The Glebe Blog: Ballantrae

This leading image was taken on a recent recce to Curleywee by the 'Musician'.

It shows the atmospheric phenomenon known as the Brocken Spectre

Saturday the 13th of December

There were many pictures taken on this walk up Knockdolian. I've tried to include a fair mixed selection. I'll also be including pictures from the recce we did on Thursday the 4th of December.

The walk leader was the 'Musician' and her report will follow my pictures. A selection of excellent photographs from my fellow snapper and rambler 'Scoop', will follow that.

This is one walk we do quite regularly and links to previous posts can be found here.

Knockdolian Walks
There's also another post on this walk at Gordon and Anne's Blog my blogging buddy from Ayr

A cold but lovely sunrise at the Riverside car park, Newton Stewart

There are twenty three of us today

These two quadrupeds called Cassie and Ebony had a fabulous day on the Thursday recce.......

............and even met a few other canines along the way

The volcanic plug of Ailsa Craig was well photographed as usual.

Many other 'finds' were made on the beach.

Seagulls and Bennane Head

The breaking rollers were very watchable

Scoop chose this spot for a group photograph

Fishing boat remains

My learned friend the 'Boatman' has sent me the above two images and provided me with the following information.

"Sailing Ship Richard a Danish 4 mast schooner wrecked October 1926. It was built in the USA and was returning to Denmark empty having dropped a cargo of timber in Newry, Northern Ireland. It was only 4 years old"

A last look at the waves before we head inland

The climb begins

(We have to climb a drystone dyke and barbed wire fence while all the time making sure of causing no damage to either the farm property or the person, Scoop likes to be on hand to record the crossings. Watch out for a collage in her batch of pictures)

I zoom in for my umpteenth ~~fhotograph~~ photograph of Ailsa Craig

(fhotograph looks a more attractive spelling I think)

Another zoom to where we left the beach

It was overcast on both the recce and the walk, but the camera kept working

Our illustrious recce group

(there's a rare patch of sunlight behind)

More memorial plaques and a small solar light have been added since our last visit

Shorty and A'OK at the windy summit

Sallochan Farm, Knockdolian house, the Stinchar Valley and Bougang dam

Down to a sheltered spot for lunch. Evidence of wintry weather lay below rocky outcrops.

Playful ramblers made a snowball or two.

On the move after lunch we take a break at a rocky outcrop

Both the Teacher (and Ebony), Scoop and myself pose for pictures.

Bottom right is Duniewick Iron age fort

A tricky slippery area is descended with care

Another obstacle safely surrmounted

Notice how diligently Scoops records the crossing

Knockdolian House

I had some false information where I was wrongly pronouncing Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington deceased.

Earlier this year, a month before his 99th birthday, he attended the Order of the Garter investiture, 16 June 2014.

The old Knockdolian Castle, one time home of the McCubbin family

On recce day we were allowed a walk past the house.

As a one time employee of British Steel, I'm always looking for a makers mark on iron and steel.

Dorman Long, became Redpath Dorman and Long before becoming part of British Steel.

The river Stinchar flows through the Knockdolian estate

Capturing moving subjects

The riverside walk and a fisherman's hut.

An edgy riverside path leads to another minor obstacle

Spreading fungi and a strange submerged drum

A field crossing before a mischievous leader managed to fool a few walkers into thinking she'd lost her way

The back markers

A Picture for Rose

Whether a heathen a Christian or whatever religious beliefs one follows, the words are just beautiful. Trees - Written by Joyce Kilmer 1886 - 1918

I THINK that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day, 5

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain. 10

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

A favourite group of mine was the Platters and their musical rendition of this can be found on

YouTube

There's also a lovely version by

Mario Lanza

Beyond Balnowlart we took the riverside path back into Ballantrae and the cars.

We then made our way to the Kings Arms Hotel where we pushed tables together in one long row as the proprietor and staff brought out the scones, butter, jam, tea and coffee. It was like a mini banquet.

A fabulous end to a lovely walk.

Here's the 'Musician's report followed by Scoop's pictures..

Ramblers report. December 13th 2014

After a rough week of windy weather the ramblers were pleasantly surprised to have a relatively calm day for their walk up Knockdolian near Ballantrae. This hill is not a Munro,or a Corbett or a Graham but a very striking Marilyn being only 265 metres high rising abruptly out of surrounding flat landscape easily seen from the A77.
The 23 ramblers met at Ballantrae shore car park and started their 8.5 miles walk along the beach northwards.The tide was low so we had plenty of choice of pebbles, sand or Red sandstone rock in places to walk on. We passed an old shipwreck probably a fishing boat stranded on the beach and plenty of interesting pieces of driftwood ,an artists delight. After about a mile we turned right and headed inland crossing the A77 onto the Colmonell road for a short stretch. At Corseclays Farm we took a right up a track and then left into fields to ascend Knockdolian. This was a gentle climb at an easy gradient going up the west side of this fell also known as the False Craig. You could imagine how it could be confused with Ailsa Craig by those at sea heading for the shore. The views on the way up were much admired especially by those catching their breath. The trig point at the top once reached gave us tremendous views in all directions,out to the coast,as well as up the Stinchar valley to snow covered mountains further East.
As the wind was a westerly, we took shelter dropping down a little way down the East side and found a good picnic spot. After fuelling up we continued down a narrow grass path and passed east of the Fort and and headed towards the burn between Knockdolian castle and Bougang farm. After crossing the burn and a couple of fields we reached Knockdolian Estate. Here we could see the original castle and the mansion house that was built in1842. The estate has accommodation available as well as 3 miles of double bank fishing.Unfortunately we missed any salmon leaping,any dippers dipping and any kingfishers which had been seen on previous walks. A couple of buzzards circled overhead.
We returned to Ballantrae mostly next to the river Stinchar. We passed a couple of fishermans huts which offer good shelter on a rainy day. The riverside walk varied considerably from a single path with tricky slippery areas to a track across flat fields and some parts on the road. Where a ford used to be is now a wide area of river looking like a weir and no evidence of stepping stones or possible vehicular access. Soon after the weir the water of Tig enters the river Stinchar from the East.The ruins of Balnowlart were noticed and the 15th century Ardstinchar castle was eventually reached and we walked under the old bridge to Ballantrae. We had a leisurely and varied walk that all seemed to enjoy and we were welcomed at the Kings Arms Hotel for very good refreshments.
Next Saturday’s walk will be a circular from Knockman Wood to Garlies Castle with mince pies and mulled wine to follow. Meet at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 09:30 am, the Breastworks car park, Stranraer at 09:00 am or the walk start at Knockman Wood car park (NX 409 674) at 10 am. New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01671 402733 for full details.

Here are Scoops cracking pictures.

(I'm in a few too)