Wigtownshire Ramblers-Meikle Galdenoch to Dally Bay April 2011

It's Sunday the 17th of April.
Today's walk is a repeat of one we did in 2009.Although basically the same walk,there are a few variations.
Here's the link to that walk. 2009 Walk
I'll let the pictures do the talking on this post.

We're a group of thirteen as we set off from the ruined Meikle Galdenoch castle and past Loch More with it's little barbecue hut on the way to the shore.

A couple of open fields gets us to the coastline.A herd of fallow deer are spotted in a neighbouring field.

We're subjected to a lot of gates and barbed wire fences today.Farmer shorty (above right) is only missing a long straw to chew on.

We saw a great variety of  birds and animals today.At least two trips of wild goats are along this stretch.They have no problems finding a path.

The Galdenoch burn has a fairly copious flow today,but the obstacle is surmounted without serious incident.

There are quite a few cameras clicking today.Two other walkers are as keen as I am and take lots of photos and video today.Wild flowers are in beautiful blossom today.

The odd clouds are dispersing as we continue heading north.
Dramatic rocky headlands and inlets are the norm here.We head on past Drumahowen and Slouchnawen bays.

Time for a group photograph.

More obstacles are crossed.

Someone's spotted an adder.Only it's tail is visible when I get to it.

More wild flowers including marsh marigold and almost budding wild orchids.

As well as countless sea-birds today a Peregrine Falcon was also spotted.

Now we're passing the wonderfully titled 'Kiln of the Fuffock'.
No one has spotted any underwater marine life today.

A frog hopes to avoid being stepped on.

We're round about the Juniper and Mare rocks as we stop for lunch.
Seventy three year old Spike, ( going on twenty eight ) goes walkabout as usual.

Primroses are in bloom everywhere.The old iron gate hinges may be older than the oldest of today's walker.
The north channel is busy as usual.

Rocky prominences are compared to faces.Looked at sideways,top left above has a long nose and a jutting chin.Top right bears a resemblance to an absent walker's proboscis.
Above bottom is clay pigeon shooting apparatus.
  

Take note River Idler owner,here's one of your bump buoys.
Above top right is where I may have spotted an otter,but too late to photograph.

Views today are far across the North channel.
Ireland,Ailsa and Arran seem close while the Paps of Jura can be seen looming over the lower Mull of Kintyre.

We cross Orbain Hill keeping bully at a safe distance.He's been standing completely still since we first spotted him.Some walkers thought he was a cardboard cut-out.
The former shipping beacon,the Ebbstone also know as Craig Laggan is top right.

More rocky but colourful obstacles are crossed.

Oh to be an oyster catcher over this rock.An inquisitive dalmatian accompanies a group of walkers coming towards us.

The last coastal stretch takes us over a quaint bridge on the Dally Burn.

A short walk inland gets us to the waiting cars.
A few of us have to wait till our lift arrives back from the walk start.
It's been great weather for a great walk.

N.B Five days in the Lake District follows.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Galdenoch Larbrax Lochnaw Circular February 2011

Saturday the 26th of February.
Todays walk is a Castles and Coast walk in the North Rhins.

Our walk leader today is 'The Weaver" aka Spinning Jenny.
Having received her lovely report nice and early, I'll be using it on this blog.
I've covered Lochnaw 2010 Leswalt Walk  Aldouran Glen 2008 and Galdenoch Meikle Galdenoch a few times now.

Here's the Weaver's report.

A bright and sunny morning greeted the 22 ramblers who gathered at Lochnaw Home farm on Saturday, for a walk of castles and coast.

Looking at the surrounding concrete surfaces the company strained to imagine the war time troop hospital which was situated here.

A farm track was followed through woods which were carpeted with drifts of snowdrops, the warmth and sunshine making a welcome change from the weather of recent walks.

After crossing the B738 another farm track led straight to the shore at Larbrax Bay , where a beautiful, wide, sandy beach, and shining sea, delighted the eyes.

Here the path swung around to gain the cliff edges where an Iron Age hill fort, rumoured to have Viking connections, was examined. High double ditches surround a large flat centre, which commands great views over the surrounding area.

Beach Cottage.

The coast was now followed northwards, every step enlivened by wonderful views, with Ireland emerging from the distant clouds.

A descent back towards the shore.

I've zoomed my camera in to take this pictures.I think it's an oil tanker, perhaps a reader more conversant with oil tankers can confirm this ?

After passing an old sheep clipping station, and climbing over ramps, designed to enable quad bikes to cross easily between field boundaries, the ramblers scrambled down through boggy undergrowth to reach Salt Pans Bay .

Is that our Chairwoman out for a duck ?A ball was found and a kickabout ensued.Above right is our number one goalkeeper.Multi sports as well as walking ?,aren't we a talented bunch.

(A comment by a regular blog reader has posed an interesting question on the Duck's voyage.Is this one of the 29,000 yellow ducks shipwrecked in 1992 which have been helping the scientists to map the oceans currents for nearly 20 years.We'll never know since I think we heartless creatures that we are abandoned it ourselves here at Saltpan Bay)

Another Iron Age fort is hidden here amongst the rocks but the most conspicuous remains are from the 17^th century buildings associated with salt works, which used local peat to evaporate salt water, and which were in operation for about 200 years. Lunch was taken at this sheltered and pretty spot.

On the move again.

The walk now led inland past a fascinating round shelter by Loch More, used by game hunters on the recently defunct shooting estate. Now ducks and cormorants were the only hunters around, enjoying an afternoon fishing on the loch.

Galdenoch Castle , an L shaped, 16^th century tower house in ruinous condition, was the next point of interest with crow steps and commemoration plaque.

 Numerous eucalyptus trees grew within its enclosing wall, displaying their beautiful peeling bark to advantage in the sunshine.

Here's a stitched view of the ruins.

After following the farm track to the road, the ramblers eventually entered the grounds of Lochnaw estate once more at Kathleen cottage, and took a snowdrop path to the loch side, where two resident swans were serenely drifting about. The castle looked at its best from here, with reflective water in the foreground, and a backdrop of woods, surmounted by the lookout of Kinsale tower.

Recent work on the walled garden, with fruit bushes and trees planted up, were viewed through gates, before the castle itself, with sunken garden and renovated stonework, rose magnificently before the walkers.

 Built in the 15^th century by the Agnews, the most recent owner is doing a splendid job, refurbishing this building and the surrounding estate.

My photo stitching is occasionally suspect as can be seen in the above picture.
I do think the castle would be enhanced with such a curvature though.

Only a short walk remained, past the old laundry, and a building which used to store the game shot on the estate, before Lochnaw Home farm was reached again. An interesting, varied walk enhanced by the warm sunshine had been enjoyed by the ramblers, who now decamped to Kirkland tearoom for welcome refreshments.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Meikle Galdenoch to Dally Bay

NB.Don't forget that clicking on a picture will give you a larger copy.

It's Saturday the 2nd of May,and we're heading for the North Rhins.We've walked most of the western edge of this coastline,today we fill in a gap
We're a group of sixteen walkers as we meet up at the ruins of Meikle Galdenoch castle.Todays walk is a linear,so a couple of cars have been left over at Dally bay to bring back car drivers.

We begin by heading west over green fields.To get to the coast we've a few fences,gorse...

...and a rickety wooden bridge to negotiate.This brings us to where the Galdenoch burn tumbles beautifully down to the sea.

Such an idyllic spot brings us an early tea/coffee break.The weather today is perfect for walking,there's just a slight breeze on our backs.

Continuing north along the undulating terrain we head past Drumahowen and Slouchnawen bays.

I'm not sure if this is what is marked on the map as the 'Kiln of the Fuffock',...

...but our intrepid leader and a couple of others head down to investigate.

It's certainly dramatic-note the wee folk in the middle picture.

Crossing another drystone wall...

...there's one of the ever present ferries in view.

Reaching Broad Port we come upon a herd of mountain goats.They're very wary of us as they scramble up the shale and rocks to a safer place.There are a lot of oohs and oh's as the little kids try to keep up.

Now we reach this pinnacle aping the 'Old Man of Hoy'.This is Juniper Rock.

We lunch on a high promontory looking out to the North Channel.Lots of sea birds are spotted.A long legged hare breaks the land speed record.

Now at March Port,the building in the top right picture in this collage is marked as a 'Pump House'.A zoom north and there's the Ebbstone in the distance.I've mentioned the amount of shipwrecks before.The remains of the wreck of the Clairmorris lie close by.

Continuing on we reach Portobello...

...which must have been quite a community at one time.One of our ramblers researching genealogy takes great interest here.This Portobello having been confused with it's larger counterpart in Edinburgh.
Now we have a clear view of Dally Bay,though it's still some way off.

I try out a panorama.

Continuing on past Swallow Port,and another Salt Pan Bay we take another mini break.

We're in the Carrick Fundle area for this group picture.

We can hear the surf so strongly here.The natural waves are increased in size by the continuous passing of ferries and ships.We see a very large ship far out in the north channel.Speculation on what type of ship it was was inconclusive.Possibly an Aircraft carrier or a container ship.

Here we skirt Orbain Hill where a couple of friendly horses (or are they ponies)take great interest in us.

Now we reach 'Dally Fort' or'Dounan of Dally'.The passageway in this picture was apparently hewn out of the rock by a regiment of 'Fencibles' after the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

We take a leisurely look around the fort.Wild flowers are prolific.

The last stretch of the walk takes us over the beach at Dounan,and up to where the cars are parked.After being ferried back to Meikle Galdenoch,some of us meet up at the new tearoom in Leswalt for a welcome pot of tea and scones.
This was a very enjoyable walk,and as always in the best of company.