Wigtownshire Ramblers Talnotry June 2014

Saturday the 28th of June 2014

Saturday's walk was a strenuous A walk to Billy Marshall's cave and beyond. Because of this, A O'K recce'd a low level alternative for walkers wanting an easier day.

The leaders of the hill climb were the Milkmaid and Lionheart.

The 'Milkmaid' and A O'K will be writing the walk report and that will follow the images.

I'll begin the post with 

THE LOW LEVEL WALK

Because I was still aching from the Rig of the Jarkness on Thursday, I opted for the easier walk.

It's a variation of a walk we did back in October 2011.

October 2011 Walk

Eleven of us set off from the Talnotry Car Park, climbing up to the path running south west.

This was probably the hardest part of the walk.

Talnotry Hill Viewpoint

Here's a landscape picture from Miss Goodnight, shame this blog author got in the way !

We had a bit of a scramble down to the Loch of the Lowes. 

I didn't get any decent pictures here, so here's a collage from a previous visit when I saw the goldeneye ducks. 

Remember this video ?. Beethoven - GoldenEye Ducks - Duckin' and Divin'

A change of direction took us north east along the forest road.

Once the main road out of Newton Stewart it's still called the Old Edinburgh Road. 

Another fine picture from Miss Goodnight.

When we came to this :- Shaft(dis) as marked on the OS map, I thought I had the answer.

In 2008 and 2011, I mentioned it as being a lead or copper mine, then on my blog posts thinking I'd corrected myself by calling it the Talnotry Nickel Mine.

Now after looking at grid references and aditnow.co.uk I've come to the conclusion  I know nothing about this shaft. The Talnotry Nickel Mine is located nearer the Glen of the Bar and aditnow have nothing about this particular shaft.

I've narrowed the grid ref to NX 488 724, or one digit either way. I can find no reference to this particular location anywhere on the internet. Perhaps some geological genius will finally put me right.

Three of us took a short diversion to look at this cracking waterfall and pool on the Grey Mares Tail burn.

Wild swimming here I come !
Back on the forest road we found an ideal pile of stones for a lunch break.

After lunch we continued along to the Black Loch.

I stitched two pictures together to get the whole of 'The Eye' in.

"Standing around 8 metres high this perfect spire is made from red-earthen tiles, showing their rough broken edge on the outside. Once you are standing beside it you should soon realise why it’s creator Colin Rose has called it the ‘Eye’!"

Dumfries and Galloway Natural History

As this dead mole was discovered one walker recollected the texture of a certain moleskin jacket.

On reaching the Tonderghie burn, we rounded the loch and retraced our steps along the forest road. 

Back at the Grey Mares Tail burn we turned south.

Here we came to the Matt Baker sculptures. A few years older than I thought, they go back to 1997.

Although the 'Quorum' stays in place, it appears one of the lone sculptures has been stolen.

It's possibly the reason for new concrete 'filling in' shown here.

Grey Mare's Tail path.

Grey Mares Tail gorge, scene of a fatal 'Gorge Jumping' pursuit.

BBC News

Perhaps a more permanent memorial could be erected ?

A climb down.................

.............then up again.

There's a well worn path up here.

Built in 1835 the listed obelisk Murray's Monument is a very popular short climb.

Being located right beside the A712, the Newton Stewart to New Galloway road with a handy car park right below makes it attractive to passers by.

  

Our weary climbers take a moment.

The path round the back of the monument takes us back to the cars.
Our group then returned to Newton Stewart to enjoy excellent refreshments at the Belted Galloway.

Now here's a few pictures from Shorty and one from the Milkmaid of the 

HIGH LEVEL WALK

Update 7th of July :- I received some pictures today from the 'Croupier' taken by her husband during this climb. Here's a selection.

 Looking back to Murray's Monument.

 Inside Billy Marshall's cave.

 Is that a troglodyte ?

 Wreckage and Shorty

Millfore Summit

Thanks for dealing me those good lady, it's my pleasure to include them.


Doesn't time fly, It's almost five years since we last climbed to Billy Marshall's Cave.
2009 Walk 
I believe all of these pictures were taken after the visit to the cave.
(It's also quite possible I have some out of sequence, if so I hope it doesn't bother anyone, 'cause it doesn't me)

 After lunch in Louran Glen

 Wreckage of the USAF McDonald Douglas Phantom which crashed into Cairnsmore on the 28th of March 1979.

Fence leading up to the Nick of the Saddle.

It looks tough.

Which way now ?

Minnigaff Hills View.

Last braes before the Nick of the Saddle.

 Nick of the Saddle

 Meikle Mulltaggart

 A cool wind blows across the lesser known Millfore summit.

Millfore Hill.

Here's the reports.

Wigtownshire Ramblers 28th June 2014

On Saturday Wigtownshire Ramblers had a choice of two walks, a high level walk with a diversion to Billy Marshall’s cave and a low level walk around Talnotry.
17 ramblers choosing the high level walk set off from Talnotry, crossing the Palnure burn and following the forest road upwards until the Louran burn was reached. A short push through well grown bracken led to a grassy walk along a picturesque stream with large flat rocks and small waterfalls. The lack of recent rain made the Louran burn easy to cross.
The group then traversed the moorland towards the slopes of Cairnsmore of Fleet, where wild goats were spotted camouflaged against the rocks. Leaving rucksacks against a large boulder a detour took walkers to Billy Marshall’s cave which they then explored with torches. In the 1700s this cave was used as a hide out for a gang, whose leader was Billy Marshall, and as a store for the proceeds of their activities which probably included smuggling. Reputedly Billy Marshall lived to be 120, married 17 times and had scores of children. He is buried in St Cuthbert’s churchyard in Kirkcudbright.
Re-donning rucksacks the party followed the fence line leading up to the Nick of the Saddle. Part of the USAF McDonald Douglas Phantom light aircraft, which crashed into Cairnsmore of Fleet on 28th March 1979, lay across the route.  A rocky area close to this was chosen for lunch.
Refreshed, the walkers continued through rough heather up to the Nick of the saddle where they were able to enjoy panoramic views. This included the Lake District hills and Northern Ireland. In contrast the path to Meikle Mulltaggart was easy underfoot, then following a bike track past peat hags on a flat plateau, the rocky slopes of Craignelder were reached. This was a quick climb and the cairn of Millfore Hill was a stroll from here. The visibility was so good that the dome on Lowther Hill could be seen.
Descending, a quad bike track led to a forest ride which led to a forest road and eventually cars waiting at the Red Deer Range car park where drivers could be ferried to Talnotry for their cars.

Meanwhile a second group, who were looking for an easier day, set off on a circular walk which led past the Loch of the Lowes and along the Old Edinburgh Road. The entrance to an old mine was investigated followed by a diversion to see the waterfall on The Grey Mares Tail burn which was disappointing as it was as low as any of the party could remember seeing before. Shortly afterwards lunch was taken beside the bridge over the burn. They then followed the road to the Black Loch stopping to admire the Eye, a sculpture standing around 8 metres high. It is a perfect spire representing a needle with an “eye” through its centre.  After circling the Black Loch the group walked past the Quorum, a group of heads carved from local stone and set into the walls of a sheep enclosure. The ramblers then walked up and over a hill and down towards the car park at Murray’s Monument. The climb to the top of the monument was rewarded by views across the valley and the party were able to trace the route taken by the other group along the forest road and up to Billy Marshall’s cave. They were not in view however, having long since completed that part of their walk. The group wandered back down the path to the cars at Talnotry car park. Unlike the first group they were back in time for tea and cakes at The Belted Galloway in Newton Stewart.

Next week on Saturday July 5th there is an 8 mile linear walk from Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart at 8.30am, Stranraer Breastworks at 8.15am, or Garlieston (NX 478 462) at 9.30 where the bus will be caught to the start of the walk (remember bus passes if you have one). No dogs allowed on this walk. New members are always welcome but must contact the walk leader on 01988 840268.

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.