Wigtownshire Ramblers Portpatrick Circular 16th of May 2015

Saturday the 16th of May 2015

Myself and the good lady Rose drove over to Portpatrick for the Wigtownshire Ramblers circular walk round the surrounding area.

On the way we were held up by a large herd of dairy cows as shown in the first picture.

The pictures are from both of us.

I'll let Shorty's report tell the story of the walk.

It follows the pictures.

ENJOY

Here's Shorty's Report

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 16 May 2015 – Portpatrick Circular

Nineteen ramblers assembled at the South car park in Portpatrick on a bright and sunny morning with a brisk wind blowing in off the sea.  The temperature felt more like mid-February than mid-May.  We set off up the steps to the south and headed along the cliffs towards Dunskey Castle.  A few seabirds wheeled about the cliffs but the number nesting seemed a lot less than in earlier years.  After a short pause to examine the ruins we continued south along the coast towards Knockinaam.  As we went we saw a lifeboat ploughing its way northwards through the choppy seas.  The spring flowers, especially in the various sheltered gullies, were magnificent.  Spring Squill, Bluebells, Primroses, Sea Pinks, Whins and Early Purple Orchids all contributed to the show.

When we reached Morroch Bay we turned away from the coast and climbed the field towards the well signposted “Hush Hush”, a rather disappointing brick and concrete building.  On the way up the hill we were assailed by a blustery shower which swept in from the sea.  A short pause ensued to don waterproofs and we continued to the road and turned northwards towards Portree Farm.  The shower didn’t last long and waterproofs were soon removed again as the sunshine and blue skies returned.

On reaching the old railway line at Portree we scrambled up below the bridge and followed the old track towards Lagganmore.  From there we followed the lane back to the main road which we crossed and took the Old Port Road towards Enoch Farm.  We turned off the road and took the new access road for the windfarm around Craig Hill.  A short diversion was necessary to avoid a field of cows with young calves but we soon reached the windfarm where we paused for lunch in the shelter of the control building and enjoyed the warm sunshine.

After lunch we followed the track around the turbines and the weather mast and back down to the road at Auchenree.  As we went we could see more showers sweeping in from the sea.  Waterproofs were donned again just in time for freezing rain blasting in on the gusty wind.  Luckily it was short lived and the sunshine returned by the time we reached the road.

A short walk down the road took us to the entrance to Dunskey Estate.  We turned off the road and followed a woodland track around McCubbins Hill.  Here we were accosted by an officious employee who apparently knew nothing of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code nor of his employers’ general permission for walkers to cross the Estate outwith the shooting season.  He blocked the track and we had no option but to return to the road and walk an additional uncomfortable half mile or so along this relatively busy route.  After that we entered the Estate via the main entrance and followed paths and tracks back to the golf course and down to the harbour.  Here we enjoyed excellent tea, coffee and cakes at the Beachcomber Café.

Next week’s event will be a leisurely 6 mile walk from Barclye to Minnigaff via the Lonesome Pine.  Meet at the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 09:00 or the Riverside car Park in Newton Stewart at 09:30 to share transport.  The walk will start from the RSPB Barclye car park (NX 386 697) at 10:00.  New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01988 840268.

Cygnet update and a walk up the Gairland burn

Over on Blairmount pond, the cygnets are still doing fine. 

More ducks seem to be arriving on the pond.

I think the kids have got the message that it's wrong to throw stones at the birds.

Thursday the 26th of June.

After a really dreich day on Wednesday, Thursday looked  better. I decided on a walk in the hills.

The Buchan Rooftops, Mulldonach and Loch Trool.
After parking up at Bruce's Stone, I decided I'd head up the Gairland burn and get to Loch Valley.

Loch Trool view.
It was quite cloudy and overcast. Quite a few of this post's landscape pictures have been enhanced by Picasa's 'I'm Feeling Lucky' feature.
Looking for the path through shoulder high bracken gave me the impression that few folk have been walking this way.

As regular readers know I'm a sucker for wild orchids. 

After the high bracken, the path in places became quite stony, muddy or boggy.

To the right was the western edge of the Rig of the Jarkness.

This Bog Asphodel looked quite stunning.

I couldn't resist more wild orchids.

I thought this one should be on it's own.

Wednesday's rain might have made the path occasionally boggy, but the Gairland burn was quite low.

I reached Loch Valley. The path, though still spongy became a little easier here. 

My first glimpse of Loch Neldricken.

(a mistake I made was only fetching the 'Galloway Forest Park South' map. It only goes as far north as Loch Valley.

Marked on the correct OS map is the Murder Hole, a water feature on the western edge of the loch. It really doesn't exist here, it's correct location is at the Rowantree junction on the Straiton road. The author of  'The Raiders', Samuel Rutherford Crockett used Neldricken for it's location because it suited the book.

I stopped for lunch overlooking the loch.

Had it been a glorious sunny day I might have thought of wading over here.

As the clouds seemed to be gathering, after my lunch I began to retrace my steps.

This skylark posed nicely for me.

Contrary to my belief that the clouds were gathering this view of Benyellery and the Merrick showed them clearing. I decided on a climb up onto the Rig of the Jarkness.

It's a short but steep climb, but I was soon looking back towards Loch Neldricken...........

..................and south west to Loch Trool.

Below me were the long and round lochs of Glenhead.

The Gairland burn from atop the Rig of the Jarkness.

It was more difficult descending back to the Gairland than it was climbing.

I also took a few panoramas on my walk.

Slug Love, there was something going on here !

(a reminder:- to view pictures full screen, right click and 'Open in New Tab')

  

I finished drinking my coffee back at Bruce's Stone.

A hard frost in the ground might make the route easier. Continuing on to Loch Enoch and returning via the Buchan Ridge would then make an attractive walk. Ramblers walk ?