The Wigtownshire Ramblers St Medans to the Isle of Whithorn March 2015

Saturday the 21st of March 2015.

I was the designated leader for this walk, but with continuing knee problems, my back up Shorty kindly agreed to take over half way. Because a number of ramblers had indicted that they'd like an easier alternative to the eleven miles to the Isle of Whithorn, walkers were given the choice of six or eleven miles.

I was to lead the whole group until lunchtime and then Shorty would head off with the lion's share of walkers to complete the full distance.

We've done both the shorter walk.

April 2011 ....

and the full walk

October 2013

previously.

I've received Shorty's report of the latter section of the walk and his and my combined report will follow the pictures.

Scoop was also on the shorter walk and a selection of her pictures will follow.

I have no pictures from the latter end of the walk, but if I'm sent any in due course I'll update the post.

We began the day by leaving two cars at the St Ninian's Cave car park.

Before moving on to St Medans I got this picture of Physgill House through the trees.

One time belonging to the Stewarts of Earls of Galloway fame.

The present building dates back to the 18th century but according to Canmore it was preceded by an early 17th century tower-like structure.

During the first world war it was utilized by the military and known as

Physgill Auxiliary Hospital. This Twitter link shows a photograph of the Commandant (same as matron at a guess)

The initial climb.

Spring colour blooming

Cairndoon

A still and animated study

Fishing boat with half a sail

Incline to Knockgulsha

Shags and a raven

A decayed leaf showing it's skeleton

Burn below Carleton Fell

Stile and 'Lunky Hole' on drystane dyke at Laggan Loch.

More in Scoop's pictures.

Climbers and rounders

Laggan camp promontory visitors

Climb to Glasserton Fells

Cup and ring marks

Dull recce pictures left, sunlight picture and HDR (High Dynamic Range) right.

Three tier lunch

The rock of ages

Zoomed in as the distance walkers pass the road to Claymoddie.

Port Counan..............

..............not as deserted as it looks !

A last look at the long walk ramblers as they ascend from Port Castle

A precarious descent for the short walk group 

 Entrance to Physgill Glen and walk end for the six mile group.

Here's a selection of fine pictures from my fellow snapper

SCOOP 

A grand day in the sunshine for both sets of walkers

Here are the reports

Saturday 21st of March 2015

Wigtownshire Ramblers

A fine sunny morning saw 30 walkers assemble at St Medan's beach car park for the walk.

We would stay as one group until lunchtime when we'd split into two groups. 

Eleven walkers would finish their walk at St Ninians Cave car park while the remainder of the group would continue on to the Isle of Whithorn.

 After walking along the beach we arrived at the cliff edges adjacent to the 4th green and 5th tee.

Here we made the steep precipitous climb to the cliff-tops, probably the most difficult section of the whole walk. 

Now we headed south on the cliff path. We looked over Callie's Port and the Red Gate caves. The sunshine highlighted the varied and irregular rock formations.

A hole in a smooth slab of rock was pointed out by the leader as being Neptune's Throne or Neptune's seat. 

Out in the bay a fishing boat made a picturesque scene. The Isle of Man was prominent throughout the walk.

We rounded the bay where the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall tumbles over. Seagulls were in abundance while shags sunbathed on rocky outcrops.

Wild spring flowers particularly celandine were emerging everywhere.

After passing the Lochans of Cairndoon we took to the inland fields to reach Knockgulsha, a derelict building on a high point overlooking Carleton Port. 

This rarely visited stretch of coast has more than it's share of washed ashore flotsam and jetsam, including a great variety of coloured fish boxes.  

Next we reached a wee picturesque glen through which runs the burn flowing down from Carleton Farm. Once across the burn we began a steady climb up the lower slopes of Carleton Fell. 

On reaching Laggan loch, most of us crossed over a stile on the drystone wall. However, some of our more lithe and supple members managed to crawl through the 'Lunky Hole' which in turn saw more cameras being produced. A short sweetie break was taken here.

Back on the move, and with the Fell of Carleton looming above, the large pear shaped promontory fort of Laggan Camp was climbed by most walkers while a few of the less energetic encircled it.

Next we walked up a long incline to reach the rocky fells north of Glasserton Hills. On arriving we disturbed five or six deer, last seen with their distinctive white bushy tails bounding over the gorse bushes.   Here a large rock looking like the hull of an upturned boat was found and inspected. Earlier in the week on a dull day, cup and ring marks were difficult to identify. On this day of bright sunshine, around a dozen were visible in all their glory. This was our lunch spot.

After lunch the group split into their respective groups with the long distance walkers leaving first.

The rest of us now continued at a less severe pace across to the lower slopes of Glasserton hill.

The odd pheasant, snipe and corn bunting were disturbed along the way.

We were soon above Port Counan where we could see the other group making good headway on the fields below Claymoddie.

In the fields below, a farmer and children were enjoying looking at a new born calf while a family camped nearby enjoyed walking along the beach. 

After another sweetie break we continued along the shore path until we were overlooking Port Castle. We could again see the Isle of Whithorn group snaking up the hill to Lobbocks, they were making very good headway.

We on the shorter walk now made our way climbing through the woods to gain access to the path up Physgill Glen.

Snowdrops and daffodils brightened the walk to the car park.

Now drivers were ferried back to St Medans to collect their vehicles while others made their way to the Isle of Whithorn.

Once reassembled, we enjoyed after walk refreshments in the new village hall cafe.

Meanwhile the longer walk group were making good headway, but were always going to be too late for tea and scones. 

We reunited to ferry them back to St Medans or to the pub.

St Medan’s to the Isle of Whithorn.

Part 2

After lunch the group split with just over half continuing along the coast to the Isle and the rest heading up Physgyll Glen to the St Ninian’s Car Park.  The cliff walkers went ahead and were soon out of sight of the other group.  After descending through the wood to the main track to St Ninian’s cave we turned down to the sea shore where several visitors were making their way across the shingle to the cave.  One pair was scrambling about on the precipitous rocks above the cave.

Glancing briefly at the site of the walled enclosure of Port Castle, now inaccessible among the tangle of the low growing thorn bushes, we crossed the beach and commenced the climb up to the cliff top.  We soon reached the gate at the cliff top with its way mark sign held in place by old fishing net and the somewhat battered plastic skeleton.  The path now largely followed the cliff edge with dramatic views over the crumpled rock strata and the sparkling blue sea.  The Isle of Man stood darkly in the haze on the horizon, close enough for our mobile phones thinking we had crossed the water and wished to charge us the excessive roaming rates.

A little further on evidence of 18th century activity came in the shape of the Tonderghie Copper mine workings, sometimes known as the Mary Mine.  The walk leader had provided a map from a 2003 survey which identified various mine workings.  We remarked on the deep open shaft at the base of the cliffs and the filled shaft and water lade on the bank above it.  A deep crevice in the rocks gave a view down to the sea.  It was not clear if this was a natural feature or part of the mine.

Next we reached the Burrowhead Caravan Park, built on the site of the WW2 RAF Anti-Aircraft Training camp.  The walk leader also pointed out the promontory fort and ruins of Castle Feather and two wooden stumps embedded in concrete which were all that remained of the structure burned in the final scene of the Wickerman where Howie alias Edward Woodward met his fate.

After a pause for sweeties we carried on around Burrow Head and reached an isolated WW2 pillbox.  Here we were delighted to watch a pair of seals playing in the gentle surf around the rocky promontory.  We also spotted what appeared to be large jelly fish wallowing in the clear water.  Closer inspection revealed these to be roughly circular patches of foam which undulated in the tide.  A most unusual effect.

Soon the Isle of Whithorn and the distinctive square white lookout tower came into view. The tower has been a mariner's landmark for close on two centuries.  As the group descended into the village the declining sun shone on the harbour providing a picturesque finish to a long hike.  Here we met the remainder of the group who were leaving the café.  Some went back to fetch cars or go home.  Hardier souls wandered through the village to enjoy a long anticipated pint in the sunshine outside the Steam Packet Inn.

Next Saturday's walk on the 28th of March will be the re-scheduled climb up Curleywee and White Hill. This was originally on the programme for January the 31st but had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 8.30 am, the Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.00 am or the walk start at the White Laggan Bothy on the Southern Upland Way road (NX 468 778) at 10am. 

For more information or if going direct to the walk start contact the walk leader on 01776 700926.

Wigtownshire Ramblers St Medans to the Isle of Whithorn October 2013

Wigtownshire Ramblers 

Saturday the 5th October

Fifteen of us turn up for the 11 plus mile walk from St Medans to the Isle of Whithorn.
I'm today's walk leader and the report will follow the pictures.
As I'll be at the front for most of the time I'll be using quite a few of Scoop's excellent photographs. Other pictures from my recces will also be used.
Regular readers will know that this is probably my favourite coastline.

Normally I'd take the group along the beach, but a late start means we're a little behind schedule so the edge of the golf course will get us on our way.

The initial climb to the clifftop fairly surprised most folks.


The next couple of pictures courtesy of Scoop 

At the front of this group is a 77 year old 

Above Callie's Port

Pictures from one of my recces around the Grey Mares Tail waterfall.
(There must be hundreds of Grey Mares Tail waterfalls in Scotland)
Can anyone identify my bird ?

Another recce collage

This is the Bright Horizon skippered by Andrew Lochhead. 
The first local man to sign up for the Fishing for Litter environmental project.

Another of Scoops, close to the Fell of Carleton.

I had to take this picture as I crossed one of the many wee burns flowing to the coast.

 Another Scoops collage looking over to Laggan Camp promontory fort.

The cattle aren't too worried about the trespassers.

Knockgulsha ruin.
The 'Ranger' wasn't with us today, but did she notice as 'Shorty' pointed out, that looking at the grain it's two halves of the same stone !

I'm glad Scoop took these pictures. Probably the most vegetation we had to plough through today.
This 'path' took us down to Port Castle Bay.

More from Scoops camera. The top right picture in the above collage has a view of St Ninians Cave 

Scoops picture above shows the group walking down to a burn by what is one of the most historically interesting areas of today's walk. The Tonderghie Copper Mine may well go back to the bronze age.

  

From below the previous picture.

Before reaching the Tonderghie mine we'd just passed another very historical promontory that looks so ordinary I've neglected to take pictures, or if I have on my recces I can't find them.
The place in question is Carghidown Castle
The above picture from Future Museum shows three lead beads found during excavations which I believe are currently in the Stranraer Museum.

Scoop takes this photo as we head for our second break.

We're having our tea break at the Wickerman Stumps. They get shorter every time I see them.

Looking back to Burrowhead as we begin the last stretch.

This last three miles is the most popular with walkers

I wonder how old this fella is ? 

Time for group photos. The above from Scoop's camera..............

...................and this one from mine.
(spot who moved)

I must admit I like this picture. There's the fisherman, there's the ruins of St Ninian's Chapel and there's Stein Head, the headland that has Trigpoint 6173 FB S8232

Our shadows lengthen as we come into the Isle of Whithorn.

A colourful display outside the Post Office

The Isle of Whithorn Castle

We'll have our after walk refreshments here at the Steam Packet.

I think the walk went well.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report
Saturday the 5th October

On a dry but breezy morning, fifteen walkers gathered at the beach car park below St Medan’s golf club for the eleven plus mile walk start.

To catch up on a late start they made their way along the fairways to reach the sunken feature known as Boden Walls Well. Little information is known about this, but it’s thought it may have been for religious worship.  

Now they made the precipitous climb to the cliff-tops. Here they were shown the outline of the first promontory fort of the many along the route. Looking down on Callie's Port and the Red Gate caves, the varied and irregular rock formations were noted. One rock indentation in the shape of an upside down heart has been christened Neptune's Seat. Cormorants were seen standing in a row on shoreline rocks.

After passing the point where the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall tumbles onto the shore, the path comes a little away from the shore. Occasional barbed wire fences, gates and drystane dykes were carefully crossed.

After passing Cairndoon they reached a derelict farm building at Knockgulsha. In one of the walls, two symmetrically placed diamond shaped stones created an interest. One eagle eyed rambler spotted that the grain on each was a mirror image of the other and were obviously two halves of the same stone.

A little further on the group were now able to look down on the Carleton Port shoreline. Here this isolated stretch of coast has more than its share of washed up litter including a great variety of fish boxes.

With the Fell of Carleton looming above, the large pear shaped promontory fort of Laggan Camp came into view where its double ramparts were easily identifiable.

Out to sea the Bright Horizon fishing boat was busy checking on fishing creels.

After crossing another barbed wire fence by means of a conveniently placed boulder the cliff side was again accessed. A short trek uphill through bracken and heather brought them to a field below the Fell of Glasserton. Pheasants, Snipe and rabbits were disturbed along the way.

Now the going got easier to reach the Claymoddie road above Port Counan. Here a lunch break was taken. 

Back on the move and refreshed they now negotiated another drystone dyke and barbed wire fence to reach the Physgill Glen plantation.  Climbing another dyke and fence they now carefully descended through bracken, bramble, sloe and a steep slope to reach Port Castle Bay. Because all of today’s walkers had made previous visits, St Ninian’s cave was given a miss.

From here on, the coastal path is regularly walked, and a more comfortable and discernible path became the norm. 

Now as the group reached a small dull looking promontory the walk leader read out some astonishing facts. This was the site of Carghidown Castle and excavations in 2003 and 2004 revealed that the unusual fortifications were suddenly and inexplicably abandoned by the Novantae, an early Scottish people. A roundhouse with three successive floor surfaces was uncovered. The last one being unfinished and evidence of the dismantlement of a stone rampart led the team to believe it had been abandoned in a hurry. Stone tools and a considerable amount of charcoal date the site as 2200 years old.

A little further on evidence of 18th century activity came in the shape of the Tonderghie Copper mine workings. The walk leader produced a map from a 2003 survey which identified various mine workings.

On reaching Burrowhead the walk leader pointed out the promontory fort and ruins of Castle Feather and WW2 remnants from when it was an RAF Anti-Aircraft Training camp.

Now they moved along the shore to where two wooden stumps were embedded in concrete, an ideal place for a tea break. Those who didn’t know learned that the stumps were all that remained of the structure burned in the final scene of the Wickerman where Howie alias Edward Woodward met his fate.

Again refreshed the group now made their way back to the cliff tops for the final three miles of the walk. After passing the isolated WW2 pillbox an inquisitive seal kept popping up to watch the group go by. 

Soon the Isle of Whithorn and the distinctive square white tower came into view. The tower has been a mariner's landmark for close on two centuries.

As the group descended into the village the sun shone on the harbour providing a picturesque finish to a long hike.

After walk refreshments were enjoyed outdoors overlooking the harbour at the Steam Packet Inn before car drivers were ferried back to the walk start to collect their vehicles.

Next Saturday's walk on the 12th October is a 6.5 mile circular round the lower Luce Valley. Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30 am, the Riverside, Newton Stewart 9.30 am or the walk start at Glenluce Golf Club (NX 178 562) at 10 am.

For more information or if going direct to the walk start contact the walk leader on 01776 840636.