Three Walks - Newton Stewart Walking Festival - 2013

After the galavanting done to Southend the other weekend, last weekend was the start of the 11th annual Newton Stewart Walking Festival

I decided I'd do one of the first day's (friday) walks led by Shorty and his missus.

The weather wasn't the best over the weekend and I didn't take many pictures.

Here's the best of them anyway.

Friday

Walk 1 - 2 Newton Stewart by the back door

Shennanton Gatehouse

Daffodils below Shennanton House. There was a very good turnout for this walk.

Domesticated quadrupeds spotted on the walk

Lovely local ladies

A nice steady eight miles, I'm warmed up for the walk I'll lead on Saturday.

Saturday

Walk 2 - 6 Monreith to the Isle of Whithorn

This is the walk I'm leading. I'm limited to a group of fifteen as our return transport is a minibus and the driver is also my backup. As it turned out there were thirteen in total on the walk.

We begin at St Medans Golf Course Car park and immediately go along to Kirkmaiden church. Here my deputy told the story of Francois Thurot. 

Monreith's Home Page has the story

It's one of the oldest churches in Scotland, and the resting place of many of the McCulloch and Maxwell family members, who owned the Monreith estate.

The Galloway Gazette has the story of how Kirkmaiden and St Medan came to be named

The Gavin Maxwell Memorial

Once over the top of the golf course we stopped at the promontory fort of Back Bay.

On the walk with us was Elinor (Ellie) Graham, Research Assistant at SCAPE, University of St Andrews and Natalia a colleague. They're researchers for SCHARP , Scotland's Coastal Heritage At Risk Project

and have come along to explain promontory forts and the WW2 sites that are at risk

The lovely ladies from St Andrew's University

Our first coffee break was below Laggan Camp

I'd quite a fit group with me and dykes, fences and gates were easily hurdled

Climbing down to Port Castle Bay

At St Ninians Cave the appearance of the sun allowed us a relaxed lunch break

Continuing south

A WW2 structure inland from Carghidown

I'm surprised I can't find this on some of the pages of the 'geographers' who occasionally read my blog.

 Any ideas?

Near Blockan Hole

It was around now we had a shower of hailstones, hence the poor seal shot

Burrowhead has the most extensive promontory fort in Castle Feather. It was also an important anti aircaft site in WW2.  

Here's Statutory Rules and Orders No 144 of 1940

Burrowhead Anti-Air-Craft Artillery Range

Ellie was very enthusiastic about this site and explained much of the layout.

Also at Burrowhead are the stumps of the original Wickerman

This was where Howie (Edward Woodward) met his end while the inhabitants of Summerisle danced round the big burning basket.

A short climb brings us back to the cliff top

A look back at Burrowhead

Just short of the walk finish at the Isle of Whithorn a rainbow appeared.

Feedback from my walk in 2012 suggested the walk was a little further than advertised.

It was the same today with one walker suggesting that if she sees me as a walk leader next year, she'll add a couple of miles. 

A successful walk made much more interesting by the input of Ellie. Thank you young lady, your company and knowledge was much appreciated. 

Sunday

Walk 3 - 6 Devils Bridge Coastal

It was a miserable forecast for this walk which was led by my fellow ramblers the 'Weaver' and 'Scoop'

I have a new small camera for such days. The problem being that the camera was awaiting collection in the Post Office sorting office.

The first section took us across country in the South Rhins to Salt Pan Bay

The weather was fine for these creatures

I did occasionally get my camera out. This was to try and capture the Shag swallowing a fish he'd just caught. I was too late.

We walked across Ardwell beach, around Ardwell Point to Doon Castle and the broch before heading back inland where we had a little respite from the wind and rain.

Eventually we were back along the cliff edges on the Mull of Logan...........

.....................and the Devil's Bridge

With us was Tim Stephenson from the Gem Rock Museum

As well as imparting very knowledgeable information he handed out the following explanation.

The weather again turned and we were soon on the move again

A few obstacles were surmounted as we continued along the dramatic coastline

We were soon at the next feature intriguingly called..................................

.............................Little Bridge

Lots of photographs..........................

.........................then a scramble.

Spring Squill (Scilla Verna) probably my picture of the day

Port Logan and the walk finish in sight. Is it brightening up ?

The primroses blanket many of the gullies. Stunning !

The last picture is of an interesting bridge with conical corners. I didn't want to finish with a dull picture hence the enhancements.

A lovely walk considering the weather.

Well done leaders and Tim.

My weekend ended at the Belted Galloway where Ellie talked about the archaeology of Galloway’s coast. Our previous day's walk was also a feature of the presentation and slideshow.

It was a very enjoyable weekend despite the weather.

Wigtownshire Ramblers - Logan Botanical Circular - July 2012

It's the last Saturday in July 2012.

21 of us turn up at Logan Botanical Gardens Carpark for today's walk.

I won't go into much detail since the 'Weaver' is writing the report for today, and she will really do it justice.
Once I receive it It'll be published following the pictures.

Logan Botanic Gardens

A macro shot in passing

We're soon out of the gardens on farm tracks

When taking this picture of Bully, I'd never noticed the Heron beyond since I'd already zoomed in a fair way.

But I'm now wondering, if to the left of the heron, that isn't a youngster. It looks a bit fat though ? Maybe it's an optical illusion.

Colourful cottage and countryside

Here we heard quite a lot of 'Fowl' language

Coastal path

Overlooking Port Gill

(Thanks to Scoop for her contributions, taken on her Canon Powershot G1)

Duniehinnie  Fort

Heading south via Peter's Paps, Lurghie Point and Otter Rock

I don't half fancy a day's exploration of the caves and shoreline. 

The flower is Grass of Parnassus

I love the zoom on my new camera

Who's this, Salty or Sandy ?

This is the Devils Bridge...............

..................and it's lunchtime

Scoop takes pictures as three of us take a walk on the Devils Bridge

Although the seagulls take to flight, the shags are unperturbed by our presence

Back on the clifftop I get another picture of the Devils Bridge

Are these Cardinal Beetles ?

Another arch

A scramble to the cliff top

Port Logan comes into view

A couple of fields get us back on the track to the Gardens

Our 'Strawberry Tea' awaits

Ramblers’ report July 26^th 2012

Despite a dismal forecast for the day, the ramblers set out from Logan Gardens in fine weather. Twenty one walkers took the track past Logan House to Logan Mains where they eventually turned towards the sea and Port Gill. Undergrowth was lush, yellow vetch brightened the path and the air filled with the delicious scent of pineapple weed crushed underfoot.

Ducks, guinea fowl, geese and hens greeted the company at the entrance to the little bay of Port Gill, which was viewed from the cliffs above. Boats pulled up onto the rocky beach and a few caravans by the little inlet made the peaceful bay an ideal holiday hideaway.

The walk led onwards to the south now. The Iron Age fort of Duniehinnie caused some interest with a few hardy souls adventuring across the narrow link from the cliffs, to explore the remaining lumps and bumps left on the sea cropped grass.

The flowers were still creating a colourful carpet on the banks and headlands. The delicate Grass of Parnassus grew profusely in one place, while yellow hawkweed dotted the ground and created a golden glow, enhancing the hot sun which appeared from time to time.

The folly on top of Mull Hill beckoned as the cliffs were navigated. Now only a single wall, which resembles a tower, it was once part of a larger building, but its original purpose is now obscure. Wild carrot, whose flowers were being inspected by a host of orange insects, clothed the steep grassy sides which led to narrow inlets all along this stretch of cliff, with the sea roaring through restricted passages, creating a foamy swirling surface.

A curious seal popped up to watch the ramblers pass by.

The force of the sea acting upon the rocks was seen in the jagged shapes of the sea girt stacks and caves which have been eaten out of the cliffs, and then the spectacular Devil’s Bridge, a great archway with a large flat rock alongside where shags rested. Here the company also rested for lunch whilst herring gulls wheeled overhead, screaming at the intrusion of so many walkers.

Views across to Ireland were hazy but the Mountains of Mourne stood out, and the gap which showed the entrance to Belfast Lough could be clearly seen. The broch at Ardwell Bay and the nearer bay of Drumbreddon were picked out along the coast north, and then as the corner turned the view south included the picturesque village of Port Logan; this all increased the satisfaction of walking on such a beautiful coastline. 

Another rock bridge, this time much smaller, was passed where a new core path was being fenced to create better access along this coast. As the walkers crossed the fields to a quiet road leading onto a Logan estate track, and passed the gamekeeper’s house with kennels of barking dogs, the rain suddenly came on with force. But by the time the cars were reached once more, the tarmac on the car park was steaming; heat from the summer sun welcomed the ramblers to a strawberry cream tea in the restaurant, set alongside the lovely walled gardens. A delicious end to a most enjoyable walk.

Next Saturday’s walk, on the 4^th August is an easy stroll around the Braes of Balker and Loch Inch. Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30am, Riverside, Newton Stewart, 9.30am or at Loch Inch Tearoom, 10am. If going straight to the start please phone walk leader 01776 700707. New members are always welcome.