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 Drummore to Sandhead Coastal December 2012

It's the 15th of December.

Today's walk is part of the Mull of Galloway Trail

We are doing the section from Drummore to Sandhead.

An early start sees us catching the 9.15 bus from Sandhead to Drummore.

22 of us begin the walk, this becomes 23 when we're joined at Logan Mills by a walker who's recently undergone knee surgery.

Today's leaders are Scoop and the Weaver.

The Weaver's report will follow. 

We get the occasional glimpse of the sun as we begin the walk from the old mill in Drummore.

Although most of the path is by the coast it occasionally diverts inland.

This inward loop took us though a muddy path via the Grennan Slate quarries.

We get back on the coast at Dungamen Bay as a couple of horse riders head for Terally.

At Terally Point we pass this information board.

We have a four legged friend with us today. This beauty goes by the name of Tilly.

Another short stretch of road walking brings us to New England Bay.

There's no shortage of seabirds today.

Reaching Logan Mills we stop for lunch. 

After lunch we head inland again.

On this section we pass St Agnes Chapel, Logan Windmill and view Auchness Castle.

I included more details on these three buildings in my 2011 post Ardwell to Logan. 

Seeing a nice lean on gate I ask for a girly picture.

Everyone a cracker ! (Christmas that is)

Chapel Rossan Bay and Ardwell come next. No sign of the burger van at this time of year.

The two pictures on the left in the above collage are of a miniature European village. I believe this is known as the Ardwell Proving Ground. It's a village for model tanks. There's a number of  videos on YouTube

Back on the shore, it's quite a stony beach the rest of the way

Drumantrae Bay

We take another short break near the Dyemill. It's now a private residence, but was once powered by the Alwhibbie Burn to mill seaweed and obtain a brown dye.

Smiling faces at the thought of mince pies

Another information board close to Ardwell Mill.

Tilly takes a drink from the Cairnwell Burn.

Sandhead and the walk finish.

Below are a couple of collages from Scoop in which I get a look in. 

Reaching Sandhead, the Tigh Na Mara were well prepared for our arrival.

Hot mince pies, tea, coffee and lots of chatter were a welcome conclusion to a long day's walking.

Here's the Weaver's report.

Ramblers’ report Saturday 15th December.

A mild but overcast day encouraged twenty two ramblers to turn out for a 10 mile walk along the coast path on Saturday. The route was to lead northwards from Drummore to Sandhead.

Cars were left at Sandhead and a bus journey taking in the delights of the Southern Rhins eventually dropped the company off in Drummore, to start the walk from the old mill by the harbour.

The tide was coming in, but there was no wind, so the problems were not expected, which had plagued the previous day’s high water, where debris consisting of mounds of seaweed and quite large stones were thrown up onto the path.

The shore on the west side of Luce Bay is being washed away by the rough sea and the walk showed just how vulnerable the land is along here. The old road out of Drummore is no longer accessible by motors because of erosion, but provided a quiet introduction to a length of road walking where some walkers took to the wide sea wall with a good view of the water below.

A section away from the sea, following the track up to Grennan farm brought a panoramic sight of Luce Bay, before descending once again to the road along by hidden quarries and brushy undergrowth.

Tarmac was avoided by walking a path alongside the road, through the edge of Grennan wood, sometimes muddy after the recent rain, to Terally road end. Across the road the foreshore, with the sea approaching rapidly was now enjoyed, until the roofless Terally coal store was reached. Old pictures show horses and carts queuing here to be loaded from beached shipping, a reminder of how this inaccessible corner relied on sea transport for such a long time.

The sandy beach at New England Bay was nowhere to be seen as the tide rose and when Balgowan Point was rounded the shore had to be abandoned for the path cleared above the tideline.

Logan Mill is now just a tower lacking its sails, a corn mill dating from the seventeenth century. It was a perfect stop for lunch, where a late arrival put the numbers up to twenty three. The waves crashing onto the shore provided a pleasing accompaniment to the sociable picnic.

With time at a premium because of the short daylight hours, the walkers were soon pressing onward, forsaking the coast path for a while to turn inland and pass by the nineteenth century Saint Agnes’ chapel. This was built by James McDouall, the Laird of Logan, and named after his wife, Agnes Buchan Hepburn, for the use of estate workers.

The coast path was picked up once more at Auchness where woods and fields alongside the road gave a safe path to Ardwell picnic site. Two delightful small bridges could be seen carrying the road over small burns, one with a beautifully built rounded arch. A ruined building and large gateposts were discovered along the old entry into the Logan estate.

The shore was once more reached at Chapel Rossan house, where the old road used to take the seaward route, but was washed away long ago. The site is named for St. Drostran, an Irish monk. However, there is no sign of the old chapel to be seen today.

Killaser burn is wide and deep and the road bridge crosses it, which meant that the pretty village of Ardwell, with a miniature town nestled between trees in one of the gardens, and a Norman motte above the old shop, was not missed.  Again the ramblers progressed to the shore by Ardwell chalets and on to Ringvinachen point and the West Freugh outpost, used to monitor the range in the bay.

Another rest was taken at Dyemill before skirting the house along the A716 and dropping to the beach once more by way of an old green road. The Dyemill is a reminder of the old textile manufactory of the area when it was renowned for its flax production.

The high tide kept the walkers to the wooded path and the rather overgrown trail for the next section, passing Ardwell mill and a small cairn raised to commemorate someone’s beloved dog, Rebel. There was no sign today of the long legged, long beaked white bird, perhaps a great white heron, which had been seen feeding by an outfall pipe on Tuesday’s recce.

As Sandhead came into view, a landslide which had fallen earlier in the week from the road south out of Sandhead, had been surprisingly washed away, with very little sign left of it on the beach, but leaving a great scar on the hillside, another sign of the encroaching sea on this coast.

As the sky darkened and dusk began to fall, Tigh na Mara in Sandhead, welcomed the weary ramblers with tea and mince pies, a fitting end to this December walk.

Next week’s walk will be an 11 mile quite strenuous tramp around the Door of Cairnsmore, meaning an early start of 8.30 am Breastworks, Stranraer, 9 am Riverside, Newton Stewart and 9.30 am at the walk start, Cairnsmore car park, NX 464 633. Another short walk is being arranged for those who wish to have a little exercise before mince pies at the walk leaders’ house. For more details phone 01671 401222.  New members are always welcome.