Wigtownshire Ramblers Talnotry June 2014

Saturday the 28th of June 2014

Saturday's walk was a strenuous A walk to Billy Marshall's cave and beyond. Because of this, A O'K recce'd a low level alternative for walkers wanting an easier day.

The leaders of the hill climb were the Milkmaid and Lionheart.

The 'Milkmaid' and A O'K will be writing the walk report and that will follow the images.

I'll begin the post with 

THE LOW LEVEL WALK

Because I was still aching from the Rig of the Jarkness on Thursday, I opted for the easier walk.

It's a variation of a walk we did back in October 2011.

October 2011 Walk

Eleven of us set off from the Talnotry Car Park, climbing up to the path running south west.

This was probably the hardest part of the walk.

Talnotry Hill Viewpoint

Here's a landscape picture from Miss Goodnight, shame this blog author got in the way !

We had a bit of a scramble down to the Loch of the Lowes. 

I didn't get any decent pictures here, so here's a collage from a previous visit when I saw the goldeneye ducks. 

Remember this video ?. Beethoven - GoldenEye Ducks - Duckin' and Divin'

A change of direction took us north east along the forest road.

Once the main road out of Newton Stewart it's still called the Old Edinburgh Road. 

Another fine picture from Miss Goodnight.

When we came to this :- Shaft(dis) as marked on the OS map, I thought I had the answer.

In 2008 and 2011, I mentioned it as being a lead or copper mine, then on my blog posts thinking I'd corrected myself by calling it the Talnotry Nickel Mine.

Now after looking at grid references and aditnow.co.uk I've come to the conclusion  I know nothing about this shaft. The Talnotry Nickel Mine is located nearer the Glen of the Bar and aditnow have nothing about this particular shaft.

I've narrowed the grid ref to NX 488 724, or one digit either way. I can find no reference to this particular location anywhere on the internet. Perhaps some geological genius will finally put me right.

Three of us took a short diversion to look at this cracking waterfall and pool on the Grey Mares Tail burn.

Wild swimming here I come !
Back on the forest road we found an ideal pile of stones for a lunch break.

After lunch we continued along to the Black Loch.

I stitched two pictures together to get the whole of 'The Eye' in.

"Standing around 8 metres high this perfect spire is made from red-earthen tiles, showing their rough broken edge on the outside. Once you are standing beside it you should soon realise why it’s creator Colin Rose has called it the ‘Eye’!"

Dumfries and Galloway Natural History

As this dead mole was discovered one walker recollected the texture of a certain moleskin jacket.

On reaching the Tonderghie burn, we rounded the loch and retraced our steps along the forest road. 

Back at the Grey Mares Tail burn we turned south.

Here we came to the Matt Baker sculptures. A few years older than I thought, they go back to 1997.

Although the 'Quorum' stays in place, it appears one of the lone sculptures has been stolen.

It's possibly the reason for new concrete 'filling in' shown here.

Grey Mare's Tail path.

Grey Mares Tail gorge, scene of a fatal 'Gorge Jumping' pursuit.

BBC News

Perhaps a more permanent memorial could be erected ?

A climb down.................

.............then up again.

There's a well worn path up here.

Built in 1835 the listed obelisk Murray's Monument is a very popular short climb.

Being located right beside the A712, the Newton Stewart to New Galloway road with a handy car park right below makes it attractive to passers by.

  

Our weary climbers take a moment.

The path round the back of the monument takes us back to the cars.
Our group then returned to Newton Stewart to enjoy excellent refreshments at the Belted Galloway.

Now here's a few pictures from Shorty and one from the Milkmaid of the 

HIGH LEVEL WALK

Update 7th of July :- I received some pictures today from the 'Croupier' taken by her husband during this climb. Here's a selection.

 Looking back to Murray's Monument.

 Inside Billy Marshall's cave.

 Is that a troglodyte ?

 Wreckage and Shorty

Millfore Summit

Thanks for dealing me those good lady, it's my pleasure to include them.


Doesn't time fly, It's almost five years since we last climbed to Billy Marshall's Cave.
2009 Walk 
I believe all of these pictures were taken after the visit to the cave.
(It's also quite possible I have some out of sequence, if so I hope it doesn't bother anyone, 'cause it doesn't me)

 After lunch in Louran Glen

 Wreckage of the USAF McDonald Douglas Phantom which crashed into Cairnsmore on the 28th of March 1979.

Fence leading up to the Nick of the Saddle.

It looks tough.

Which way now ?

Minnigaff Hills View.

Last braes before the Nick of the Saddle.

 Nick of the Saddle

 Meikle Mulltaggart

 A cool wind blows across the lesser known Millfore summit.

Millfore Hill.

Here's the reports.

Wigtownshire Ramblers 28th June 2014

On Saturday Wigtownshire Ramblers had a choice of two walks, a high level walk with a diversion to Billy Marshall’s cave and a low level walk around Talnotry.
17 ramblers choosing the high level walk set off from Talnotry, crossing the Palnure burn and following the forest road upwards until the Louran burn was reached. A short push through well grown bracken led to a grassy walk along a picturesque stream with large flat rocks and small waterfalls. The lack of recent rain made the Louran burn easy to cross.
The group then traversed the moorland towards the slopes of Cairnsmore of Fleet, where wild goats were spotted camouflaged against the rocks. Leaving rucksacks against a large boulder a detour took walkers to Billy Marshall’s cave which they then explored with torches. In the 1700s this cave was used as a hide out for a gang, whose leader was Billy Marshall, and as a store for the proceeds of their activities which probably included smuggling. Reputedly Billy Marshall lived to be 120, married 17 times and had scores of children. He is buried in St Cuthbert’s churchyard in Kirkcudbright.
Re-donning rucksacks the party followed the fence line leading up to the Nick of the Saddle. Part of the USAF McDonald Douglas Phantom light aircraft, which crashed into Cairnsmore of Fleet on 28th March 1979, lay across the route.  A rocky area close to this was chosen for lunch.
Refreshed, the walkers continued through rough heather up to the Nick of the saddle where they were able to enjoy panoramic views. This included the Lake District hills and Northern Ireland. In contrast the path to Meikle Mulltaggart was easy underfoot, then following a bike track past peat hags on a flat plateau, the rocky slopes of Craignelder were reached. This was a quick climb and the cairn of Millfore Hill was a stroll from here. The visibility was so good that the dome on Lowther Hill could be seen.
Descending, a quad bike track led to a forest ride which led to a forest road and eventually cars waiting at the Red Deer Range car park where drivers could be ferried to Talnotry for their cars.

Meanwhile a second group, who were looking for an easier day, set off on a circular walk which led past the Loch of the Lowes and along the Old Edinburgh Road. The entrance to an old mine was investigated followed by a diversion to see the waterfall on The Grey Mares Tail burn which was disappointing as it was as low as any of the party could remember seeing before. Shortly afterwards lunch was taken beside the bridge over the burn. They then followed the road to the Black Loch stopping to admire the Eye, a sculpture standing around 8 metres high. It is a perfect spire representing a needle with an “eye” through its centre.  After circling the Black Loch the group walked past the Quorum, a group of heads carved from local stone and set into the walls of a sheep enclosure. The ramblers then walked up and over a hill and down towards the car park at Murray’s Monument. The climb to the top of the monument was rewarded by views across the valley and the party were able to trace the route taken by the other group along the forest road and up to Billy Marshall’s cave. They were not in view however, having long since completed that part of their walk. The group wandered back down the path to the cars at Talnotry car park. Unlike the first group they were back in time for tea and cakes at The Belted Galloway in Newton Stewart.

Next week on Saturday July 5th there is an 8 mile linear walk from Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart at 8.30am, Stranraer Breastworks at 8.15am, or Garlieston (NX 478 462) at 9.30 where the bus will be caught to the start of the walk (remember bus passes if you have one). No dogs allowed on this walk. New members are always welcome but must contact the walk leader on 01988 840268.

Dirk Hatteraick and Meg Merrilees Cave

Thursday the 16th of October,and i decide to take a run over to Kirkdale nr Gatehouse of Fleet for a little exploration.

I park by the old bridge,which i assume used to be the main thoroughfare.


I've been here a few times,but usually upwards to Cairn Holy.
I doubt whether many of these old GR postboxes remain.
Kirkdale house belonging to the Hannay family is close.The name Hannay is often associated with John Buchans 'The Thirty Nine Steps'.Apparently Buchan was a family friend.Thats for another visit though,i'm going down to the shore.


I'm wondering if there's a way through under the A75.
Over the old bridge i move down to the Kirkdale burn and looking back at the bridge i take a few pictures.I cant get back far enough to take a picture of the whole bridge.
I'm getting in to stitching pictures together.There's good software available to do it now.


Here's how the four pictures above turned out.


A further crop completes the picture.


It looks as though there is access via a dodgy looking walkway.Access would be difficult,so i'm not going to chance it.I'll cross the A75.


There is a footpath,and very close to the road is this ivy covered structure.


Looking on the internet i discover that Kirkdale house had it's own icehouse.Is this it ? There's a big boulder blocking a small square exit at the back..Sounds plausible to me.


Looking at where the burn exits,i think i'd have struggled.


It's quite a rough descent but i eventually get to the shore.It looks like i've a stony walk ahead of me.


Here's where the Kirkdale burn reaches the shore.This isn't as easy to cross as it looks.The picture doesn't show the real perspective.The boulders are quite big and the water's deep and fast in places.I took great care in selecting my stepping stones.


Great care is needed over all these rocks.Even with my best boots on it's easy to slip.


This must be about where i want to be.


It's up here i need to be.Again care needs to be taken.The ground is uneven,slippy and still wet from the earlier rain.


Here's another group of pictures for stitching together...


...and the result.
So this is Dirk Hatteraicks cave mentioned by the Reverend C.H.Dick in 'Highways and Byways in Galloway and Carrick' published in 1916.
Here's a passage from the book.
'The cave is not easy to enter.It begins with a narrow slit in the rock shaped like an isosceles triangle,the floor is somewhere about twenty feet below,and you look down from the opening into deep darkness'
He's right about that.


There's two ropes of different thickness to aid your descent.I got about two yards and decided against.
The Reverend Dick continues..
'For the first yard or so you can keep yourself erect,but must then stretch yourself on the earth and slide or wriggle down the chimney until you are able to rise without knocking your head against the rock'


He then goes on to mention the dimentions of the cave,about forty feet in length,no more than six feet wide,and height from seven to twelve feet.
I'll get myself equipped with a torch and suitable clothing next time i come.I'd really like to have a look in.


The cave's had quite a few visitors judging by the carvings.I noticed one dated 1894.


When i'm ready to leave,i wonder could i take a shortcut upwards?Perhaps if i'd had some rock climbing training.I don't think so.


Heading back along the shoreline now,this pockmarked and criss crossed rock takes my eye.It's more than likely nature has created it's appearance,but imagination could take you to the smugglers cave and a 'Tally Stone' to keep count.


Back at Ravenshall woods where i'd made my descent,i disturbed a red squirrel who began leaping and running through the tree branches.I pointed my camera in the general direction-took four pictures and it looks as though i missed it.


I'm taking a closer look at the Kirkdale burn as i head back upwards...


...I don't envy those responsible for the maintenance of this bridge.
I'll be back for more exploration sometime,but i doubt whether this would be suitable for a ramblers walk,although knowing how intrepid our group is it wouldn't surprise me if they haven't already done it.