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Showing posts with label Quarter Farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quarter Farm. Show all posts

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Wigtownshire Ramblers New Luce Circular November 2014

Saturday the 8th of November 2014.
This walk followed a very similar route to one we did in October 2012 

Shorty is the walk leader and his report will follow the images.

Friday night's weather forecast was a reasonable one. By Saturday it had completely changed.
We assembled at the New Luce Memorial Hall.
All walkers were prepared for the weather.
A light shower arrived in time for our departure.


New Luce is a very picturesque village.


This cottage has a fine new coat of paint.


Gun Dog !


Just north of the village we took the road east towards Barnshangan.
This was just one of several fine bulls we saw. I think he's the same fella I photographed in 2012.


At Barnshangan we turned north to follow a farm track.


The weather at this point was only light showers, that would soon change.


Fungi grew profusely in the grass. Watch out for a good picture of the large mushroom later in the post.  Scoop captured a beauty.


A mile on from Barnshanagan we reached the ruins of the Knockibae Lead Mines
I had a little rummage but never found anything valuable.


From the mines we took to the first of the moors across Big Milldown hill, the weather worsened.
We descended to the bridge to Quarter Farm over the Cross Water of Luce.
It's a fine piece of engineering built by the Lanarkshire Steel Company.


A farm track, a short road walk and we took a track up to the ruins of a one time substantial two storey dwelling on the slopes of Craigbirnoch Fell.
Here we took a short break for lunch. With very little shelter from the now incessant rain most walkers were keen to move along. Me and the Weaver were less keen since we'd bagged the best spot.
More tussocky ground took us over Craigbirnoch Fell


Looking down on Craigbirnoch Farm


After by-passing the farm we arrived at this bridge.


This is the main Stranraer - Ayr railway line and was part of the Glasgow South Western Line.
Is it still classed as part of that line ?


Following the line of the railway we encountered more tussocks, more rain and an awkward dyke crossing. Water has now permeated even the best waterproofs. Dryness is not an option and a cavalier couldn't care less attitude abounds. Shall we dance.


We waved to the few passengers on the train.


A solid track was a relief after the tussocks. A four carriage train heading for Stranraer passed by.


I couldn't pass this bright bit of fungus without taking a picture.


On reaching Barlure Farm, our leader Shorty gave us the option on/of whether to continue across the fields or take to the road. The vote was unanimous.
Barlure - Stair Lodge junction.


The last soggy stretch.
A great walk for the soul. It's a great walk in good weather as our 2012 recce proved. Maybe third time lucky.
Thanks to the New Luce folk for allowing us the use of the War Memorial Hall to get out of our wet gear. 
The Kenmuir Arms had a wonderful welcome of cream topped buttered scones with lashings of tea and coffee.
A great finish to a wet day.


Here's a great selection of pictures from 

SCOOP














Here's Shorty's report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 8th November 2014 – New Luce North Circular

The weather forecast had promised a bright morning with cloud and rain spreading in later.  However, as the eighteen ramblers assembled at the Memorial Hall in New Luce the skies were already lowering and spots of rain started as we set off.  We walked up through the attractive village and took the Barrhill road.  Just past the cemetery we turned onto the Barnshangan road and climbed above the Cross Water of Luce.  The cattle in the field eyed us balefully as they solemnly chewed away at the bright green kale.  A shepherd’s quad bike puttered away in an adjacent field.  Otherwise we seemed to have the world to ourselves.

WE followed a farm track northwards and then took to the fields as we climbed up to the remnants of the Knockibae Lead Mine.  First developed in the 18th century, it had a chequered career, opening and closing several times over the next century as the price of lead encouraged further attempts.  We thought that the difficulty of exporting the heavy ore from such a remote site counted against its chances of success.  All that remains now is a series of ridges and furrows and the ruins of a small building.

Leaving the mine we passed through a narrow gateway and out onto the open moor.  We climbed to the rocky summit of Craigiegower and then across the damp moorland to Wee Mildown and Big Milldown, neither of which were impressive hills but afforded good views over the valley of the Cross Water.  The hills to the east were somewhat obscured by the now persistent rain.  We carried on across the moor following quad bike and cattle tracks and dropped down to the river at the Quarter Bridge.  The river ran well under the bridge but had dropped considerably from the recce two days earlier.

Turning away from the river we followed the farm track back to the Barrhill road which we traced northwards across a cattle grid and then turned onto an overgrown track up to the ruin of Cairn Side farm.  This had been a substantial farmhouse, unusual in that it had had a full two stories in the main house, apparently the result of an extension to the original building.  Two further single storey rooms had been added to the rear.  In spite of all this effort it appears to have been very short lived.  There was no sign of any buildings on the 1848 maps.  It appeared in good condition in 1895 but was a roofless ruin by 1908.

The rain was now a steady downpour and it was decided pause for lunch taking what shelter we could from the ruins.  A speedy lunch was consumed and we soon headed off up the hill behind the house.  Finding a gate we crossed onto the open hill and over the ridge towards Craigbirnoch.  Following a route through a series of gates we passed below the farm and made our way to the bridge over the railway.  It had been our intention to follow a route westwards to Kilfeddar but unfortunately the Tongue Glen Burn running in spate during the recce had prevented progress in that direction.  So we turned southwards down the side of the railway.  The ground was very wet and we squelched our way through the tussocks and mires and across small burns to the fields above the Main Water of Luce.  As we struggled on a train passed on the railway, sweeping northwards towards Girvan.  Several walkers waved cheerfully to the train and several of the passengers responded.  They seemed to be somewhat amazed to see anyone on these bleak moors.

We soon reached the track from Barlure to Kilfeddar which we thankfully took southwards enjoying the shelter of the trees along the bank of the river.  Water ran over sections of the track but we were all so damp already that the puddles were largely ignored.  When we reached Barlure a very short debate decided that we should follow the road back to New Luce rather than the more scenic way across the fields.  So a quick route march brought us back to the village.  We were very thankful to be able to use the facilities in the village hall to change our soaking clothes before our soggy but cheerful group retired to the Kenmuir Arms which the landlords had opened specially to provide us with much needed refreshment and warmth.  As we left the village the sun emerged from behind the clouds and the lower Luce Valley was bathed in glorious sunshine.

Next week there will be two walks: a strenuous 10 walk along the hills above Glen App and a more leisurely walk to the south of Ballantrae.  Both the walks will start and finish at the Auchencrosh cross roads on the A77 (NX 095 790).  Meet at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 09:00 or the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 09:30 to share transport.  The walk will start at 10:00.  New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01465 712180 (hill walk) or 01581 200256 (low level walk) for full details.

Sunday, 28 October 2012

Wigtownshire Ramblers New Luce Circular October 2012

Sunday the 28th of October 2012
Today's walk is a circular walk from New Luce. This Sunday walk came about because of the cancellation of the training weekend originally planned.
Today's leader is Shorty, I'm deputy walk leader and we recce-id this walk on Wednesday.
Because of the poor weather today, I'll be putting in some pictures from the recce.
Shorty's report will follow.
We're a group of eight intrepid walkers on this wet morning. (It looked like we'd be a group of nine, but that dropped to eight before we began.)   

Bully just outside New Luce on the recce (He was in the same place today)


A partridge holding pen.


Above is Balmurray, Artfield Fell Windfarm, and a filled in mine shaft.
The rain eased occasionally, but my camera stayed much of the time in it's case.


Another picture from the recce. There are definite markings on this stone.


Again on the recce, I could zoom across to the Mull of Galloway.


Today it is wet as we look around the mine ruins.


Atop one of our half a dozen small summits.


This is the steel bridge over to Quarter Farm. 
On the recce I'd been looking for the makers of this steel bridge.....today I found it. It was built in Scotland by the Lanarkshire Steel Co Ltd


To shelter from the wind and rain we'll lunch somewhere among these ruins.




I was nicely sheltered for lunch, but we need to move on again. There's not much information about this ruin ?


From now on the going gets much easier. We came across these feeding blocks. I guess they'll soon be antiques. "WALTER GREGORY & CO LTD Crawley, West Sussex 
History: Walter Gregory & Co Ltd was established in Crawley, West Sussex, during the late nineteenth century to supply animal health products to farmers in the west of England. The company was acquired by Upjohn Ltd in 1966 and dissolved in 1993. 
Records: Pharmacia & Upjohn Ltd, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes MK5 8PH "


More pictures from the recce.
After passing an old cairn we pass by Barlure farm.................


.............a couple of fields later we've an awkward drystone wall and the lovely Ward Burn to cross.


This train was photographed on the recce, we saw it today but from a distance and just a fleeting glimpse.


Back in New Luce i spot a few curios............


...............................an interesting knocker and a flush bracket number 11886


We finish the day with a warm welcome for tea/coffee, scones and cake at the Kenmuir Arms

Here's Shorty's report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Sunday 28 October 2012


Nine ramblers met at the New Luce village hall just as the kirk bell was ringing.  It was a dreich morning with low scudding clouds and desultory rain.  One member decided that he believed the weather forecasts and set off homewards.  The remaining group walked through the village and turned up the farm road leading to Barnshangan farm.  A few finches hopped around the roadside hedges and sheep grazed unconcerned in the fields.  Otherwise the group had the world to themselves.

At Barnshangan they turned northwards up the old track leading to the old lead mines.  As they progressed the track became wetter and less well defined but the group soon reached the remnants of the mines.  A series of banks, ditches and pits covered a wide area.  The workings extended to the top of the low hill.  From there there were views over the valley of the Cross Water of Luce and the surrounding countryside.  The large windmills at Artfield Fell to the East and Arecleoch to the North were turning in the steady breeze.  It was noted that the proposed windfarms at Glenchamber, Carsecreugh and Glenkitten would soon form a complete arc around the horizon.

The group then zig zagged northwards over the moors, avoiding the worst of the bogs over the low hills of Craigiegower and Big Milldown.  They continued following cattle tracks over squelchy mires and low hills until they could look down on Quarter Farm, once known as the Dougaries, on the far bank of the Cross Water of Luce.  They descended steeply to the Quarter Bridge.  This turned out to be constructed from Bailey Bridge sections made from Lanarkshire steel, probably of post war origin.  The river was pouring forcefully below the bridge with some dramatic eddies pulling at the banks.

After a short pause the ramblers set off up the farm track towards the Barrhill road. They turned northwards up the road and crossed a cattle grid.  When they reached the next area of firm ground they turned off the road and made their way up to the ruined house at Cairn Side where they sought shelter below the walls to have their lunch.  Cairn Side had been a substantial house with well-built outbuildings and a garden but old maps indicated that it had been derelict for more than a century but some walls stood up to the top of a second storey.  There was speculation as to why it had been abandoned as it had apparently only been in use for about fifty years.

Once lunch was completed the group made their way up to the top of Craigbirnoch Fell.  The views from here were dramatic in spite of the weather.  To the north they could see Beneraird, the objective of next week’s walk, and Knockdolian, another favourite hill.  Southwards they could make out the sea in Luce Bay and just the suggestion of the Mull of Galloway.  After a brief pause they descended the fell and made their way across the very soft ground towards Barlure farm.  With some relief they soon reached the hard ground above the farm and continued through the fields past the farm and southwards towards the railway.  A train trundled southwards towards Stranraer; a rare event.  After traversing a dyke and crossing a small burn they clambered back up to the fields which they followed, under the stern gaze of a flock of sheep, back to the county road.  A short walk down the road brought them back to the village.  The group repaired to the Kenmuir Arms where they were made very welcome in spite of their damp condition by the host and staff.  The group enjoyed excellent tea and cakes and a warm fire before dispersing.

The next walk will be on Saturday 3rd November.  It will be a fairly strenuous walk in the South Ayrshire hills between Ballantrae and Glenapp. Meet at the Riverside Car Park in Newton Stewart at 9:00 a.m. or the Breastworks Car Park in Stranraer at 9:30 a.m. to share transport.  The walk will start from the crossroads on the A77 above Glenapp (NX 095 790) at 10:00 a.m.  If meeting at the start or for any other queries, please contact the walk leader on 01292 441268. New walkers will be made most welcome.
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