Wigtownshire Ramblers Straiton February 2014

Saturday the 15th February 2014

All photos taken today were with my new Pentax WG10. Throughout the day I experimented with different settings, hence different quality of pictures. It's very good in the sunshine.

Walk report to follow the picture.

Today's walk begins in the lovely Ayrshire village of Straiton...........

...........but first we have to get there. Shorty's our driver today. There was no snow in Newton Stewart, but as we gained height up the Straiton road from Glentrool we ran into it.

Though it was raining when we got to Straiton, the forecast was for it to dry up.

Myself and the 'Ranger' did most of the first part of today's walk back in February 2012.

2012 Walk  

There's only ten of us up for today's walk. This is the 6th walk in a row that's begun with rain, however it will fair up. John 'Two Sticks' is well ready for whatever the weather throws at us.

Our leader, top left above, is our favourite Ayrshire Blogger and he knows this area like the back of beyond his  hand.

 Straiton Walks

We're soon into the fields climbing. I haven't any idea how I got the mottled effect on the bottom picture above, the lens was quite dry.

It's blowing a gale and raining, but at least the wind is on our backs.

The last part up here is quite steep, and because of it's similarity in incline to Knockdolian, it's been christened K2 by Mistress A.OK......

...............talk of the devil !

The monument is to Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet, killed at the Battle of Inkerman.

He lies buried on Cathcart's Hill, near Sebastopol, with seven of his brother officers

My own connection is that of my old regiment, the 20th foot who also fought at the Battle of Inkerman.

I've stolen 'Slew's' picture to get myself in the picture, but I'm thinking I shouldn't have bothered !

To the north and west the weather was clearing. Here I noticed the zoom difference of cameras. I've cropped the above pictures to a fraction of their size. To the north our leader pointed out snow covered Ben Lomond. To the west was Ailsa Craig and the snow capped mountains of Arran.

Now we head into the wind. There's still the odd patch of snow here. It's downhill to the Glentrool road.

We keep getting views of the white capped Galloway Hills.

A breather and a photo call.

We'll see a lot more tumbling water before the day is out.

We're still descending but the weather's changing for the better.

Below us the Water of Girvan has burst it's banks in a few places.

Once on the road we follow it a short way before taking the riverside path. We cross the Girvan over to Craigfad where we then head north. 

We walk a low level path for a short distance...........

..................before beginning to climb again.

Short breaks are again needed.

We finally get to the top of Bennan (could also be called K3) where the wind almost blows us off the hill. 

Now our leader has created an extension to the published walk by taking us west for a few hundred yards.

Undulating moor, but a nice view of  Maybole, and a glimpse of Goat Fell on Arran (top right)

A gate takes us into a field where we turn east.

Built into my camera is a framing process, here's a couple.

A couple of muddy gate holes and we're looking down on these horse riders. 

Finally I get a picture I really like.

Once we're through the sheep we get a chance to clean muddy boots in the Cawin burn.

By Bennan farm we encounter a playful puppy called Nell.

A heron ignores the clapping and noise of our passing.

Once over this footbridge it's a short walk back to the cars.

Having lunch by the car park meant the majority of us had left our rucksacks behind. That lightened the load up the hills. A good idea leader !

This is a spot the difference picture. (hint :- look to the centre and left)

 After lunch we head off on the Lady Hunter Blair's Walk.

This takes us east along the Dalmellington road.

Those are a mighty pair of horns !

After a short road climb we enter Lambdoughty Glen.

The path's a little muddy in places but what a fabulous glen of tumbling waterfalls.

 and sculptures

Here's an article from the Daily Record back in June, 2008.

 A path to perfection at Straiton

Specially made wooden sculptures of a fox, an otter, a heron and an owl.

The work of sculptor Alan Lees from Kirkmichael. 

The path now takes us down the other side of the burn.

Back on the Dalmellington Road towards Straiton we pass Largs farm, once the home of one Thomas McHaffie, a covenanter who was executed by dragoons in 1686.

   

It's a welcoming 'Ramblers Territory' sign back into the village.

It's been a grand walk despite the poor weather at the start. 

We'll just top that with scones and drinks at The Buck, the cafe in the village.

 Outside the coffee shop the information case is full of articles against a new proposed wind farm.

Inside the cafe a number of us sign the objection forms that are on offer.

I've mentioned before that I'm not anti windfarm, but it's absolutely pointless covering the whole of Scotland with them.

This newspaper article in the Telegraph explains why energy companies are being paid to turn them off.

£2 million payment to shut down Scottish wind farms

The only people benefiting from the escalation of wind farms are landowners and the energy companies.

Here's an online form I don't mind promoting.

Save Straiton for Scotland

C'mon Alex, if you want alternative energy get pushing Hydro. It's less intrusive and much more cost effective. Rain is never far away in Scotland.

Rant over, have a nice day.

Here's our walk leader's draft report.

On Saturday February 15th Wigtownshire ramblers headed north to the south Ayrshire village of Straiton. On a wet windy cold day 10 members met at the car park to rendezvous with the walk leader who was going to take the group up their first challenge which was to climb the hill known locally as Monument Hill. After putting on their outdoor protective clothing the group made their way through the village admiring the swathes of snowdrops that flower at this time of year.Monument Hill is a short steep climb up to the summit to admire the structure that is clearly visible from the main road as you drive towards Glen Trool.The monument is to Lt. Col. James Hunter Blair who was killed at the battle of Inkerman in 1854. The weather showed signs of easing and it was not long before the rain stopped and the odd glimpse of sunshine shone through to dry the wet clothing off. Coming down the shoulder of the hill the leader warned of very slippy muddy conditions so great care would have to be taken to prevent any falls. Crossing over the waters of Girvan our next hill was Bennan Hill (283M) which involved a steep slippery climb to take us to the top with its fine views across to the coast and beyond which were now visible due to the improved weather  conditions. Once safely back at the village our lunch was taken at the car park before another short walk on the Lady Hunter Blair trail to a magnificent waterfall tucked away inside a forest which today was in full spate given the amount of rainfall this area has experienced recently. The final walk was a short road walk back to the start before adjourning for a well earned cuppa in the local tea room.

Next Saturday the walk is from Leswalt to Lochnaw a distance of 6 miles on fairly level tracks. Please meet at Riverside Newton Stewart at 9.00AM or Breastworks Stranraer for car sharing . The walk commences at 10.00AM for further details please contact the leader on 01776870441.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Gatehouse of Fleet December 2012

Saturday the 8^th of December 2012.

Having been on antibiotics recovering from a chest infection, I was never sure that I'd be leading today's walk. However since it's quite an easy ramble I was sure I'd be OK.

The report will follow the pictures. 

This was the picture from my front door as I was getting ready for today.

"Red sky in the morning,

Shepherd's warning"

Myself, Shorty and the Teacher had reccied this walk a week last Thursday on a bright frosty day.

I'll be using some of the photos I took on the recce in this post.

Bright weather on the recce

Crossing over the Fleet

Stile into the Boreland Hills

Pictish Rock carvings

The top of Trusty's Hill as the mist and drizzle closes in

A boggy crossing

Recce

Not so sunny today

Recce views

Ministers Monument

Rutherfords Monument

More rock carvings and more drizzle

Anwoth

Frosty puddles and Rutherfords Well

(I'd kept cleaning the lens on my camera to keep taking pictures, but prolonged exposure to the damp seemed to penetrate inside the camera hence a batch of hazy pictures)

More from the recce

Feeding bulls

Robin Redbreast

Mill on the Fleet

Recce lunch break

The camera dried out enough by now to get this white throated dipper on the river

Bridge in the Cally estate

Cally school for girls

Palace view recce

Palace view walk

Shorty and the Teacher

From Cally Avenue to the Cow Park Plantation

Cally Motte

Mill Lade

The Town Hall

A couple of acceptable pictures of me sent by another regular rambler who I'll call Roy.

She'll understand why !

Wigtownshire Ramblers Report for Saturday the 8^th of December 2012.

A bright morning which would soon deteriorate saw eleven ramblers meet at the main car park in Gatehouse of Fleet for the walk.

The walk began by crossing the 18^th Century stone bridge over the Fleet, passing the Ship Inn where Dorothy. L. Sayers wrote Five Red Herrings, then along Fleet Street to where the main road bends left. Leaving the main road, the minor road of Planetree Park was taken. A stop was taken at the Brickworks Community Nature Reserve. Unfortunately this habitat of Great Crested Newts has been sorely neglected and the group soon resumed a steady climb along Planetree Park.

 Reaching a gate and cattle grid where the lane ended, a small gate led through the bottom of a private garden before crossing a high stone stile over a wall. The next section of the walk was a mixture of bracken and broom over the rolling Boreland hills. With enough frost still in the ground the muddy sections remained firm. Strategically placed waymarkers showed the way.

Now the path wound round the base of Trusty's Hill passing a very healthy looking ash tree. After rounding its left flank the path doubled back uphill to where an iron railing was seen encasing a rock. The railing is there to protect the ancient Pictish carvings which could be clearly made out. It is rare to find Pictish carvings so far from the main homeland of the Picts in northeast Scotland. The top of Trusty's Hill, once thought to be an iron age settlement was accessed, but by now the fine views of the Fleet valley and Gatehouse were beginning to get lost in the mist and drizzle that was enveloping the area.

A tricky descent led down to a wet area of bog and gorse that required very careful navigation to traverse. A successful crossing led to the base of the highest of the Boreland hills at 84 mtrs. After a short steep climb the trig point was reached.

Close to the trig point was a circular stone clad monument topped with a cross commemorating all the ministers of Anwoth and Girthon who succeeded Samuel Rutherford.

From here a short drop and climb led to the prominent granite obelisk that is Rutherford's Monument. The Reverend Samuel Rutherford who later became a professor of divinity at St Andrews University was minister here from 1627 to 1636. A well-educated man at a time of upheaval in the government and church the authorities burned his political book Lex, Rex and cited him for high treason. His death intervened before the charge could be tried. Built in 1842, as well as extolling the virtues of Rutherford a further inscription states that the monument was hit by lightning in 1845 and repaired in 1850.

Now an undulating and sometimes frosty track led to the hill above Anwoth. A very careful descent due to the original path being obliterated by wood cutting operations led to a field behind Anwoth Old  Church.

Close by was Rutherford's Well. Cone-shaped and made from whinstone it is still used today, with the well's water being used for baptism.

After crossing a slippery wooden bridge the road through Anwoth was reached. After a short break at the old church gates, the road was now taken back to Gatehouse. Passing the intriguingly named Luckie Harg’s cottage, the main Gatehouse station road was reached. A variety of birds and a couple of feeding bulls knee deep in mud were points of interest on this section.

Back into Gatehouse the bridge was taken over the Fleet into the Mill on the Fleet. Here photographs were taken of the giant wooden bird watcher looking towards the river with his binoculars.

Crossing the main road to the picnic area on the edge of Garries Wood, a lunch break was taken. Alongside stood a wildlife sculpture, carved from a 200 year old piece of oak to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A white throated dipper flitted about on the Fleet bank.

As the group began the second half of this figure of eight walk, the sky was still dull with occasional mist and drizzle. Entering Garries Wood, a winding path led to an ornate white painted stone bridge. Crossing the bridge and walking alongside the Cally golf course led to the building shell that was Cally Old School. An information board explained how Lady Anne Murray had established this school for girls in the early 19^th century.

Continuing along paths still bordering the golf course they arrived at the 13^th tee, appropriately called Palace View. Across Cally Lake, the group had their first look at the magnificent Cally Palace. Now a hotel, the Cally Palace dates back to 1763, when James Murray, owner of the Cally Estate, chose this setting overlooking the Galloway hills to build his country mansion.

After crossing Cally Avenue, a winding undulating woodland path through the Cow Park plantation led to Cally Motte, a well preserved 12th-century earthwork. Here is the earliest evidence of  people living at Cally. This was the location of a wooden castle on the summit of  a five metre high artificial mound, which would once have had a commanding defensive position overlooking the Fleet Estuary.

After re crossing Cally Avenue the track led to Garries Park from where the rear of remodelled Town Hall, now a walk through garden, was accessed.

Back at the walk start point walking accessories were stowed away in the cars. The nearby Galloway Lodge provided the tea and scones to finish an interesting and enjoyable ramble.  

The next walk, on Saturday the 15th of December is a 9.5 mile section of the Mull of Galloway Trail from Drummore to Sandhead.  Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart, 8.30am or at the Breastworks, Stranraer at 8.45am to catch the bus at 9.15 from Sandhead (NX 097 498) to Drummore (bring your bus pass if you have one).

If going straight to Sandhead please phone the walk leader 01776 840254. New members are always welcome.