and anything else I might have missed.

Video

Here's my shaky video compilation

That was a great day