A recce and other stuff July/August 2014

Pictures from a few outings over the last week.

Thursday I recce'd the walk I should have been leading this Saturday.  

It was overcast as I climbed the slopes of the smaller of the Millfores'

Behind me I could see Clatteringshaw's Loch, Benniguinea and Cairnsmore (Black Craig) of Dee.

Zoomed in down to Craigdews cottages.

A selfie on Millfore

One of a number of cairns on Craignelder looking towards the river Cree and the Machars

Looking over to Tonderghie Glen.

The fields of Corwar and Dallash

Murray's Monument looking small.

After composing a drab and dreary panorama to the north I decided to try some enhancements.

Here's the result on Dermander. 

Descending Craignelder was difficult. Large tussocks, deep holes and falling on my 'Bahookie' half a dozen times convinced me I couldn't bring a group of ramblers down here. It took me an hour and forty five minutes just to reach the forest road.

On the walk back to my car I came across these wild orchids by the roadside..............

.................and this little beauty. 

The closest thing in my book tells me it could be 'Ragged Robin', I'm not sure ?

Friday the first of August

I was treated to this view on opening my bedroom curtains.

I've often seen the odd bird or two, but this morning there were a couple of dozen.

As well as pictures I took some video.

Youtube

What a gorgeous way to start my day.

So after the weekend's wet weather Monday looked a better day. I headed along the river bank.

Blooming strongly just now is the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

I love it but I suppose it does need to be controlled. 

Riverbank wild flowers are in full bloom, Autumn's coming.

The bees are so busy they almost ignore me and my camera.

Close to this pretty spot a water vole slipped down from the bank.

Another busy bee.

Water Forget Me Not.

A short walk through Doonhill Woods to check on................

...............the Blairmount Cygnets.

The little fella is still a bit shorter in the neck than the others but looking healthier than the other day.

One of the Juvenile Moorhens get's more adventurous.

That's it up to this Tuesday morning.

It looks like showers today.

More rain tomorrow.

Wigtownshire Ramblers - Craignelder - August 2012

I'm leader today.

The walk report will be after the pictures.

This is today's hill - Craignelder.

Monument at the Red Deer car park to John McDonald.

"John McDonald memorial, he was a ganging-body (itinerant worker) who died 1878 by the old Brockloch Bridge. When the bridge was replaced in the late 1970s this memorial was built to house the former bridge-side plaque."

Forest road above Craigdews

View to Craigdews. The prominent crag is part of the Wild Goat park.

Ruins of Dunkitterick Cottage, Alexander Murray's Birthplace.

The first bog

Mossy Bank 

Through the forest at Sleekit Knowe and on to the rocky slopes of Craignelder

Views back down to Murray's Monument and Craigdews

Zoomed in goats

I persuaded these lovely ladies to pose...

....and the other two as well (don't get me wrong, they're lovely too)

Final scramble to Craignelder Summit

Millfore Hill Summit

Overlooking Loch Grannoch

Views to Clatteringshaws, Benniguinea and Cairnsmore of Dee

By-passing Craignarget down to Craigenskulk and Millstalk

The butterflies were out by the time we got back to the car park.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report

Saturday the 25^th of August 2012

A dreich morning saw ten intrepid walkers meet at the Red Deer Car park for the start of the walk to the summit of Craignelder.

The forest road opposite the car park was accessed for the first section of the walk. Colourful Bell heather, Ling and Willow herb (fireweed) grew profusely along the roadside. A wren, a merlin or hobby and swallows were spotted in flight. After a gradual incline, the right fork at a road junction was taken leading down to the remains of Dunkitterick Cottage, the birthplace of Alexander Murray. One of Galloway’s most famous sons, and the son of a shepherd, Alexander Murray learned to read in several languages from a very early age and went on to become a Doctor of Divinity and Chair of Oriental languages at Edinburgh University. Sadly Ill health dogged him most of his life and he died at the age of 37. Murray’s Monument was prominent for much of the walk.

After leaving the cottage, a burn and a bog had to be crossed to reach the next forest road.

The euphoria of being on solid ground was short lived however as a forest ride signified the start of what was to be quite a strenuous climb.  Boggy in places the forest ride was followed up through the braes of Sleekit Knowe.  One ridged, moss covered dry section was delightfully like an oil painting.

After exiting the forest and crossing an old fence, a diagonal route over the boulder strewn hillside led to the rock climbing crags of the Fleshmarket and Big Gairy. This was a slow painstaking climb via tussocks and granite terraces.  Gradually the granite outnumbered the tussocks and the going got easier. Mountain goats were seen above on granite outcrops. 

 A lunch break was taken in a sheltered rocky depression. Midges which had been troublesome in the forest and the lower slopes were happily absent from the dinner table.

Sustained and refreshed after a leisurely break the summit of Craignelder (601) was soon reached. A break was taken to identify surrounding mountains and landmarks. The weather was improving, but distant views were still hazy. The adjoining Meikle Mulltaggart looked especially majestic across the Louran Rig and Deers Den.

Next came one of the highlights of the walk. Family groups of Ravens numbering 12 or 13 passed overhead giving a wonderful aerobatic display of turns and tumbles.

A path passing a mountain lochan now led across to the bigger cairn on the summit of Millfore Hill (602), its higher namesake now in a clear view to the north. Another break just below the summit opened up views to the east and the Lochs Grannoch, Fleet and Clatteringshaws.

The group now began the descent down the Stey Green of Kitterick avoiding Craignarget Hill. More heather and fewer tussocks made the going easy enough till reaching the boggy quad track at Craigenskulk.  A forest ride now led to the forest road at Millstalk. This road now led down to the junction near the Palfern Burn to complete the circuit.

The short distance back to the cars completed what was a more strenuous, but ultimately satisfying walk than was expected.

The next walk on Saturday the 1st of September is a 6 mile cliff top walk from St Ninian's Cave to the Isle of Whithorn.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.00am,the Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.30am or the walk start at St Ninian's Car Park (NX 431 366) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone the walk leader on 01988 840268. New members are always welcome.

Pre Recce Recce - Craignelder

Thursday the 19th of July

I needed to get a walk in today so I climbed Craignelder as a pre recce.

I thought these couple of pictures deserved an airing.

My fellow blogger from Ayr  

and the teacher just happened to be on the next hill, Cairnsmore of Fleet.

I must have seen at least 80 goats today. This was my best picture of a dozen.

A gorgeous wild orchid

A collage of some of my views.

It was very wet underfoot, apart from a little drizzle it wasn't a bad day weather-wise.

Hopefully that's me warmed up for Saturday's walk.

Craignelder

It's Wednesday the 9th of June early afternoon.
I fancy a climb.
This lump is favourite today.I've parked on a forest track just opposite Talnotry on the A712 (Queensway).This is Craignelder at 601 Metres.I'll take the direct route and head up alongside the forest plantation.
The stepping stones don't appear to be much used.

Over the other side I've encountered lots of tussocks.Too many convenient forest roads is the problem.
Mountain bikers are riding the feature known as 'McMoab' over on Kirroughtree's Seven Stanes mountain bike track.
Behind me,I'm soon on a level with Murrays Monument.
There's plenty of rocky outcrops,but also lots of zig zagging sheep tracks I can follow.
The hamlet of Craigdews sits below 'The Types' and the deer range.

Here I get a view of Cairnsmore of Fleet.
Above me now are the craggy outcrops of Wee Gairy,Little Road,Fleshmarket,The Minimarket,the Vegetable Market and Big Gairy.These are very popular with Rock Climbers.John Biggars page has lots of detail and pictures for anyone interested.
Fleshmarket

Still gaining height I get nice views over the Minigaff Hills as well as the Rhinns of Kells to the north east.
Once I'm up on the plateau I come across a number of mini cairns.I guess the biggest is Craignelder summit,though there's not a great deal between them.
Now I'm heading over to Millfore Hill(Not to be confused with Millfore in the Minigaff Hills).I've always wondered why the Knee of Cairnsmore was so called.From this point it's fairly understandable.

No problems identifying Millfore Hill (602 Mtrs) summit. Clatteringshaws is the loch below.
It's blowing a gale up here, and I'm trying out some self portraits with varying backgrounds from Millfore Summit.I've had to mask the resulting pictures.They're just too gruesome.Ha ha
I've found a crack in the rocks to jam the camera into for this picture...
...
and a final one with Cairnsmore behind.

My route down was almost the same as my ascent.The only difference was crossing the Palnure on forest road rather than the stepping stones.

I've no problem with these hills when i can dictate my own pace.

Footnote.
While climbing up the tussocky edge of the forest I stopped to tie a bootlace.Something down a pothole caught my eye,and stretching my arm down i retrieved a wallet.
Inside were credit and debit cards,library tickets,Identity Card,Student Card and money.Since everything apart from the plastic was soaking wet and I couldn't get a phone number. I handed it in to Newton Stewart Police Station.I hope the guy was pleased to get it back.My good deed for the day.