Wigtownshire Ramblers Whitefield Loch to Knock Fell January 2012

It's Saturday the 14th of January 2012.
Today's walk is an old favourite.The last time was in September 2010
2010 Walk

An alternative look at this walk is on my blogging pal from Ayr's pages here
Gordon and Anne's Blog
Thanks too to Gordon for some of the pictures I'm using today.
I'm the walk leader again so the walk report will follow the pictures.

This picture and others that feature myself show why I'm reluctant to publish my own image.

We reccied the walk on Wednesday and I've included a couple from then.

Like I said!

The mist lifted on Wednesday and the sun came out. It wont today.

A warning sign for those people who are allergic to wool.

Horses were the prevalent creature at Knock of Luce.

What a friendly bunch.

The remnants of St John's Chapel.

Gordon on his hands and knees at St John's Well.

Who's the best looking ?

Ascent and summit

Recce day

Summit pictures and Flush Bracket

Return leg and Geese

Walled Garden

Snowdrops

Sensory Garden

Information Boards

Here's a good imitation of Tarzan.

Wigtownshire Ramblers
Walk Report
14th January 2012

A dry but dull morning saw nineteen ramblers meet up at the angler’s car park on Whitefield Loch.
The walk began easterly on the southern edge of the loch. The crannog known as Dorman’s Island was pointed out. Excavated in December 2008 a range of artefacts datable to the Roman Iron Age were recovered from the site.

Reaching the end of the wooded area around the loch, the route now took the farm track towards Machermore and the Knock of Luce.

A flock of geese were spotted in a field at Machermore. They were possibly semi domesticated as they were spotted waddling into a barn on the return leg.

Now into open countryside, gates and cattle grids became a regular feature. After passing Knock of Luce cottage and a water pumping station a road sign warned to ‘Beware of Lambs’. No small fierce woolly creatures were spotted!
Nearing Knock of Luce a variety of horses and ponies were spotted in the adjoining fields. They were soon curious enough to come and peer over the wall at this group of bipeds.

Passing through Knock of Luce, Dartmoor and other  ponies and small white ducks were admired.
Another grassy field was accessed through a very muddy gate entrance. Here a group of six or seven Gypsy Vanner horses came over to investigate. These extremely friendly creatures stayed a short while, but with no apples or goodies forthcoming they soon lost interest and galloped away.
Across a low drystone wall and a marshy area, the ruins of St John’s Chapel were explored. Covered over with a section of corrugated iron, St John’s Well was also identified. A discovery made in the well proved not to be of historic interest…it was a modern drinking mug!
After regaining access to the field of horses, the climb to the summit of Knock Fell began.
As height was gained a few of the surrounding lochs became visible. To the north were Barhapple and Denaglar, to the east Peat Loch and to the south were Castle and Mochrum.
Reaching the trig point and cairn the usually far reaching views were non existent today, only the rough outline of the South Rhins could be seen.
The lack of views and a cold wind shortened the stay on top. A descent to a sheltered rocky outcrop was followed by a lunch break.

After lunch the outward route was again followed back to Whitefield loch.
Now the forest road to the north of the loch led to Craigenveoch. Off the main track the ruins of the walled gardens of the former baronial mansion of Craigenveoch House were reached. After circling the ruins, the path now led to the loch shore and the sensory ' Woodland Garden ' provided by The National Schizophrenia Fellowship ( Scotland ).Here a short break was taken.
At the loch side an information board details the life cycle of the ‘Glass Eels’ found in the loch and of their long trip to their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea.

An exploration of the ruins of Craigenveoch House followed. An illustrated information board showed how the house had looked on completion. It was completely demolished in 1952.

Rhododendrons bushes, large Beech trees and Western Red Cedars lined the road back to the car park and the walk finish.
Tea and cakes at the County Golf Club ended a very pleasant day.

The next walk on Saturday the 21st of January is a C+  walk to Garlies Castle via Knockman Wood.
Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.00am, Riverside , Newton Stewart 9.30am or the walk start at Knockman Wood Car Park (NX 409 674) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone walk leader 01671 401222. New members are always welcome.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Whitefield Loch to Knock Fell September 2010

It's Saturday the 25th of September 2010
Todays walk is one we've done before with a slight difference.
2008 Walk
My thanks to my fellow snapper Scoop for a number of todays photographs.
As is my usual practise when I've written the walk report,I'll use that for the blog.

A cold but sunny morning greeted the twenty ramblers meeting at the car park of Whitefield Loch for the walk to Knock Fell.

They began by heading east following the tarmac road running along the southern edge of the loch.
It's the start of the pike fishing season,and a number of anglers were already out looking for the early bite.

I don't know the story behind this memorial,but Brian Chapman will be remembered.


Reaching the end of the wooded area around the loch,they now took to the farm track towards Machermore and the Knock of Luce.Beyond Machermore a small flock of dyed Scottish Blackface sheep eyed the group with some curiosity.A knowledgeable group member explained the various reasons for dyeing sheep.

Behind them the sun glinted off Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.

A recce on Thursday saw myself and the Stationmaster trying to change the route and make it into a circular.We'd taken the farm/forest track up to Craigenveoch and took to the moors over towards Loch Robin.Long sections over the moors had remnants of farm tracks,but equally lots of boggy ground.A cairn,possibly a shepherds, sits on a piece of raised ground.
We'd almost abandoned the possibility of crossing this way with the group when our mind was made up for us.We'd reached a drystone wall with a three stranded barbed wire fence at either side.We both surmounted the obstacle on the recce,but it's doubtful we'd have got the group over without incident.

They continued on a steady incline passing Knock of Luce cottage and a water pumping station.

Next they reached Knock of Luce where a good many horses,fowl and water birds were admired.

Piles of stones to the south were identified as the ruins of St Johns Chapel and St Johns Well.An artefact from here showing a Maltese Cross carved in relief is in the museum in Stranraer.

Just beyond Knock of Luce the farm track ended and they entered a field of horses and turned north.

The horses were a colourful mix of Shetland Dartmoor and Pure Bred ponies,and were very friendly and entrancing.They seemed to welcome the intrusion.Many photographs were taken.

We hung about this field for a short while.The horses were enjoying our company as we were theirs.

Now they turned back west for the steady climb to the summit of Knock Fell.

Below us is a covered reservoir built around the 1950's,I can't find any information on the net about it,but it's to do with Port William's water supply I'm reliable informed.

This is the only real effort we'll expend today.

And we're up and 'Mr Know It All' is pointing out landmarks.

Knock Fell is only 175 metres high,but commands amazing views in clear weather.
Places identified on this clear autumn day included the Ayrshire Hills,the Mountains of Mourne,the Isle of Man and the Cumbrian Mountains.Skiddaw was easily identifiable.

A benchmark on the trigpoint.A fellow walker had another name besides benchmark,and that's Flush Brackets
Apparently trig baggers know all about flush brackets,take pictures of them and upload them to the Ordnance Survey's Bench Mark pages.
See here Benchmarks and Flush Brackets

We'd two lovely dogs with us today.Here's Bella trying to coax some food from her master.

A lunch break was taken just below the summit and looking towards Mochrum and Black lochs.

A background of the Galloway Hills.

Artfield Fell windfarm (The new one near Barrhill was also visible),a cairn or barrow,and Loch Robin in front of Craigenveoch farmstead.

After an extended break they descended to the farmtrack and retraced their route back to Whitefield loch.

Now they took the forest road to the north of the loch heading towards Craigenveoch.Leaving the main track they made their way through the forest to reach the ruins of the walled gardens of the former baronial mansion of Craigenveoch House.With three walls and parts of the potting sheds still standing, the group explored the area.Now mostly overgrown there were still reminders of it's former glory,and group member took away saplings of Irish Yew to replant.

The foundations of Craigenveoch House were next to be explored.During the walk one group member produced rare photographs of the house.

There's still a few remnants around...maybe I'll do some more exploration.

A nearby information board explains that due to a series of events the house was abandoned and eventually razed to the ground in the 1950's.

Next they returned to the lochside to the sensory garden built by the National Schizophrenia Fellowship where another short break was taken.

Monty's our other guest quadruped today.
We passed the time of day with some anglers fishing for pike.
The sun's still shining brightly as we leisurely make our way back to the cars.We couldn't have asked for nicer weather.Today was good.

Next week, Saturday the 2nd of October,the walk is a circular taking in the summits of Cairnsmore of Dee and Benniguinea. Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer, 9.00am,the Riverside, Newton Stewart, 9.30am, or the walk start at the Raiders Road North car park (NX 547 752) at 10am. All welcome, new members or anyone going directly to the start, please phone the walk leader 01671403351.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Whitefield Loch to Knock Fell

It's Saturday the 23rd of August and we're walking from Whitefield Loch to Knock Fell.The round trip is about six miles with nothing too strenuous.

Fourteen Homo Sapiens and one canine(Curly)on todays walk.


A gradual rise soon gives us views behind of the Mull of Galloway over wonderful Luce Bay.

Although only 175 Mtrs or 574 Ft,our target of Knock Fell stands prominent.

'Step we gaily on we go'.Perhaps at one time there was a 'Mairi's Wedding' along this track.

Now we reach Knock of Luce Farm,where we see exotic Geese,Ducks,Chickens and other fowl.
There are gypsy caravans..

..gypsy vanners..

..and lots..

..of other horses..

..to pull them.

It's a winding and zigzag path taking us up Knock Fell,so the climb isn't too severe.

It's not long till we're at the top admiring the views,and taking an interest in the TV aerials up here.I just hope we didn't interfere with anyones reception.

There's a beautiful view looking back towards Luce Bay.In the centre of the picture is Knock of Luce cottage.

Now dropping down out of the wind at the top we have our lunch.

As pointed out earlier this is quite a small hill,but the panoramic views are beautiful.They'd be even better on a clearer day.
Here to the north is Artfield Fell windfarm.

Over to the east and north east are the Galloway Hills..

..and below us sheep peacefully graze.


Lunch over we begin to make our way back.A different way down gives us another lovely view of Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway.

Now we're back on the farm track and keeping a lookout for small fierce woolly creatures.
We make our way back to the cars,where rucksacks are abandoned,and we take a walk round the far side of Whitefield Loch.

There's a few fishermen dotted around the loch.It looks an excellent day for fishing-until the rain comes that is.

There are notices at various intervals with some of the local history of the area.

On this far side of the loch used to sit a magnificent mansion built in the Scottish Baronial style.Due to a series of events(Don't ask me,i don't know)Craigenveoch Castle was abandon and fell into disrepair,eventually being demolished in the 1950's.

This is how it looks now.

Now at the far side of the loch is a sensory 'Woodland Garden'provided by
The National Schizophrenia Fellowship(Scotland).
This is a lovely place..

..with a platform on the loch..

..where otters abound..

..and a very informative notice explains the reasoning behind it all.
Very pleasant.
The short distance back to the other side saw the end of a very enjoyable and not too strenuous walk.