Wigtownshire Ramblers Newton Stewart August 2014

Saturday the 10th of August.

Wigtownshire Ramblers

I was the leader of this walk around Newton Stewart.

Though I walk regularly over sections of this route, the last time with the ramblers was in 2012.

2012 Walk.

Also on this walk was the Ayrshire Blogger. His excellent post can be seen on This Link 

My walk report will follow the pictures, the last of which will be a selection of Scoops.

From the riverside path to the old railway line.

Scoops excellent group photograph will surface later in the post.

Uphill to Barrhill Woods

The zig zag group with the meandering Cree behind

Newton Stewart from the telephone mast

Power lines 

Barbuchany Hill

Golf practice field

Bunny, ducks, swans and cygnets

Coffee break Blairmount

Doon Hill trigpoint

Old Hall drystone wall stile

View north (and observing the wall climbing)

Power lines to the Galloway Hills

Lunchtime

A felled tree makes an excellent bench

The good weather of the day puts plenty of smiles on folks faces.

Minnigaff or Monnigaff Church exploration.

Bottom right above is the McClurg headstone with the two ravens skewered to one arrow.

The story of the ravens and Robert the Bruce can be read on this Kirkcudbright Page.

Queen Mary Bridge

The tenth tee throne, hail the king.

Gate clambers

I took this to try and highlight the old beech tree behind. Nice enough picture, but Scoops picture later shows the tree better.

Onto Heron Way and along to Kirroughtree House

A heron on the weir at Creebridge

That's the end of my photographs.

Here's a selection of

Scoops

And a few more from

The Boatman

A good walk in great company with scones and tea to complete the day.
Here's my report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Report for Saturday the 9th of August 2014.

On a bright morning with a good weather forecast, twenty eight ramblers met at the Riverside car park, Newton Stewart for the walk.
The Stranaraer contingent had started the day with the enjoyable spectacle of  porpoises playing in the harbour.
We started the walk by by following the riverside path south, and under the A75 bypass. On reaching the sheep pens, the A714 was carefully crossed and a climb over an old metal gate gave us access to the fields below Barrhill Woods.
After assembling on the old railway line, the leader gave walkers the choice of a straight up, steep slope, or a zig zag less severe route. The split was roughly fifty fifty.
Occasional short stops afforded wonderful views over the meandering Cree and estuary.
Passing through a gate, the mobile phone mast above Barrhill was now reached.
Here we took a moment to enjoy the view over Newton Stewart and to identify the Minnigaff Hills.
We now descended north west before another short climb took us up Barbuchany Hill. Another short break gave us a chance to identify more landmarks.
A gate at the bottom of the hill brought us out onto the Moor Park of Barr road where almost immediately the A75 was carefully crossed.
Walking single file along the Barnkirk Road brought us to the golf practice range from where we joined the path round Blairmount pond. On reaching the decking walkway we were treated to lots of ducks, but wondered at the absence of the swans and cygnets that were known to be in residence.
A little further along we were delighted to see them on the banking next to the new 3G sports pitch. Taking advantage of the new table and benches we now took a short tea/coffee break.
After the break, a network of paths took us through the woods up to the trig point on the summit of Doon hill.
We then walked along Corsbie road until we overlooked Douglas Ewart High School. Here we took to the fields above Old Hall farm. Sturdy and well maintained drystone walls and stiles brought us to the track down to Duncree. Here we crossed the old coach road which originally went from Old Hall Farm to House O' Hill.
More panoramic views of the Galloway hills were enjoyed.
Most of the wild flower colour today was provided by invasive species. Brightly flowering Balsam and Bindweed were in profusion.
Douglas Terrace and King Street led us to the track down to the river and after crossing the King George V and Queen Mary suspension bridge, we lunched on the banks of the Cree.
After lunch we meandered our way through Monnigaff Parish Church. Among the points of interest were the 900 year old Yew tree, the listed Heron memorial and the Robert the Bruce story behind the headstone depicting an arrow piercing two ravens.
After the church we crossed the Queen Mary bridge where a successful pebble drop into the wishing well was said to grant that wish.
Bower Drive led us to the Old Edinburgh Road where we entered Bower Wood. An uphill path through the dappled sunlight of the forest led us to Beech Wood where we surprised a mottled fallow deer who studied us before deciding we might not be friendly.
A path now led us onto the top end of the golf course and the tenth tee. Here we could see much of the route we'd already walked. We moved on when a pair of golfers needed to tee off. A climb over a padlocked gate now took us into the fields that were once the old golf course, heading in a southerly direction we were afforded views of Wigtown Bay. After studying a square pillar like section in a dry stone wall, our dry stone wall specialist decided it was probably the original main entrance into the Kirroughtree estate. A gate now took us onto the tarmac of Heron Way and the road to Kirroughtree House. On reaching the house our walk leader read out some of it's illustrious history and it's Robert Burns connections.
Passing the new log cabins of the Conifers Leisure Park led us into Minnigaff where the riverside walk led us back to the Sparling Bridge and the walk finish.
Tea, coffee, a variety of scones and other delicacies at the Belted Galloway completed a very enjoyable day.      
The next walk, on Saturday the 16th of August is an 8.5 mile circular across the South Rhins. A barbecue at Ardwell will follow the walk.  Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart, 9.00am or the Breastworks Car Park, Stranraer at 9.30am. The walk starts at the Ardwell Car Park (NX 110 454) at 10am.
If going straight to the start please phone walk leader 01776 860315. New members are always welcome.

Triangulation Points S8192,S8228 and Black Benwee Hill

We're still experiencing inclement weather here in South West Scotland,but I've managed to get out and about a bit this week.
Now I'm not a trigpoint collector,but I believe there are people that are.
The fact is there's one no more than a couple of hundred yards from my house.
I'll take a roundabout route to photograph it.

This is the scene directly out of my back garden.This is Doonhill Woods.
In the spring the dawn chorus in here is absolutely and beautifully on an orchestral scale.

There's a chaffinch on my neighbours feeder.

Leaf mould is building up.

This is Doonhill House.It's a listed building.You can see from the colour of the brickwork that the rear half is much newer than the front.It's just recently finished being rebuilt.I believe it suffered major structural damage in a fire.
I'm not sure when the fire was, but the house was on the market in 2001 for the sum of £330,000.
Here's the sellers description.

8 Aug 2001

Let it pay its own expenses LUXURY letting can be a smart move when it comes to maintaining a period property. As guests relax in a unique private home, the owners can put high maintenance worries to one side as their property generates a healthy income. A period home such as Doonhill House in Newton Stewart, Galloway, lends itself to a letting income. Set in three acres of ground on the edge of town, the property comes with two self-contained cottage flats in a cobbled courtyard. The house dates from 1870, and with a pillared portico, fine reception rooms, impressive entrance hall and broad staircase, was evidently built for a person of some means. Typical of the period, the dining room and drawing room have bay windows, deep skirting boards and ornate plasterwork. The proportions of the rooms are generous and they have been adapted to modern living. The entrance hall, with seating area and open fire, sets the tone for the rest of the house, spacious and welcoming. Off the hall are the dining room and drawing room and there is a separate sitting room, a home office and kitchen. Far from being the domain of servants, the kitchen is now at the heart of the home. Upstairs are five bedrooms, a dressing room and two bathrooms. Cellars run the length of the house and to the rear is a courtyard surrounded by storerooms. Beyond the house, screened by trees, the former stables on their cobbled courtyard have been converted into two flats, each with lounge, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. These can provide letting income, from holidaymakers or from longer term lets. In an area famed for its gardens, Doonhill can hold its own, with fine trees including Wellingtonians and Douglas Firs, some thought to be older even than the house itself. Newton Stewart lies just off the A75, which links the M74 via Dumfries to the ferry terminal for Ireland at Stranraer. 

There's a view of the front of the house here Simon Winstanley

And here perched on top of Doon Hill at a height of 79 Mtrs and at Grid Reference NX403653 is Trigpoint S8192 complete with flush bracket.

Moving on to another day I've parked just past Mains of Penninghame farm by the fishing pond.

The Bishop Burn has a copious flow. .N.B A 'gush' is a sudden copious flow.Got that ?

I'm heading south along farm and forest track towards the Wood of Auchleand.Seagulls are swooping.

After passing a field of running sheep (I don't think it was me who spooked them.Hen Harriers have been seen in the area though),I reach the forest and turn west.

Remnants of a little hardcore quarrying I think.

The forest track has one spur off it leading nowhere.The main track also comes to a dead end.
There are a few forest rides, but none that appear to be easily navigated.
Perhaps in dryer weather some walking routes may be discovered.

There's plenty fungi and weeds about.

Now a massive climb up through the woods to a height of  83 Mtrs ha ha, gets me on top of Wood Fell....

...to Trigpoint S8228 at Grid Reference NX401594 and again complete with Flush Bracket.

But there's a bonus here.

This one still retains its OSTS Spider Cap.I don't know who steals these but that's often the case on Triangulation pillars.

Here's a few views from up here.

As I head back to my car I'm treated to a swooping display by starlings.

Not as big as some of the massive flocks I've seen down in Lincolnshire but entertaining none the less.

 ...and here's a sunset from my back window that night.

Wednesday the 26th of October .The forecast is for showers,but I'm hoping to climb a wee hill.I drive down to Auchinleck and park up.

The right hand hill in the above picture is Black Benwee.
In the last Newton Stewart Walkfest, Black Benwee was the first hill on a strenuous 15k walk called 'The Three Wee's'.The other 'Wee's' being White Benwee and Curleywee.
I'd abandoned a previous attempt because of torrential rain.

It's roughly three and a half kilometre's along forest road........

.............with much of it following the Penkiln Burn.
The autumn colours are really coming out now. At least I've some shelter from the showers.

After crossing the Penkiln,I take the forest track that runs along it's eastern bank.

A short while after passing Hespies Linn waterfall I start to climb.

It's only 368 mtrs or 1200 feet.
On the walkfest it says rough open ground.
The truth is it's rough forested ground. Ok while following some of the tracks,but pretty rough going.

There's plenty to see underfoot. Lots of fungi this time of year............

.....with some still flowering heather.

As I gain height I get nice views back to Wigtown Bay.Larg Hill is topped with cloud.

It's a case of watching each step as I photograph more fungi.
There's still a couple of areas of uncut forest and it's a respite to make my way through the trees in one of these.
The top part of the hill was never forested and what I'm met with is boggy tussocks.
No one around to listen to my profanities as I trudge the last short distance.


Across from me I can see Drigmorn and Millfore.

I think the size of the cairn reflects the popularity of this hill.

My ten second delay gets this picture.

Ahead are White Benwee and Curleywee.I won't be doing them today.

To the north Larg and Lamachan are still covered in cloud.

While to the south Craignelder and Cairnsmore are in the clear.
I'll try descending to the forest road near the Pulbae Burn.

The terrain down this way is colourful but no different to my climb.

I disturb half a dozen deer.Most of them scoot off,but as I stand still, a couple of them although wary stay still.

This was the best zoom I could get.

Finally down on the forest road and it rains again.
A couple of views of Auchinleck finishes my walk.

If I do make this a part of a future walk it'll be a challenge.