Loch Moan

In the Glentrool Forest of Galloway Forest Park on the Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire border lies Loch Moan.
Today the 15th of October was another miserable day weatherwise.Not a lot of relief from the drizzle and heavier showers of rain,
After walking through the forest awhile,this was my view of the loch.The view was worth getting wet for.I'll return in the summer.

Panorama of Loch Moan on CleVR.com

Glenamour Loch and Loch Dee

The last few days i've been drawn to water.
Glenamour Loch is a short walk from the car park,but well worth a visit.

This is a view taken from just above the loch.

Sitting quietly on the edge of the loch i was soon serenaded by wonderful bird song...

...while watching the hundreds of tadpoles swimming around.

The next stretch of water is the lovely Loch Dee.
A little longer walk this time.
Starting from the Craigencallie Outdoor Centre it's a two and a half mile walk to the loch.

A circular stone walled sheep pen on the way.(at least that's what i think it is).

The Black Water of Dee running through the forest.

I wonder what happens at midnight?



At the loch the centrepiece is the small island with two trees on it.

Wearing my 'Chic Murray' hat i even get myself in the picture.
I sat here for a good half an hour watching the sun shimmering of the water.
A relaxing YouTube video is on the way.

Bargaly

After a couple of days tidying the garden and shaking off the bug that laid me low,I decided to make the best of the weather with a walk today. Bargaly Glen with the Palnure burn running through it is beautiful anytime of year. Today i decided to take a walk through Bargaly Woods,part of the Galloway Forest Park. The wild flowers are out in force,and the blubells put me in mind of the Blubell Polka by Jimmy Shand 'Picking the Bluebells in the Merry Month of May'. I cant think how long it is since i heard it. The track through the woods appears to have been neglected.Fallen trees across it's path are in abundance(Coming back a different route to where i'd parked the car,i did spot a No Admittance notice-so perhaps it's closed and i shouldn't be here) At a junction in the track I decided to climb above the woods towards Craig Heads. Lovely views from here of Cairnsmore.... ....and the local woolly families seemed quite oblivious to my presence.
Reaching the burn above Bargaly Farm i began my descent.
There's been no rain since sunday,so there's not a lot of water about.The sounds of the tumbling water though mingled with bird song is an aural pleasure and i decided this would be a nice spot to open my flask of coffee.

The problem with being in a spot of such tranquility is that it cant be bottled and taken home.Time to move.
On the farm track now to Bargaly farm and approaching the farm there's a bull eying me.I'm quickly through the gate to safety.
Down past the barking collies and to the farmhouse where i get in conversation with the farmer.He's got lots of bulls,takes them all over to the agricultural shows.
I think it's his son who's with him moving a couple of bulls into a field.
Soon time to move again,don't want to hold up the workers.

This handsome pair posed for the camera.

Now i'm walking alongside the Palnure burn and the sun's just gone behind a cloud

I did a youtube video of the Palnure Burn.It was filmed on the first day of November last year when there was a lot more water about.
Our rivers up here in Galloway never disappoint-gently flowing or in torrential spate they've got character.
Now after crossing the Bargaly and Graignine bridges i'm back onto a tarmac road and at the entrance to Bargaly House.For more info have a look at
http://www.bargaly.net/index.htm
For a secluded holiday cottage look no further.
In fact i've just noticed that they've linked their fishing page to my aforementioned Palnure Burn video.Fame at last.

It's possible that these lovely horses also belong to the Bargaly estate.

And now i'm nearing the end of my walk and the thought comes to mind that this pole's been up a long time!?or is that the time it was erected.Ach please yerself at least i've had a nice walk.

Galloway Forest Park and Stewartry Drive

Today Thursday 14th of February is St Valentines day.It's also the last full day of my friends visit.
First stops are at the Glen of the Bar,then the Mare's tale in the Galloway Forest Park.Usually there's a fairly copious flow of water over here,but there's been no rain for a week now.It doesn't take long for the water to slow to a trickle.

On then to the wild goat park,where a few biscuits were appreciated.

And then to the Red Deer range,where there were Forestry men and Vets in attendance.We talked to one of the vets.They were about to round them up and tranquilise a number of them.Apparently instead of culling them they now move them around the country to purpose built deer parks.Great idea.


On now to Clatteringshaws Dam.

A lot of South West Scotlands lochs are the product of
Hydro Electricity.Here's what a Wikipedia page says.

Today the dams are well liked and a source of pride to the people of Galloway and of course are still generating environmentally friendly electricity. However they were not universally admired when they were first built, as local poet W.G.M. Dobie wrote:

This is our land of Galloway
Where in a more heroic day
The Bruce contrived to trap and slay
An army of invaders
Where Patrick Heron, Silver Sand
May Maxwell and the Smuggler band
Adventured as by Crockett's hand
Is Written in The Raiders


A raider comes today who kills
The glories of our glens and hills
With unheroic acts and bills
and "Private Legislation"
The Company promoters pen
Will Dam the Deugh and dam the Ken
and Dam the Dee - oh Dam the men
Who Plan such desecration!

After sandwiches at Kenick Wood,were now on the Laurieston to Gatehouse of Fleet road.The camera never seem to do justice to the wonderful views from here.



I love the name of the viewpoint.


Down to Gatehouse of Fleet and Cally Woods.

Mill on the Fleet.


After enjoying a cuppa at the cafe we head over to the Cream of Galloway to find it closed until Easter.
It's still a lovely day,so we drop down to Kirkcudbright.


And a walk round the harbour and marina.


Back past Maclellans Castle.


And the emotionally stirring monument to loved ones.

It's still quite light as we head back to Newton Stewart,the days are certainly getting longer.
I hope my friends have enjoyed their visit.I'm sure they have.

February Forest

The first day of February 2008.
I took a run up the Queensway into the Galloway Forest park today.There'd been a little snow,but none of it was settling on the lower ground.Here's a collage of a few of the pictures i took.