Wigtownshire Ramblers - The Buchan Ridge and Loch Trool February 2015

I didn't walk with the group on Saturday.

I was indisposed due to a dodgy knee and another lingering cold.

However I've received pictures and reports from Scoop and Lionheart for both the high and low level walks they undertook.

I should mention that GI Joe led the low level walk.

Here then are the pictures.

The reports will follow the pictures.

Lionhearts pictures 

High Level Walk 

Lionheart tells me that due to an imbalance in the sexes on the high level walk, the following set of pictures should have the collective name,

The Merrick Broads 

Update 4th of March

Here's four more fine pictures I've just received from Nigella

Last time on the Buchan Ridge was returning from a Merrick climb

March 2010 Walk

While we did the Buchan Ridge to Loch Enoch 

March 2009

Scoop's Pictures

Low Level Walk

It was November 2012 when we last walked 

The Loch Trool Circular

Here are the walk reports

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Reports

High Level Walk
Nine members assembled at Bruce's Stone for the high level walk of the day. Perhaps the forecast of wintry showers had put some off, but although there was cloud on the top of Merrick at times, our time on the hill was constant sunshine.
After crossing the Buchan bridge, we turned left through the gate and followed the path onto the lower slopes of Buchan Hill. It was warm work, and outer garments were shed as we skirted to the left of the Black Gairey, following the animal track and easiest route. Several stops to catch our breath kept the group in close company, and there was a final break in the shelter of the last rocky outcrop where we donned the outer layer again before emerging on to the exposed open top. Here the wind chill factor was felt. A short walk to the cairn for a quick photo and sweetie, and then we kept  on the move, keeping to the high ground along the Buchan Ridge, passing the second cairn and admiring Mullwharker and Corserine glowing white in the sunshine to the northeast. Along this section we saw some red grouse, and a herd of red deer watched us approach before trotting off, antlers held high. We had decided not to push our luck with the weather and tackle the full route, so a leisurely lunch was enjoyed in the lee of Craignine, looking down onto The Murder Hole, Loch Neldriken and across to Craignaw and the Dungeon hills.
The return route took us across the tussocks to the shore of Loch Neldriken, and then the path down the Mid Burn to Loch Valley and on down the Gairland Burn to Loch Trool. The clear air gave us spectacular views of the snow covered tops all around. The cars were reached without incident, and welcome refreshments enjoyed at a local hostelry.

Low level walk
The second group set off down the road to take the forest trail around Loch Trool.  Earlier wintry showers and blackening skies had not deterred 15 walkers from having one of their favourite walks in the Galloway Hills.  A few spots of rain accompanied them for a short way until they left the road and then took the now more familiar new footpath.  Huge clearances have been made in this area, around the northern shore of Loch Trool, which has opened up the views to give wide panoramas of the surrounding hills.  Sunshine lit up the raindrops on small trees beside the loch.
Crossing the Water of Trool at Caldons, the group entered the colourful woods; the orange pine needles now camouflaging the new pathway laid down to make the traversing of this section of the Southern Upland Way easier.  Reflections of the trees were admired in the still water of the loch before an early lunch stop was taken just opposite Bruce’s Stone, the walkers making the most of the shelter of remaining trees and of numerous rocks littered beside the track.  Lunch finished and the weather still holding they resumed their walk through the trees.
Glenhead Burn was crossed and the forest road was approached before long pauses were taken at the Gairland and Buchan burns which, being in spate, provided good photo opportunities. After a stiff, short climb, Bruce’s Stone was reached and the group had a spectacular point from which to view Loch Trool surrounded by numerous hills, still bathed in glorious sunshine.  From there it was a short walk back to their cars before enjoying the warm hospitality of ‘Cinnamon’, in Newton Stewart.
Next week’s walk, on Saturday 28 February, is a moderate one of 5.6 miles, from Auchenmalg.  Meet for car sharing at Riverside, Newton Stewart at 9am, at Breastworks, Stranraer at 9.30am or at the walk start (NX 236 518) at 10am.  New walkers are welcome but asked to first phone the walk leader on 01776 840636 for details.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Fell of Eschoncan and Bennan July 2014

Saturday the 12th of July

I did not go on this walk. After returning quite exhausted from our easy coastal walk, I took myself off to the doctors. I'm awaiting blood test results, but my doctor thinks I may just be suffering from a seasonal malady. I don't feel particularly ill, but I'm tiring too easily at the moment. However I'm remaining quite active, but nothing too strenuous. I'm writing this after a pleasant afternoon at Bladnoch Park and the Wigtown Agricultural Society’s Social Sunday , a blog post of horses and lorries will follow sometime soon.

Saturday's walk leader was the Milkmaid and her report is below.

Two pictures taken on an I-Phone are the only imagery of the day.

I see from the pictures that apart from the Milkmaid and patḗr, the other walkers were some of our newer recruits. My feasible (not feeble !) excuse is above, maybe I've passed the bug on to everyone else ? 

Up through the bracken on Eschoncan slopes.

The intrepid walkers. 

I'd make a guess (though I might be wrong) that the photographer was an all weather walker. 

The pictures were taken on an Apple IPhone 5 and that would Shorty.
So I got that wrong, the I-Phone was the Milkmaids, but the photographer was a regular.

Here's the Milkmaid's report.

Wigtownshire RamblersFell of Eschoncan and Bennan

Saturday morning dawned with mist and drizzle, not a great start for a day in the hills. Understandingly most of the ramblers opted out of the days walk. Only seven walkers met at Bruce’s stone for an 8 mile trek up the fell of Eschoncan and the Bennan. By 10am the rain had stopped.
Setting off from the car park, the walkers climbed steeply upwards, along a barely discernible path, through shoulder high bracken. Once above the bracken line, golden spires of bog asphodel and dainty yellow tormentil dominated the vegetation. The shrill cry of peregrine falcons pierced the quiet morning and the outline of four birds swooping above the hill top delighted the party.
The steep climb was eventually rewarded with stunning views of the mist swirling up the valleys and over the tops of the surrounding hills. Light filtered through the clouds, saturated the colours of the flora, and created a claustrophobic sensation with Buchan hill seeming near enough to touch.
Breath regained, the ramblers crossed the top of the Fell of Eschoncan towards the forest road where newly erected deer fencing encircled the perimeter of the lower slopes of the Bennan. The route taken followed the new fence line along the forest road to the left, around the Bennan, going downhill at first, and after taking a sharp right hand fork in the road, steeply uphill towards the radio communications mast. Leaving the road, a grass track led to a concrete base under metal frame work where an old fuel tank may once have stood. Here the group ascended the final slope of the hill. Machinery in the buildings on the summit could be heard but the mast remained shrouded in clouds, only being revealed when the top was reached.
A sheltered spot was chosen for lunch to shield walkers from the cold breeze. Views remained elusive until a break in the fog momentarily unveiled the strange rock formations on the ridge of the Bennan.
Refreshed, the group now plunged into the mists, past small lochans and avoiding the rocks. Once a little height had been lost visibility returned and the hill was easily traversed. Small white flags, perhaps placed as part of a recent military exercise, marked the way.  Descending steeply by a stand of conifer, the forest road was reached. This was followed towards Culsharg bothy where the Merrick path along the Buchan burn led towards the car park Bruce’s Stone. Once the walkers were seated in their cars the rain, which had threatened all day, began in earnest.
Next week’s walk, Saturday 19th July, is a 6 mile C grade walk from Port Logan to Damnaglaur. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart at 9.00am and the Breastworks, Stranraer, at 9.30am, or the start of the walk (NX 094 404) Port Logan at 10am. New members are always welcome but must contact the walk leader on 01776 840636.

Cygnet update and a walk up the Gairland burn

Over on Blairmount pond, the cygnets are still doing fine. 

More ducks seem to be arriving on the pond.

I think the kids have got the message that it's wrong to throw stones at the birds.

Thursday the 26th of June.

After a really dreich day on Wednesday, Thursday looked  better. I decided on a walk in the hills.

The Buchan Rooftops, Mulldonach and Loch Trool.
After parking up at Bruce's Stone, I decided I'd head up the Gairland burn and get to Loch Valley.

Loch Trool view.
It was quite cloudy and overcast. Quite a few of this post's landscape pictures have been enhanced by Picasa's 'I'm Feeling Lucky' feature.
Looking for the path through shoulder high bracken gave me the impression that few folk have been walking this way.

As regular readers know I'm a sucker for wild orchids. 

After the high bracken, the path in places became quite stony, muddy or boggy.

To the right was the western edge of the Rig of the Jarkness.

This Bog Asphodel looked quite stunning.

I couldn't resist more wild orchids.

I thought this one should be on it's own.

Wednesday's rain might have made the path occasionally boggy, but the Gairland burn was quite low.

I reached Loch Valley. The path, though still spongy became a little easier here. 

My first glimpse of Loch Neldricken.

(a mistake I made was only fetching the 'Galloway Forest Park South' map. It only goes as far north as Loch Valley.

Marked on the correct OS map is the Murder Hole, a water feature on the western edge of the loch. It really doesn't exist here, it's correct location is at the Rowantree junction on the Straiton road. The author of  'The Raiders', Samuel Rutherford Crockett used Neldricken for it's location because it suited the book.

I stopped for lunch overlooking the loch.

Had it been a glorious sunny day I might have thought of wading over here.

As the clouds seemed to be gathering, after my lunch I began to retrace my steps.

This skylark posed nicely for me.

Contrary to my belief that the clouds were gathering this view of Benyellery and the Merrick showed them clearing. I decided on a climb up onto the Rig of the Jarkness.

It's a short but steep climb, but I was soon looking back towards Loch Neldricken...........

..................and south west to Loch Trool.

Below me were the long and round lochs of Glenhead.

The Gairland burn from atop the Rig of the Jarkness.

It was more difficult descending back to the Gairland than it was climbing.

I also took a few panoramas on my walk.

Slug Love, there was something going on here !

(a reminder:- to view pictures full screen, right click and 'Open in New Tab')

  

I finished drinking my coffee back at Bruce's Stone.

A hard frost in the ground might make the route easier. Continuing on to Loch Enoch and returning via the Buchan Ridge would then make an attractive walk. Ramblers walk ?