Wigtownshire Ramblers Glasserton Circular February 2012

Saturday the 11th of February 2012.
 It's not a very nice day, and the forecast isn't a good one.
Today's walk is a variation on This One we did two years ago, and This One we did last year.
It rained initially, but the mist stayed with us throughout the day.
I thank my good friend Scoop for contributing at least 50% of today's pictures.
I'm again the leader and the report will follow the images.

Ruined house near Carleton

The walk leader

Cooking range (That pot won't boil again)

Fun and frolics crossing the stile

Trig point (Also in the picture are the walkers who wouldn't cross because we'll be heading back that way

A wet Carleton Fell

The Machermore Mill Stone

We also had lunch here

Now we're heading to Laggan Camp and Pond

Laggan Pond as it was on Wednesday's recce's

A line of nervous sheep

Another obstacle out of the way

Above Claymoddie beach 

A well closed gate to keep the cattle in

The lawned terraces of  the now  non-existent Glasserton House

Glasserton Walk Report

A dreich misty morning greeted the 15 walkers assembled at Glasserton church car park. The forecast was for much of the same throughout the day, but the group as usual were optimistic.
Blankets of snowdrops and a picturesque dead elm tree brought the group to Glasserton Mains cottages from where they headed north-west along the old drovers track.

The first point of interest was the row of derelict cottages by the Row plantation. Here the walk leader had a list of the names he'd found on the internet of the occupants of these cottages back in 1684.

Continuing on, another old cottage complete with an old fireplace was explored. After passing Rouchan Pond the normally extensive views of the Machars were non existent due to the mist.
Movement of cattle had muddied field entrances and mud became a prominent feature of the walk.
Reaching Craiglemine the route now changed direction to the south-west and Carleton.
Reaching Bessie Yon, another derelict house was explored. It contained a delightful old fireplace complete with pot hanger, pot, grate and oven, and although very rusty gave a glimpse of a long since past way of life.

Now an easterly route was taken over the rising undulating and boggy fells.
After carefully crossing a slippery stile over a drystane dyke the group continued upward to reach another drystane dyke. The trig point at the northern end of the Fell of Carleton stood twenty feet away, but only the intrepid few crossed the stile for a closer look. By now the rain had almost ceased, but the mist still had a damp feel to it.

After crossing more rough undulating terrain the next objective of the Machermore's Millstone was reached.
Carved into a rocky outcrop almost a metre wide is an unfinished millstone.
The walk leader had heard a story of it being unfinished due to the outbreak of war. More likely is the local tradition that says the millstone was carved in the late 19th century by workmen rebuilding Carleton farm.

The outcrop of rock, known as Mill Stone Howe proved to be an ideal spot to enjoy a spot of lunch. Although the mist remained, the rough foamy tide at the Point and Lochans of Cairndoon could be seen clearly.

After lunch the outcrop known as Fox Hunt was skirted to reach Laggan Pond and Camp. Another drystane dyke was crossed to reach the top of this large promontary fort.
The amateur archaeologists in the group enjoyed identifying ramparts, ditches and the entrance.

The next section of the walk was along the cliff top overlooking Luce Bay. The unique shingle beach of Claymoddie came into regular view.
After more obstacles including barbed wire fences, dykes, burns and unopenable gates the farm track at Claymoddie was reached.
The route now took them inland to the crossroads of Claymoddie from where the estate road to Glasserton was accessed.

Reaching the site where Glasserton House stood the group learned a little of it's history and owners. To the rear, the outlines of the lawned terraces, blanketed by snowdrops gave a good impression of how majestic it once was.

Now the group moved on to look at the 18th century Glasserton Home farm.A new roof and wall have been incorporated with some of the original structure to create a grain store.The surrounding cottages and a doo'cot also date back to the 18th century.
From here it was a short distance back to the car park and the end of an interesting if somewhat misty walk.
The next walk on Saturday the 18th of February is a C+ circular walk from Auchenmalg to Stairhaven.
Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30am,the Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.00am or the walk start at the Cock Inn Car Park (NX 236 518) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone walk leader 01988 840268. New members are always welcome  
 

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Creetown Circular November 2010

Where's the snow I asked on my last post.Well it arrived overnight.
Nothing like the quantity they've been having over on the east coast,but enough to notice.
I resurrected my Fuji to take pictures today,but I omitted to change the settings and ended up taking pictures on the default setting of lowest quality.Hence no absolutely brilliant pictures.

I'm writing the press report for todays walk.Once again that will be the text of the post.
Although the walk is a new route,we've covered most sections of it at some time or another.



Walk Report 27th of November 2010
An overnight fall of snow covered the ground as the ramblers gathered at Adamson Square Creetown for the walk.Fourteen set off but soon became fifteen as one latecomer caught up with the group.

They began by heading north out the town, then taking the old military road to the north east.
Remnants of the old railway line and the modernised stationmasters house were pointed out by the walk leader.

They continued across the Kilwhirn Bridge past Barhassie and on to Greenburn,where a variety of exotic plants lined the road.


Once across the Greenburn bridge they turned southeast and crossed snow covered fields to emerge on the road leading to the Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve.

A short walk took them over the Chain bridge and into Chain Wood to follow the path above the well flowing Moneypool burn.

Once out of the woods,a gentle incline,curious cattle and two drystone walls took them to the tarmac road at Craigenboy.

Another change of direction took them south onto the Glenquicken road through a kissing gate and into the 'Oak Trail' of Balloch woods.

Courtesy of Scoop,I get in the picture

After following the delightful and well laid out path for a kilometre they crossed the Darach Bridge and emerged at the Garrochar wildlife ponds.

Here they took a short break to look at the roundhouse interpretation centre and the frozen ponds with curious patterns in the ice.

They also learned from the walk leader that this was once where the Creetown Curling club held their bonspiels.It was last used in 1945.

Next,a short walk past the Garrocher christmas tree farm took them to the track leading up to Knockeans hill.

A climb of varying steepness saw the group reach the 974 feet summit where a lunch break was taken.Views of the Galloway hills were enjoyed and identified.

Following lunch they followed the path west to the summit of the slightly lower Larg hill.

Here they enjoyed views stretching from the South Ayrshire hills and Ailsa Craig down to a very prominent Isle of Man.The windfarms noted on the groups previous walk were also visible from this peak.

The Minnigaff range of the Galloway Hills

A view up the Cree Estuary


Descending south by Raven's Crag they joined the path leading to the Silver hill and Fell hill quarries at Kirkmabreck.Here they visited each of the quarries in turn.The walk leader gave detailed information of their history and how the docks at Greenock, Leith, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Newport and Swansea were built with stone from Kirkmabreck.

A stitched picture of Fell Hill quarry

Next they descended to the lower Kirkmabreck quarry,once the home of Creetown's late Japanese sculptor Hideo Foruta.After viewing it from above they made their way down to where the light railway system took the quarried material down to the quay,which is soon to be resurrected for timber operations.

Kirkmabreck Quarry Quay
The site of the old rail system down to the quay.Now a ski run by the looks of it!

Now parallel to the busy A75 they made their way through the sometimes slippery Castle Cary woods before finding a well established path heading north.
They continued past the holiday park before reaching the Lairds Inn and the ruins of Castle Cary.

Here they saw how part of the castle had been restored to become part of the Lairds Inn.

A little further on they crossed Beardies bridge to re-enter Creetown and the end of the walk.
Although a cold day,all day sunshine made this an interesting and informative walk.

A walk on Carleton Fell

Friday the 23rd of April 2010.
No descriptions or commentary today....just pictures.