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-Port Logan Circular Feb 2010

It's Saturday the 20th of February 2010,and todays walk is an 11 mile circular from Port Logan.


We're a group of twenty two walkers as we set off from the harbour.The BBC Series '2000 Acres of Sky' was filmed here.It starred Michelle Collins and Paul Kaye.
Info here
Two Thousand Acres_of Sky
We're heading east by zig-zagging over farm track and country roads.We begin along the track between the Muldaddie and Mcdonalds hills. Snowdrops,Shetland Ponies,curious cattle and exotic trees on the outreaches of the Logan Botanical Gardens are seen on the way.

We see a large flock of crows swooping over a rookery as we make our way towards the eastern side of the South Rhins.Birds are a big feature of todays walk.

We reach Luce Bay by the chalets at New England bay.A Second World War emergency landing strip runs alongside.It's very quiet at this time of the year.Talking to a local rambler,the main road at the height of the caravanning season can be tailed back for miles as the arriving caravans vie for the best pitches.
On the beach we head north.It's quite a stony beach,but not as bad as the Glasserton stretch was last week.Coastal erosion has left layered six foot high banks showing the strata of differing time periods.
We reach Portacree where we take a breather.


The ruins are of a 17th century windmill.According to one knowledgeable rambler it was used for grinding corn.Here's what Scotlands Places say.
Logan Windmill

Now we begin to head back inland.Logan House is visible in the distance.This was the best zoom i could get.A protective bull guards his sole mate.

St Agnes’ church,once a chapel for Logan House is under restoration.

We disturbed these geese,but at the last sighting of them they'd completed a large circle and were once again preparing to land in the same field.

Disturbing more wildlife,it was interesting to note that the deer and the hare seemed to keep the same pace until they disappeared from view.

Reaching the Rossan Knowes and Long Rigg plantations we stopped for lunch.A fair pace has been kept up,and the rest is welcome.
After lunch it's across the main Drummore road towards Auchness.


Auchness Castle is a 16th Century Tower house.Three storeys high it was a MacDouall family stronghold.Still occupied,it was converted into a farmhouse in the 19th century.
Another flock of geese were disturbed as we reached Logan Mains where a colourful variety of domestic fowl were photographed.

Old gate posts from what may have been a 'Ladies Walk' were passed as we got our first sighting of Port Logan again.A few walkers including myself thought we might be no more than half an hour away...appearances can be deceptive,it would take us another hour and forty five minutes to complete the walk.
This 'Folly' on Mull Hill was our next objective.Not a lot documented about this tower,but it looks like it was once more substantial.Now we've great views over to the Mountains of Mourne.
N.B. For the attention of Slew,just north of here is a 'Slewdown'.Needs investigating at some later date.
Now we head down to the Mull of Logan,and the coastal path which we'll stay on till we reach the end of the walk.
Again the birds flock high above us.A £ for every bird today would make a tidy sum.

A mile or so north is a cliff arch,known as the Devils Bridge.This apparently is its smaller relative known as Little Bridge.

More deer are disturbed as we zigzag along the clifftops.
Passing Robertsons Bay and Clanghie Bay the site of a Roman fort is noted.
Thanks to this weeks press report author for the following passage,and other snippets of information.
An old boathouse was originally reached by a path which linked to the Ladies’ walk, a road built to convey rock blasted to make the Logan fishpond by French prisoners of war in 1800, an innovative construction for the supply of fresh fish to the big house. The rock excavated was used to construct a wall around the gardens. The same walk was later used to let the ladies of the house reach their bathing hut, along past the fishpond, in relative privacy.

The skeleton was thought to be that of a porpoise,but i was wondering whether it could be a dolphin.
A walk along the beach ended a very satisfying and interesting briskish walk,and as always in the best of company.