Wigtownshire Ramblers - SUW - Portpatrick to Stranraer - March 2015

Saturday 14th March

Wigtownshire Ramblers - SUW - Portpatrick to Stranraer

This is a walk we've done several times.

The last time was January 2014.

Links to previous walks are in that post.

January 2014 Walk

I've been having problems with my right knee and had it xrayed a couple of weeks ago.

I have degeneration in the padding in the knee's interior and I'll be seeing an orthopaedic specialist whenever to determine what treatment is required.

At the moment big hills are out for me, but I'll see how I go on with lower level walks.

This was supposed to be a test for me, but I only did half the walk.

Another of our mature walkers was struggling a little when we reached the Leswalt to Portpatrick road so I volunteered to accompany him to the bus back at Portpatrick. 

Lucky us jumped straight into a passing farmers landrover who dropped us at the bus stop.

We had forty minutes to wait.

I walked around parts of Stranraer while waiting for the rest of the group.

The Taxi Driver and Miss Goodnight were walk leaders and Scoop has written the report,

Her photographs will follow mine and her report will follow those.

So here's my pictures from the section of the walk I did. 

Big Ed was watching as we got off the bus at Portpatrick.

It was quiet as we set out towards the cliff path.
By mid July, this place will be swarming with holidaymakers.

I got the group to stand for a picture

The steps which begin the SUW

A view back to Portpatrick

Climb down to Port Mora (Sandeel Bay)

Port Kale (Lairds Bay)

The steep chained climb out of Lairds Bay

Crossing Ouchtriemakain Moor

Portamaggie and the wreck of the Craigantlet

A group picture under Killantringan Lighthouse

Killantringan Bay with the House of Knock above Knock Bay.
Should you click on the link and wish to holiday at the House of Knock, I'm sure it's a fine establishment.
There's just one thing about the write up you'll have to be careful of.
It's this "private access to a secluded beach below". I'll grant you that the access is private, but do not be surprised to see other folk enjoying the beach. It's only really secluded when the tide is well in.

This is where the SUW leaves the west coast.

View back to the lighthouse.

Youngsteers

Hey, there's a coupla birds on the line

This was the point at which me and 'The Man from the GPO' deserted the group.

All the times I've been to Portpatrick I'd never before noticed this milestone.

While awaiting our bus we lunched and I took a few pictures.
That's it from me now ................ 

....................here are the pictures from

Scoop

Scoop's Report

Wigtownshire Ramblers Report 14 March Portpatrick - Stranraer

The numbers of walkers varied throughout the walk, starting with 18 who made use of the bus from Stranraer to Portpatrick.  Sunshine accompanied the group as they rounded the northern side of the harbour and climbed the steps which zigzag upwards towards and passing Portpatrick Hotel.  This is the start of the Southern Upland Way.  Soon they reached the now abandoned radio station where one of the walkers regaled the others with his memories of working there. On the rocks below, seabirds were busily making sure of their nesting places, announcing their presence noisily.
With the sparkling pale blue sea on the left and the golf course on the right, the cliffs were followed until the path descended to the beach of Port Mora, passing the gushing waterfall to the right. It was once the custom, on the first night of May, to bring those suffering from ailments to bathe in the water. Having crossed the beach and then taken the narrow path round the point to Port Kale they passed the cable station before crossing the bridge over Dunskey Burn.

The walkers continued along the SUW, passing a large detached piece of cliff and climbed the steep staircase of steps making use of the chain handrail to regain the cliff top on the northern side of the bay.  The way marked path follows the coast northwards across easy grassy slopes until it reaches the gully of March Howe, where the track had to be negotiated with care.  Now Killantringan Lighthouse came into view and was soon reached, the group pausing for a short while to remark on the remains of the bow of the Craigantlet still being pretty substantial despite the pounding it will have endured since this coaster ran onto the rocks directly below the lighthouse, in 1982.

Turning inland they followed the road towards the farm with its attractive Simmental calves who regarded them solemnly as they passed. As the walkers reached the main road, a couple of them decided to make their walk a circular one and left the others to return to Portpatrick.  The remaining walkers followed the SUW signs along this and a more minor road for some time, the wind farm above Low Auchenree working well on the right, before eventually leaving the farm road and gaining a grassy track.  It was here that another member of the Wigtownshire Ramblers joined the group, having walked from Stranraer.
The grassy path opened out onto the grassy Mulloch Hill with its viewpoint cairn specially built for the SUW. On a clear day the green undulating Rhins to the wider horizons of Ireland, Kintyre and the Galloway Hills can be seen, along with dramatic Ailsa Craig which stands out in front of Arran.  Today the sunshine was warm but intermittent and visibility was not at its best.  It was from here that today’s leader and backup had seen a White Tailed Eagle, on one of their recces, but no sign was seen of it today.
Soon afterwards sharp eyed botanists spotted some white jelly like blobs, beside black spotted ones and the answer to their identity came via a nature programme seen by one of group on a TV nature programme the previous night – they were of frogspawn consumed and then discarded by an owl! The sun was beginning to wane as the group found shelter below the hill to have lunch but the day stayed dry as they made their way over rough moorland towards Knockquahassen Reservoir.  Marshy sections were crossed with only a few wet boots before a concrete farm road was reached.
After some road walking another member joined up with the group, near Hillside Piggeries, receiving an enthusiastic welcome and the road was followed until a ‘short cut’ was taken across a field, down to Ochtrelure.
While enjoying the welcome, cakes, scones and hot drinks in Brambles, two more members arrived, both of whom had been unable to walk with the group but who were greeted with pleasure by all.  It had been a day of comings and goings of the Wigtownshire Ramblers.
Next week’s walk follows the southern coastline of the Machars from St Medans to the Isle of Whithorn, of 11 miles although a shorter alternative may be planned.  Meet for car sharing at Breastworks, Stranraer at 9.15am, at Riverside, Newton Stewart at 9.30am or at St Medans beach car park (NX 365 395) at 10am.  If going to the walk start or if a new walker, please contact the walk leader on 01671 403351.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Dunskey Circular May 2014

Saturday the 31st of May

Today's walk is in familiar territory. We walked the coastal section back in March.

March Walk.

 The closest walk resembling today's was back in September 2010.

2010 Walk

 Twenty of us meet up at Dunskey Gardens for the walk start.

Shorty is today's report author and following the normal practice of this blog, his report will appear after the pictures.

An excellent selection of images from Scoop will appear after mine.

A shunt of vehicles meant that most of us started the walk at Dunskey Home Farm. We were soon on the move through the top end of Portpatrick.

After passing the Portpatrick Hotel we were on the S.U.W

Solar haze prevented us from seeing the Irish coast, but closer views were perfect.

At long last I got a decent picture of a wild orchid. Maybe there'd be more today!

A regroup above Port Mora........

................then the descent.......

................and round to Port Kale.

Chain assistance is required .

First look at Killantringan Lighthouse.

The descent to the March Howe gate.

I seem to have waited for ever this year for wild orchids. No problem on this walk.

There seems to be semaphore signals from the hill above. Too late !, the Craigantlet ran aground on 26 February 1982.

Time for a breather at Portamaggie.

There's an abundance of wild flowers this year.  These wild orchids are flourishing beautifully.

I got down on my knees for a macro shot.

The House of Knock sits above Killantringan Bay. We turned inland.

An uphill road-walk to the farm.................

..............then a climb up to Killantringan Fell where we have lunch.

A little photographic enhancement to highlight Flush Bracket S8086

On a gorgeous day like this lunch was taken at a leisurely pace.

This is Scottish Airways Flyers G-BVNS overhead.

Anyone interested there are shares available, and current flying rates are £99 per hour.

I wonder if I'm too old to apply for my pilot's licence !

View from the Fell.

After we descended, a stretch of road-walking brought us to Auchenree.

We turned towards Craigenlee Windfarm.

In the top picture above there seemed to be much bleating. I'm led to believe this is 'Weaning' the lambs of their mothers milk. There is a trough in the field that looks to have feed in it.

A hare takes little notice of us.

Approaching the turbines.

A rest while the farmer who's land some of the turbines are on tells us of the development of the windfarm.

We're than shown the remnants of a small 19th century settlement. As Shorty's report states, it must have been tough up here in the 1840's.

Leaving the windfarm..................

..............to reach Upper Dinvin.

That's an interesting piece of scrapped agricultural machinery ! Any ideas folks ?

Molecatching is still an occupation in this part of Galloway.

Back to Dunskey tearooms for refreshments.

It's been a grand walk.

Here's a selection of 

Scoops Pictures 

My favourite.

Thanks Scoop, here's Shorty's report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Saturday 31 May 2014 – Dunskey Circular

Twenty Ramblers assembled at the Glen Walks car park at Dunskey Estate on a beautiful sunny morning. The skies were an almost unbroken blue though a haze over the sea prevented more distant views.  We set off down the estate track to the main road and then followed the Heugh Road past the busy golf club to join the Southern Upland Way (SUW).  With the brilliantly blue sea on our left and the colourful golfers on our right we followed the cliffs past the mournful abandoned radio stations towards Port Mora.

As we descended to the beach we were enchanted by the antics of an oyster catcher who was enjoying a bath in the wavelets of the incoming tide.  As each wavelet approached it splashed energetically in the water and then stood and waited as it retreated.  This continued for several minutes as we climbed down the cliffs.

We crossed the beach and then took the narrow path round the point to Port Kale where one of our members regaled us with memories of working in the cable station as the undersea telephone cables were repaired.  Apparently this was a regular occurrence.

Some effort had been made to collect the mountains of rubbish which had been scattered over the beach during the winter storms and a large pile was awaiting removal.  It is a shame that so much of this coast is despoiled by the carelessness of others.

We continued along the SUW and climbed up the chains to regain the cliff top on the northern side of the bay.  The path followed the coast northwards towards Killantringan.  There were a few seabirds nesting along the cliffs but less than might have been expected.  Along the way we were delighted to see large swathes of pale purple orchids growing in the turf beside the path.

On reaching the lighthouse at Killantringan we turned inland and followed the road towards the farm with its attractive Simmental calves who regarded us solemnly as we passed.  Once past the farm we turned off the road and climbed towards the trig point on Killantringan Fell where we paused for lunch.  The hill afforded a wonderful view in all directions over the surrounding countryside with the contrast of the spring-green woods around Dunskey House and the paler fields to the south the harsher moors to the east and the blue seas to the west.

After lunch we returned to the SUW and followed the road to its junction with the main road. We then turned south and soon reached the road to Low Auchenree which we followed to the wind farm on the hills to the east.  Along the road we passed a brown hare which, unusually, did not sprint off into the distance but continued to hop around quietly grazing on the lush grass.  There was some speculation that she may have had young hidden nearby which made her reluctant to leave the area.

We soon reached the wind farm. The turbine towers were much more impressive with a close view and the noise confined to a quiet swish as the blades passed by.  Earlier there had been very little breeze and most of the turbines were stationary or turning very slowly.  Now a gentle wind had risen and one by one the turbines reached operating speed.

At the top of the hill we were met by the farmer who explained the extended process needed to develop the windfarm and the work required to satisfy the various conservation and planning bodies.  He said that the windfarm had proved to be an excellent site and that the turbines had exceeded expectations.  More than £5 million worth of electricity were generated each year from the turbines which provided a good return to the venture capitalists who financed the scheme and a useful income to the five local farmers involved.

He then led us to the top of the hill to the site of an old High Auchenree farmstead which seems to have been abandoned in about 1840.  On such a bright sunny day the site was idyllic but little imagination was required to see that this would have been a hard place to scratch a living from the rocky soil.  The “new” High Auchenree was out of sight sheltered in the valley below.  He explained that the site was probably occupied by cotters who would crop the small fields around the house and keep a few cows and sheep but would be required to supply labour to the tenant farmer in the main farm below who in turn would supply labour to the main estate farm when required.  It was interesting to see how these two aspects of land use had developed over the years.

On leaving the farmstead we walked down to the windfarm road and then crossed the moor to Upper Dinvin farm where the farmer had kindly left the gate unlocked.  After locking the gate behind us, we crossed the farm and returned to the Dunskey Estate where the tearoom provided excellent tea and cakes which we enjoyed on the sunny terrace.

Next week’s event will be a strenuous walk along the hills on the north side of Glen App.  Meet at the Riverside Car Park in Newton Stewart at 09:00 or the Breastworks Car Park in Stranraer at 09:30 to share transport.  The walk will start from the Auchencrosh cross roads on the A77 (NX 095 790) at 10:00.  New members are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01292 441268 for full details.