Mushroom and Mine

Tuesday the 14th of September.

It looks like summer's returned here in South West Scotland.

I'm away to try and find the Silver Rig Mine. I'd failed to find it on my first attempt.

October 2009

I'm away into the forest .

I've parked up north of the Wood of Cree.

It wasn't a silver mine as I mentioned in 2009.That's just the name.

Shaggy Inkcap

I've made the same mistake as I did in 2009 and took a wrong turn.

But I get pictures of some interesting fungi.

I'm not sure what this is,but it may be Lactarius pyrogalus

Hoof Fungus

Lagbaes or Ballocharus Burn

I must be on the right track now

Warning 

Drop

This looks promising.

Looks like a hole of some sorts

If the wooden pole wasn't wet and slippy I'd have been down and exploring.

This is as close as I could get to the horizontal passage

Looks like a rope anchor.

There's comprehensive details on a  P.D.F file

Pibble,Silver Rig etc

Water Wheel Housing and Rubble Tip.

The main shaft was behind the wheel housing but has been filled in.

Mine Offices

Ballocharus Burn again....

....and again and the sparkling Cree at Low Cordorcan.

Well I eventually found the mine.By the state of the 'paths',there's not a lot of people explore around here.It's no wonder I got lost.

It was apparently a lead mine and was abandoned for the second time in 1836.My next trip up here will be to take a look at the Silver Rig Loch which apparently was a man made reservoir and where the supply to drive the water wheel came from.

Lagbaes or Ballocharus Burn

N.B.I'm applying blogger perogative today.I've colour enhanced all of todays pictures.A brighter blog to chase the clouds away

Thursday the 29th of October.

It's another overcast drizzly day here in South West Scotland,but it's brightened up enough for me to have a little excursion.
On the Ordnance Survey map,north of the RSPB reserve at the Wood of Cree is a disused silver mine.
Today i failed to find it!

Following the only track i could find i headed into the woods.
The leaves on the trees are now falling rapidly...
...and the fungi seem to have reached maturity.
I came to the end of the track.Consulting the map i headed in what i thought was the direction of the Silver Mine.The forest is thick,and trees are down everywhere.When i reach a clearing it turns into bog.I see the occasional animal track.A promising forest ride,and i imagine i'm close....and the heavens opened.
I've had enough and turn west.
Reaching the Lagbaes or Ballocharus Burn i follow it back to the road.I can take it easy now the rain's eased a little.
I thought i was back in Canada here.I know we've a few beavers back in Scotland now,but i doubt any have escaped to Galloway.No beavers dam this.
Following the burn down was a steady operation...
...but very scenic

It's not a big burn but has plenty meanders,floods and waterfalls at this time of year.(It's probably only a trickle in the summer.)
I've also discovered that i'll be the first to blog the label 'Ballocharus'.
You'll only find it on Google here after i've uploaded it.I wonder who named it ?.Balloch is from the Gaelic meaning Pass or Opening,and Arus from Malay,the current of a stream.
I'm finally back to the road at Low Cordorcan,overlooking the Cree.
I'm heading back home via Clachaneasy and on the way i take this picture of the Water of Minnoch at Brigton.
I'll be back to find that mine...maybe there's a big silver nugget waiting for me.