The Wigtownshire Ramblers Creetown Knockean and Larg Hills October 2014

Saturday the 18th of October.

Today's walk is one we've done a number of times.

The last time, April 2013 gives links to previous climbs.

There are 27 of us out today.

A' OK is writing today's report and I'll include it when received.

My photographs will be followed by a selection from Scoop. 

We start at the Gem Rock Museum

After walking through the village we turn up by the ruins of the old corn mill. 

Not sure what the graffiti represents, there appears to be an evil eye at the front of it.

I didn't get what they were looking skywards at ?

After the cold of earlier in the week, it's almost tropical in Balloch Wood.

Quite a number of top layers come off.

I've wondered about 'Cardoon Ponds' and finally the penny has dropped. There are no Cardoon Ponds !. This is the Cardoon Bridge, and the arrow tells us that the track leads to the ponds. DOH !

Though quite an overcast day Garrocher ponds look stunning.

Creebaby from a different angle to my last one.

Once this fella/lady was a safe distance away, he/she wasn't averse to being photographed.

Swan lake

After a short walk along the quite historic Corse of Slakes road, we turn to the hills.

It's quite windy as we begin to climb. 

There's something in the air today, many of today's walkers have a mischievous glint in their eye. 

  

Most of the fungi we spotted were coming to their end. I like the way those above on the left have split to look like pretty flowers.

A short break and sweetie distribution before the steeper slopes.

The problems of the world are forgotten on these hills.

Another stop for breath and a picture.

Definitely something in the air !

Not quite the top yet.

Cairnsmore of Fleet is hidden in the clouds just now.

Last stretch to the summit of Knockeans.

Made it, the wind is almost gale force up here.

We lunched in the small gap between the two summits.

Scoop, top left, was lucky not to become airborne.

After lunch we head towards our next target which is Larg Hill (not to be confused with it's larger namesake north of Newton Stewart).

It's a drop down between the two hills.

Spot my mistake, I've included the previous picture in the above collage.

What's going on to the left ?

They're doing the 'Mountain Stomp'

A'OK tells me that the word 'Windswept' might just appear in the report.

It's misty but beautiful out in Wigtown Bay.

We're soon atop Larg Hill.

Many cameras appear as we begin our descent back towards Creetown.

It's a carefully negotiated descent down the steeper slopes.

Meanwhile, down on Larg Farm.

I was almost naughty with the notice on the left above. I decided against the new version, there's nothing aggressive about these ladies.

We paid a visit to the Haiku stones before walking back through the village.

Excellent tea, coffee, cakes and scones in the Prospector's Pantry topped a grand day .

Here's a selection of Scoop's excellent pictures.

A wonderful day's walking.

Here's A'OK's report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Saturday 18th October 2014 Creetown and Larg Hill

“Wind speeds of 50 miles per hour making walking difficult on the hills” was what the weather forecaster promised on the Out of Doors radio programme at 7am last Saturday. Perhaps some walkers hadn’t listened to the forecast, perhaps some didn’t care or perhaps they liked the idea of being buffeted about by the wind but twenty seven gathered at the Gem Rock Museum in Creetown for the start of the walk. The wind must have got up their tails and they seemed to be in high spirits as they set off through Creetown and up the hill to Balloch Wood. On the way they passed the ruin of an old waulk mill which had been powered by water from the Balloch Burn. The mill was used in the cloth making process in Creetown. Waulking is a method of making cloth thick and felted. After pounding and rinsing, the cloths were stretched on racks of oak bars to dry. The rails were studded with tenterhooks, L-shaped nails that hooked into the cloth to keep it stretched – hence the popular expression “to be on tenterhooks”.   

On reaching the Balloch wood the chatter quietened as the group was forced to walk in single file along the path through the trees. Photographers lagged behind as they strove to get choice pictures of the Balloch burn and the picturesque fungi littering the ground along the way.

 The group eventually emerged from the wood at Cardoon Ponds above the Balloch Bridge where they stopped for sweeties and to admire the metal framed sculpture of the Cree baby. Two swans posed elegantly on the water against a colourful background of autumnal trees. A frog was spotted at the edge and also photographed before escaping to the depths below. 

The walkers now proceeded along the Corse of Slakes road past the Garrochar Christmas tree farm where work was underway marking out those trees suitable to grace living rooms this December.  They soon came to a sign pointing over the moor with the information that it was one mile to the top of Larg Hill and two and half back to Creetown. The walkers followed the direction of the signpost upwards through the sometimes squelchy track towards the summit. The incline soon had the walkers stretched out with the fittest at the front and the determined bringing up the rear. As they reached higher levels the wind attacked in force making the climb even harder. All eventually reached the summit of Knockeans where they were rewarded with views over Wigtown Bay and Cairnsmore with its cloudy hat. There were no takers to pose for the usual picture on the summit as at least one of our vertically challenged members was knocked off her feet by the relentless blast of the wind. Lunch was taken huddled in the lee of the hill where there was some shelter to be had.

Lunchboxes packed away, the walkers resumed their ramble, although with some divergence of opinion as to which route to take as the direction posts which had guided them this far were now conspicuous by their absence. Eventually all reassembled at the bottom of Knockeans and began the climb up to the top of Larg. The views were even more spectacular from here with the Cree estuary mapped out below and a misty view over to Wigtown and beyond. A steep descent was now made and some members recalled their last walk over this spot when patches of snow had caused some to plunge unexpectedly knee deep into the drifts and they had been forced to climb over the gate at the bottom of the hill as a large snowdrift had prevented it from being opened.

On Saturday however, mud was the challenge as the recent rain had turned the path into a quagmire sending ramblers hopping from one tussock to another. Eventually the track into Creetown was reached and now there were trees to be admired in all their autumn glory, a spectacular Indian bean tree, bamboo and other unusual species being noted in an orchard below the route.

The group now made their way back to the Gem Rock museum for a welcome cuppa and tempting cakes. The staff having been forewarned had scones baking in the oven. A scrumptious end to an invigorating walk.

Next week ramblers again return to Creetown for a walk along the railway path and back over Clanery and Blairs hills. Meet at the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 9am or the Riverside in Newton Stewart at 9.30am for car sharing. The walk starts at Cairnsmore car park at 10am. For more information or if new to the group please contact the walk leader on 01671 403351.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Balloch Wood, Knockeans, Larg April 2013

Saturday the 13th of April

Today's walk is one we've done previously.

2009 Walk

I've posted  quite a lot around Creetown over the years. Here's a climb up Knockeans in 2008

There's a webpage with comprehensive coverage of Creetown Walks

Twenty four of us start out from Adamson Square. It's a dry morning with a forecast of bad weather coming in later in the day.

The grounds of Kirkmabreck Parish Church  are looking very colourful

Next stop is the Whinnie Face. It's name comes from the gorse that grew in abundance around these slopes.

Creehenge is a group of standing stones with poetry in the form of the Japanese 'Haiku' 

We now head up Balloch (Ballochanamour) Woods passing the Red (Chalybeate) Well

There's a lot of cameras out today

This was the seating for outdoor functions in the woods, but the stage/dancefloor has now been dismantled.

Perhaps it had become a health risk.

This is Creebaby, a wire man at Garrocher Ponds.

It was created in 2011 by sculptor Alex Rigg and originally had roses and clematis climbing the frame.............

................It's hard to make out but a bit of picture enhancement shows the outline.

A seated figure with arms around his/her knees

The wording on the stone reads ' Mrs A.M.N Whamond Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Wigtownshire officially opened the Creetown Community Woodland project on the 2nd of October 2004'

Back on the move passing the Garrocher Tree Farm and the onetime Creetown Water works before heading up Knockeans Hill

It's a steady climb

A few of the surrounding higher hills are cloud covered....

.......... however there are still excellent views

One of Knockeans lower summits

Onwards and upwards

Lunch is taken sheltered from the wind

After lunch the route now takes us over to Larg Hill

Our leaders were a little unsure of the route, but successfully found a marker post to get us on the right track

Another short climb...........

................and a few of us get to the top of Larg. 

The main group headed for the viewpoints overlooking the Cree estuary and Creetown  

The views were pretty spectacular though

Marked stones on the cairn atop Larg Hill

Descending Larg

The Cree looking north

Thanks to Scoop for the above pics

Great fun was had with the snow drifts

The sunshine appears

Cairnsmore of Fleet and Solway Structural

An impromptu Hokey Kokey by a couple of the ladies...............

.......................while these lovelies appeared a little camera shy

The track along the edge of Castle Cary Wood

The ewe took fright and left her lamb bleating. We think they reunited after our passing

A sign that brought smiles

The churchyard looks even more colourful on the way back.

Tea, coffee and confectionery was taken at the Gem Rock Museum's prospectors pantry.

A lovely way with wonderful company to end a marvellous walk. 

Here's the report, written by Knotdolian herself.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Saturday 13^th April 2013 Balloch Wood and Larg Hill

For the first time since the Wigtownshire Ramblers group was formed, members from the Machars outnumbered those from the Rhins – a sign of the growing popularity of this group around Newton Stewart. Twenty four walkers gathered at Adamson Square in Creetown for the start of the walk on a cloudy but dry morning. They seemed to be in high spirits as a spanking pace was set through Creetown and up the hill to Balloch Wood.

 A pause was taken to read the haikus written by pupils from Creetown School on the polished granite at a Callanish Stones lookalike at the entrance to the wood. Now it became quieter as the group was forced to walk in single file along the path through the trees. Photographers lagged behind as they strove to get choice pictures of the Balloch burn and walkers were intrigued to see the Chalybeate well with its red stain caused by iron rusting in the water. They were also surprised to see that the stage had been cut down probably because it had become slippery and dangerous. The log seating was all that remained and while one member gave an impromptu tap dance show the remainder were enjoined to take a seat and applaud.

The group eventually emerged from the wood at Cardoon Ponds above the Balloch Bridge where they stopped for sweeties and to admire the metal framed sculpture of the seated man. The walkers now proceeded along the Corse of Slakes road past the Garrochar Christmas tree farm which had famously provided the tree for Number 10 last Christmas. They soon came to a sign pointing over the moor with the information that it was one mile to the top of Larg Hill and two and half back to Creetown. The walkers followed the direction of the signpost upwards through the sometimes muddy track towards the summit. The incline soon had the walkers stretched out with the fittest at the front and the determined bringing up the rear. All eventually reached the summit of Knockeans where they were rewarded with views over Wigtown Bay and Cairnsmore with its cloudy hat. Sheltered spots were now chosen for lunch, although some intrepid members preferred to stay at the summit and have a windblown lunch with a view.

Lunchboxes packed away, the walkers resumed their ramble, although with some divergence of opinion as to which route to take as the direction  posts which had guided them this far were now conspicuous by their absence. Eventually all reassembled at the bottom of Knockeans and began the climb up to the top of Larg. The views were even more spectacular from here with the Cree estuary mapped out below and a clear view over to Wigtown and beyond. A steep descent was now made through patches of snow causing some to plunge unexpectedly knee deep into the drifts. The soft snow proved irresistible to some members and snowballs began to be lobbed amongst unsuspecting ramblers.

Walkers were saddened to see the remains of one or two lambs and sheep which had undoubtedly been caught in the recent blizzard and sympathy was felt for the farmers who must still be struggling with the aftermath of the wet summer followed by a cold spring and no new growth to be seen in the fields. However, the group was heartened by the sight of small lambs gambolling about on the lower slopes and the beautiful carpet of purple crocus and yellow daffodils in the church yard which greeted them on their return to the outskirts of Creetown.

The group now made their way to the Gem Rock museum for a welcome cuppa and tempting cakes. One of the leaders took the opportunity to liaise with the owner, Tim Stevenson, who will be guiding one of the walks during the Newton Stewart Walking Festival which is now only a few weeks away.

Next week will see a change to the usual Saturday walk as members will be treated to a training course on the Saturday night at the Fire station in Stranraer starting at 7pm to be followed by a practical map reading course on Sunday, meeting at New Luce Village Hall at 10am. A good turnout is looked for as the speaker is the official Ramblers instructor and is travelling all the way from Perthshire.