The Wigtownshire Ramblers Bargaly Circular January 2015

Saturday the 17th of January 2015

We've done various parts of this walk in the past.

Here's a couple of links.

Scoops Blog November 2011

January 2010 Walk 

Walkfest 2011

Shorty was the walk leader with myself as the backup.

The first half dozen pictures are from a recce we did on Tuesday.

 There'll be a selection of pictures from Scoop. 

Shorty's report will appear after the pictures.

A womble at Stronord

The rough section of the recce.

A slight route change was made for walk day.

One of the Galloway Hills.

Five of us did the recce.

Belted Galloways with a little Beltielet.

This was how the sky looked as we finished the recce.

So, onto the walk itself. There were eighteen of us.

Shorty explains some of the history of the lead mines that were once prolific in the area.

The Boatman gets a Womble close up. 

Farm art ?

Some of the surfaces throughout the walk.

There's only one of the above we didn't walk on. No prizes walkers, but can you spot it.

Above Bardrochwood

The waterproof boot test

Meadows east of Bargaly

Into the woods........with obstacles to surmount

More snow to come

A stone quarry and a sweetie break

Tussocks and bog

A helping hand required

It's wheely a different view

Under Craignelder

Approaching Corwar. We lunched in the woods by the Palnure burn

Forest track passing Dallash

The Papy Ha Trail

A heavy snow shower

Bruntis Loch

The Gem Stane one of the 7 stanes of the 7stanes mountain bike trails

As can be seen by the above collage, the wet snow got to my camera and all other pictures I took aren't worth publishing.

A very satisfying ten point six miles completed.

We enjoyed after walk scones and other goodies at the Cinnamon cafe.

(It'll be the turn of the Belted Galloway next time)

 Enjoy this selection of pictures from

Scoop

Scoop's spotted the wood creature !

A lovely set of pictures.

Have a great week all.

Here's Shorty's Report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers -17 January 2015 – Bargaly Glen

Saturday was a dry and frost-free morning, much welcomed by the ramblers who drove up the Mines Hill at Blackcraig to the start of the walk.  Eighteen members assembled in the Anglers’ car park for a walk around the Bargaly Glen.  We set off over the hill and followed the forest path down towards Stronord. 

On the way we passed numerous trial pits associated with the lead mines.  A little further on we came first to the main entrance to the East mine, now fenced off and surrounded by a dense growth of young trees, and then to the end of the lade from the Bruntis Lochs and then the old processing site where the ore was washed.  The old bings are still evident with their straggly vegetation, presumably restricted by the excessive lead in the soil.

Beyond the mines we passed through Stronord village and crossed the Bogue Bridge over the Palnure Burn and turned up the valley.  Before Bardrochwood we encountered our first climb of the day up the forest road onto Bardrochwood Moor.  We paused at the top of the rise to get our breath back and admire the views across the lower valley.  A first sweetie round was taken at this point.  We then crossed the field between whin bushes and reached the road to the Mill Burn, passing the old water treatment works which used to supply water from the Mill and Blairbuies burns to the farms around Wigtown.  It has been reported that the pipe used to cross the Cree under the railway bridge and when that bridge was removed after the closure of the Paddy Line the pipe was just dropped into the Cree.  It continued to work for many years.

Our first serious obstacle was the Mill Burn.  The road crosses by a ford and there is no bridge or stepping stones nearby.  Fortunately the water level was low and we all walked gingerly across with relatively dry feet.  We had originally intended to bypass this obstacle by taking a grassy track through the Bargaly Wood but active forestry felling operations made this route impracticable.

After crossing the burn we followed the grassy track over the moor and through the forest to the attractive valley of the Knock Burn where it runs below Barhoise Hill.  Eventually we reached the main forest road and paused again for more sweeties and to admire the views over the upper glen.  We then zig-zagged northwards along the forest roads until we reached the end of the prepared track where we followed a ride down towards Corwar.  Initially the going was easy with firm ground and deer tracks showing the best way around the wet patches.  As we got lower the ground got wetter and the tussocks larger.  The final hundred metres or so before we reached the field were something of an assault course with numerous deep holes, soft bogs and small burns.  Once across we entered the firm ground in the fields and everyone cheered up.  Across the fields we reached Corwar Farm which had looked very attractive from a distance in the watery sunshine but was now boarded up and looking sorry for itself.  

We then crossed the Palnure Burn again and paused for lunch under the large Douglas Fir trees around the raised footpath.  The path and footpath were created to maintain access to Corwar when the burn was in spate and the road bridge under water.  Evidence of recent floods could be seen by the debris caught halfway up the road gate.

After lunch we took the Lower Dallash road past the substantial farm and admired the small herd of Belted Galloway cattle together with one very young calf.  Once again we had to divert our route due to forestry operations.  We had planned to follow the now abandoned Pappy Ha trail to the upper road but this was impassable following forwarder work.  It is hoped that the path can be reinstated once works are finished.  We therefore followed the roads round to the upper part of the path which was an attractive grassy track through the trees to the top of the valley side.  We again joined a forest road and followed it southwards back towards the cars.

The weather now decided to turn damp, first with rain, then hail and then full blooded snowfall.  Fortunately it didn’t last long and the sun soon reasserted itself.  We turned off the road and took a path back towards the Bruntis Lochs with the attractive Gem Stone and bowed bridge.  Today the water was mirror calm and gave most attractive reflections of the surrounding trees.

A short walk following the path via the Little Bruntis Loch and forest roads soon had us back to the cars.  We then returned to Cinnamon at Newton Stewart where we were welcomed for well-earned tea and scones.

Next week’s walk will be a moderate walk up the Aldouran Glen and round Lochnaw woods from Leswalt Village.  Meet at 09:00 at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart or 09:30 at the Breastworks car park in Stranraer to share transport.  The walk will start from the Leswalt Village Hall at 10:00.  New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01776 705061 for full details.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Kirroughtree to Newton Stewart January 2013

Saturday the 19th of January 2013

Today's walk is one from 2012's walkfest.

Here's the link to that. Friday the 11th of May 2012

Our walk leader is Shorty with Scoop as backup.

There are 18 of us out today. We've the two new gents from last week, and a couple of lovely new recruits of the fairer sex  from Newton Stewart. 

On four legs was Bella.

Shorty's report will follow the pictures. 

Our walk started up the hill from Blackcraig at the Fisherman's Car Park.

Little Bruntis Loch

Scoop, happy to be the back marker today.

Bruntis Loch

Ramblers at the Gem Stane, one of seven of the Seven Stanes Mountain Bike Trails 

This friendly wee fella flitted around us.

The bridge over to the Gem Stane

Forest tracks and tracks. Bella met a friend.

Heading down towards Larg

The remains of Larg Tower

This castle and Kirroughtree are connected to Robert the Bruce, the ancestry of the McKie family and 'The Wife of Craigencallie' , a very interesting tale.

Heading west from Larg Tower

The snow covered peaks of Millfore and Drigmorn.

The S.U.W have a walk from Murray's Monument to these two summits.

Millfore and Drigmorn walk. I've a feeling our group haven't done this from this direction.

What do you think fellow walkers ? Click on the link and see what you think.

Climbing up to Parliament Knowe. A lazy buzzard ignores our passing.

Heading through Wild Wood and Bower Wood to reach Newton Stewart Golf Club

The Doocot has approximately 450 spaces for Cushats or Cushie Doos

Passing by Wall Villa and the Conifers Leisure Park

The last stretch over Broomisle. The frost in the ground was welcome here.

A lovely stroll and a lovely get together afterwards in the Cinnamon for tea, coffee, fruit scones and jam.

Shorty's report will appear here when I get it.


Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 19 January 2013

Eighteen ramblers and one well behaved dog met at the Anglers’ car park at the top of the Mines Hill above Blackcraig.  The weak winter sun was working its way through the thin clouds and the ground was sprinkled with a light dusting of fine snow.  It promised to be a fine day for a walk.  The group headed off following the newly constructed Yellow Route which wound its way through the trees down to the Bruntis Lochs. These were built as a water source for the lead mines and could be regarded as industrial dereliction but are now a most attractive feature of the forest.  When they reached the big loch a pair of herons wheeled above the glassy water, silhouetted against a clear blue sky.

There was a short pause to admire the ornate bridge over the outflow from the main loch and the repaired Jewel Stone, a symbol of one of the Seven Stanes cycle routes.  As they stood there a cyclist whirred past on the downhill run towards the visitor centre.  The group then made their way round the north-east side of the loch until an old track led northwards to a forest road.  The forest road was followed round the north side of the loch until the leader realised he had missed a turn and they back tracked a little way to where the Blue walking route led up through the trees to yet another forest road.  This road was followed south-westwards until a short track followed a moss decked dyke to an upper road where the group turned northwards, following the white trail round Larg Hill.  Along the way they met two other ramblers who were walking a borrowed dog in the opposite direction.  Greetings were exchanged and the ramblers continued on their way.  Views of the snow covered hills were seen sporadically through the larch trees.  They looked magnificent in the sparkling sunshine.

The group followed the lower road below Larg Hill until they reached the edge of the fields of Larg Farm.  At this point one member and his dog left the group to walk home and the remaining walkers crossed the fields down to the remains of the Larg Tower, and ancient tower house believed to have been the seat of the McKie family.  This was built on land granted to the McKie family by Robert the Bruce for services to the king during the wars of independence.

After examining the ruins they crossed another field and reached the New Galloway road by Larg Cottages.  The road was crossed and the ramblers followed the old road line up into the Doon Wood.  They left the track and walked through the lovely larch wood to the Parliament Knowe.  This was an old hill fort of unusually small dimensions which had been used as a traditional camping ground for passing tinkers.  It is believed that the name derives from the practice of local miners meeting there to discuss their mutual problems.  Lunch was taken on the top of the knowe where quarrying activity had provided ideal seating.

The sun now disappeared behind scudding clouds and the temperature dropped markedly.  The ramblers returned to the old track and climbed towards the Doon Fields. The fields which are completely screened by woodland, had once been used as a training site for young motocross riders.  All signs of their activities have now healed.  The group crossed the field and went back into the woods.  This section is known as the Wild Wood.  The area is predominantly conifer plantation but scattered older broadleaved trees suggest that there may have been an old wood on the site.

The original intention was to walk further round Clark’s Wood to the east but felling of areas of Larch following the identification of the Phytophthora disease meant that they avoided these areas and turned directly down to the Bower Wood.  There was no sign of the local Fallow Deer which are commonly seen here.  Perhaps they had all gone down to Minnigaff village where they had been causing problems for gardeners.  The group left Bower Wood and crossed the golf course to the doocot which stood between the fairways. This was examined and the group was amazed at the number of cells in such a small building.  As no golfers were in sight, the ramblers then crossed the next fairway and entered the track leading to the Kirroughtree Stables.  The track was followed round through the chalet park and down to Minnigaff.  The main road was crossed and the group picked their way by the driest possible route past Broomisle Cottage and down to the river.  This cottage was most unusual in that it has no road access and the occupants have to make their way as best they can over the fields.  Recent wet weather had apparently made this very difficult.  The group reached the riverside path and were amazed to see how high the debris from the recent floods had spread up the riverside trees.  The path had also been severely eroded by the floods.  The group made their way round the potholes and crossed the Sparling Bridge to the end of their walk in the Riverside car park.  While the drivers were ferried back to the start to collect their cars the remaining ramblers made their way to Cinnamon where they all enjoyed tea and scones.

Next week’s walk is a leisurely walk from Glen App to Cairnryan, partly following the recently completed Lochryan Coastal Path.  Meet at 09:00 at the Riverside car park, Newton Stewart or 09:15 at the Breastworks car park in Stranraer to share transport.  The walk will start with a bus at 09:45 from the north car park at Cairnryan (NX 062 691). New walkers are welcome.  If going direct to the start or for any other queries, please contact the walk leader on 01776 705818.