A couple of frosty days December 2014

A couple of frosty days in South West Scotland

Sunday the 28th of December 2014

 I took a walk up to the mast above Barrhill Woods

Next Day

Monday the 29th of December

Ice on the car

I took a walk up a small hill.
It's a gem for views.

Craigdistant Hill Views

I hope my viewers enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Frosty views

It's Friday the 3rd of December and the scene today is different again from these views of yesterday.
As the snow eases in the east,here in the west we're now getting it and as I write it's snowing heavily.

Though the snow's been later coming we've still had the frost,and the pictures to go with it.

I'm heading up to the phone mast again.I've posted tons of pictures from here before,so I barely need to give details.
The above frosty picture is the scene opposite the entrance to Barbuchany.

I've disturbed a flock of pigeons.

A backdrop of Cairnsmore of Fleet to show off this Teasel. Encouraged on some nature reserves as a source of winter food for the Goldfinch,it's considered an invasive species in the United States. It is known to form a monoculture, capable of crowding out all native plant species, and therefore is discouraged and/or eliminated within restored open lands and other conservation areas.

A bit higher up there's a view of the Newton Stewart golf course.There's no yellow balls out today.I guess it's closed due to the frost.

Nearing the phone mast I take the first of a number of panoramic views I'll take today.Newton Stewart is known as the 'Gateway to the Galloway Hills',and this shot shows why.

Millfore,Red Gairy and Drigmorn are the backdrop here.The cattle seem to have found some grazing.

This panorama is below on CleVR
It stretches from the western end of Newton Stewart to the river Cree flowing south.Cairnsmore of Fleet and the Minnigaff group of the Galloway Hills can all be clearly seen.

Panorama of Newton Stewart and the Minnigaff Hills on CleVR.com

I took a similar panorama from slightly lower just over a year ago.I'm quite amazed at how different they look.2009 view

Making my usual descent I can seen the Cree estuary,and the hills above Creetown which I've posted recently.Above from the right are Larg (not to be confused with it's larger namesake in the Minnigaff range),Knockeans,Cairnharrow and Cambrett with the telecommunication masts atop.

Another panorama.This one's a frosty view of the Cree as it leaves Newton Stewart.
Nearly hidden in the trees is Machermore Castle Care Home.I've just learned that it's gone into voluntary liquidation.I hope it can be rescued,It's a lovely place.

A few quick shots of a heron flying overhead only produced one decent picture.

The A75 crosses a nearly frozen river Cree.

Seagulls take a break in the frozen shallows.

Our local authority provide excellent facilities along the popular walking areas in the town.These bins are made of heavy cast iron,and can stand up to the worst of the weather.

What they can't overcome are the morons who do this sort of thing.They may have muscles like 'Garth',but their brains are the size of peanuts (if that big).
I'd suggest that if the perpetrators of this crime are found they should be made to recover the bin while being lashed in front of a baying crowd.

A fresh fall of snow over Galloway

It's Tuesday the 5th of January Twenty Ten,and overnight we've had a fresh fall of snow.I'm recovered well enough from Sundays outing to get my wellies on and head up to one of my favourite places.
It's the mast above Barrhill Farm Woods.I wonder if i'll get to see the creature that's made these tracks.



The snow really highlights the embankment of the old railway line to Wigtown and beyond.

The hills are easier to recognise with a white blanket.

I'm having a drink as Mister Fox casually lopes past,and as usual he's gone before i can get a picture.I must have seen him or his brothers half a dozen times up here now,and one day i'll get the picture to prove it.

This is the view down the Cree valley...
...does it look better in a frame.I've been using Picasa as my main photo editor for sometime now,and have only just discovered it can put a border of any colour on a picture or collage.
Heading down to the road,there's another remnant of the railway(Dumfries to Newton Stewart),the sheep are on the move,and i do believe my prediction of the Cree freezing over is coming to fruition.
I head home back along the river,and across Dashwood Square...

...and take a few more wintery scenes.
That was a pleasant walk.