Wigtownshire Ramblers Port Logan Coast to Coast September 2014

Saturday's walk was over at Port Logan.

I'm writing the report and as usual it will follow the photographs.

Often I'm quite pleased with my photographs, and although some aren't too bad on this post, to me there are a few mediocre ones.

Never mind, for a bit more colour you can look at previous posts of the Port Logan and Logan Gardens area.  

2011 Walk

2012 Walk

2013 Walk

Top of Muldaddie Hill

Those with farming connections though these might be 'Saler' cattle.

If anyone knows different, let me know and I'll edit the post.

Looking back on Port Logan

The usual suspects

Cottfield new build 2006 and Cowan's farmer talking to our 'Farmer'

Cowans Farm

The Donna D at Roses Cottages

Towards Killumpha

Killumpha

Would you like a pear ? No, one will be fine !

Corsican Pine, much taller than Shorty

Killumpha Drive

Sweetie distribution

Across the A716 to New England Bay

Advertising boards and walkers

Balgowan Point

The location of a couple of shipwrecks.

The Thomas 1858 A coal schooner from Cumbria, all crew saved.

Lady Louisa Kerr 1898 A Belfast Schooner with a cargo of lime.

Approaching Portacree

The big house looks almost finished. It looks like there's a balcony under construction.

THe house bottom right is a complete transformation from our last visit.

Logan Mills

Nice clean information board

Lunchtime

Enjoying the sea breeze

A rock indentation is brought to life !

Remnants of a breakwater

The tropical South Rhins

Auchness Tower House

The road to Drummore

It looks like an 'artist' had been busy on this electricity sub station sign.

Lots of game birds seen on the walk

The road to Logan Mains

Bully, family and lots of bales

Sweetie time again

'The Row'

Perhaps too far gone to be rescued.

We learned that a painting by one of our artistic members on sale in the Potting Shed Bistro had recently been purchased.

Looking towards Port Logan Bay

Bridge over the path that led from Logan House to the Fishpond

Interesting sign on the gate of the old schoolhouse

It seems Port Logan is increasingly more popular with anglers. As well as the boats, note the beach fishing rods.

Beach walk back to the cars

Next to Logan Gardens carpark.

A lovely day's walking.

Tuesday
Here's a couple of nice pictures from Miss Goodnight.

Here's the report.

Saturday the 13th of September

A hazy September morning greeted the 21 ramblers assembled at the picturesque harbour of Port Logan for the walk. Fishermen were packing up their tents having had a good late night with a catch of pollock.
We began the walk by following a track south up Muldaddie Hill.
Curious bullocks of a special breed walked alongside us in an adjacent field.Soon we reached a T junction, and took the farm track east to Cowans farm.
At Cowans we met with the farmer doing his rounds on his quad bike. Now our number rose temporarily to 22 when we were joined for a section of the walk by another member of our group.
A short distance from the farm we reached the tarmac of the B7065 which we followed North to Paddy's Plantation.
Here we turned North East onto an unclassified road passing by Roses Cottages and Killumpha Farm.
As we passed farmsteads and private residences, the profusion of palm trees, pampas grass and tropical plants showed how, courtesy of the gulf stream, the Rhins of Galloway has such a mild climate.
On reaching the T Junction at Bridge Cottage, we again turned North, this time onto the track that is known as Killumpha Drive. Along here at regular intervals grew tall corsican pine, many with a shortage of lower branches.
This track took us up to the Port Logan to New England Bay road where a stop was taken for the distribution of coconut mushroom sweeties.
A short road walk brought us to the shoreline at New England Bay where we now joined the Mull of Galloway Trail.
On reaching Balgowan Point a tapered concrete structure was investigated. It was found to have a theodolite fitting. Being in the close proximity to the M.O.D area, it was deemed to be for the fitting of a military tracking device.
The shore path now took us along to Portacree and Logan Mills. On the beach, a multitude of seagulls awaiting an incoming tide took no notice of our passing.  
Across the Balkelzie Burn bridge, a short detour from the shore took us past the remnants of Logan Windmill  Built in the late 17th century and used for grinding corn it was built of whinstone, rubble and stone from the beach.
A little further up the beach, an outcrop of rocks provided seating for a leisurely lunch break.
After lunch we continued on the coastal path till we reached a wooded area. On the shoreline, vertical crossed timbers indicated the remnants of a breakwater.
Our route now left the shore and turned west through the Rossan Knowes plantation. Leaves were beginning to turn to their autumnal colours.
On reaching the A716, Auchness Castle stood out. A 16th Century Tower house and three storeys high it was a MacDouall family stronghold. Horses grazed close by.
A short single file walk along the A716 brought us to Knockcappy Plantation and the road to Logan Mains. A line of mature beech trees, new born calves, lazy bulls and pheasants were features along this two mile stretch.
At Logan mains we stopped for another sweetie break. A number of walkers made use of an empty low loading trailer to rest their weary legs. Though there was still some haze in the air, it was generally warm and sunny.
After passing 'The Row', a picturesque row of former estate workers cottages we walked through the woods of the Logan Estate. The Logan Folly, a squat circular crenellated tower stood prominently on a hill overlooking Port Logan bay.
A track through open fields now led us down to the Port Gill road. We stopped at the ornate bridge at the Glen Plantation while our leader with the aid of an illustrated booklet explained it's history. The path underneath built towards the end of the 18th century by Colonel Andrew McDouall led to what now is known as the Logan Fish Pond. Up to 80 fish could be stocked for use at Logan House.
Reaching the T junction at the Old Schoolhouse, an old sign declared 'A penalty not exceeding forty shillings'  would be imposed on anyone omitting to shut the gate.
A nice long beach walk tempting some walkers to discard their footwear completed a grand day's hiking.
This fine day was completed with a visit to the wonderful Potting Shed Bistro at Logan Gardens for tea, coffee and scones.

The next walk, on Saturday the 20th of September will be a B+ linear walk of 8 miles over Cairnharrow Hill to Creetown.

Meet at the Riverside car park Newton Stewart at 9.30 am,the Breastworks, Stranraer at 9.00 am for car sharing, or at the walk start at Kirkdale Bridge (NX 517 531) at 10.00am.

New members are always welcome, for more information or if going to the walk start, contact the walk leader on 01671 403351

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.