Wild flowers of Garrochar Ponds

Wednesday 12th of August.
Today being the Glorious Twelfth,i thought i might see some shooting parties out and about.They were probably about,but i never came across them.
It was an overcast and occasionally drizzly day.

Close to Creetown,Garrochar Wildlife Ponds are part of the Balloch Community Woodland Project.
No matter how dull it might have been,the wild flowers around the ponds made a bright and colourful display.
Here's just a few.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Chapel Finian

Saturday the 8th of August and it's quite overcast.
We parked up at Corwall Port opposite Chapel Finian on the Glenluce Portwilliam road.
We think we're a group of twelve today,but the late arrival of the Glentrool contingent swells us to seventeen.Welcome good people,it's great to see you.

A quick look at Chapel Finians ruins and we head upwards on a track towards Corwall.Curly's raring to get a move on.

Between Auchenmalg and Portwilliam you can always guarantee the appearance of cormorants.This cairn is one of many in the area.Our walk leader tells us of a plan for a future walk,over the hill tops and taking in the cairns and hut circles that abound.
The short climb from Chapel Finian is the hardest part of todays walk,and we're soon in undulating countryside.
A view north towards Auchenmalg...

...and a rambler asks whether these woolly walkers have joined the group.They didn't stay with us for long.
Curly decides on a quick dip.
About now it started to rain.It's only a light drizzle,but it's enough for me to put the camera away for a while.I've been forgetting to bring along my small camera,which is ideal for days like these.
We continue in northerly direction until we reach the B7005 to Wigtown.
Here we follow the road east and past Culshabbin before turning back southwards via a farm track at the old schoolhouse.With Mochrum Loch and the Galloway hills as a backdrop,it's time for a photocall.
As the drizzle turns to rain,more waterproofs are donned.
Now we reach Airylick and Elrig House.
Elrig House was once the home of Gavin Maxwell of 'Ring of Bright Water' fame.The family still own and reside on the nearby estate at Monreith.More on this on Wikipedia at
Gavin Maxwell
Close to Elrig house we reach Barhobble,a 'Dark age and Medieval' church.Originally built of wood about 1050,with the stone chapel being added around 1125.
Barhobble
The rain's stopped as we have lunch.Curly keeps watch for titbits being dropped.
Back on the move and our leader informs us we've completed two thirds of todays walk.As we open and close another gate, he quips that todays walk should be called the 'Gate Walk', because there's been so many.
Now were alongside Changue wood,a colourful deciduous/coniferous mix.
Here on the Changue burn we come to the ruins of an old dam and watermill.Our walk leader enlightens us into the workings of such places.
Now as Luce Bay comes back into view it's all downhill...
...to the roadside.As the car drivers are ferried back to the walk start,the rest of us relax and enjoy the company and the views.
Despite the weather it's still been an enjoyable walk....
...with this added bonus on the way home.

Footnote:
There's a couple of intrepid explorers get down this way occasionally.
Their most recent escapade was a Cairnsmore of Fleet climb.Anyone fancying a climb could do worse than follow their route.blueskyscotland

A visit to Fife

I had occasion to go over to the East Coast in the first week of August 2009.
These are some of the places i went.

The first three pictures are from Culross...


...pronounced 'Cooros'



The Forth Bridges from South Queensferry.

Panorama of Forth Bridges on CleVR.com

Stenton Pond,Glenrothes.


The Lomond Hills...

...and historic Falkland.

Falkland Hill-A Slow Descent

It's a windless evening as a para glider jumps from Falkland hill,one of the Lomond Hills in East Fife.
Music by Moby is Atakte 2

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Tarfessock

It's Saturday the 1st of August and todays walk should have been the peaks of Tarfessock and Kirriereoch.
Our walk leaders having recce'd the walk decide to prudently leave the Kirriereoch part for another day.
By the looks of the weather it's probably a good idea.
The usual car sharing from Newton Stewart,and there's not a multitude of walkers today.
Driving through the village boundaries of Glentrool i wave to a couple who've just recently moved in.We'll hopefully see these lovely folk on future walks.
We're a group of ten intrepid walkers as we get to the carpark on the Water of Minnoch.There's a couple of fishermen in waders having had no luck this far.The 'Awful Hand' peaks are all in cloud.
Campers and their noisy dogs are contemplating packing up and going home.I'm sure the weather forecast said it'll brighten up.
The first couple of miles is on forest road.The route takes us in a north easterly direction via Kirriereoch Farm and crossing the Pillow Burn towards the Tores and in the direction of Shalloch on Minnoch.
The end of the track and the climbing begins.It's been overcast but has kept dry up till now.
As we climb and look over towards the Cross burn in full flow it's becoming decidedly misty.
Wind and rain protectors are donned,and as usual i'm towards the rear.Visibilty isn't too brilliant now.
Our group leaders tell us of the views they had on the recce.Oh look! there's the Isle of Man over there.No matter how bad the conditions are,this group always look on the bright side.
Keeping up a fairly steady pace we're eventually at the summit of Tarfessock.At 697 Metres(2286ft),Tarfessock is the smallest of the five hills that make up the 'Awful Hand' range.Looks like there's only us up here today.
I get my camera set on 'Ten Second Delay' to get in the picture...
...a bit of a rush to get at the back of the group here...
...and one more picture before a welcome lunch and hot coffee.Shame about the spectacular views though.

We didn't tarry after lunch,and our route down is the reverse of our ascent.On the recce,our deputy walk leader had mapped the route on his GPS gizmo.After losing the path a couple of times this proved it's worth by getting us back in the right direction.I might just get one of these when i've a spare £120+.
We're below the mist now and we've a view down to Kirriereoch and Moan lochs.
Upon reaching the forest track,a few of us take a layer or two off.
No hurry now we're out of the clouds.There seems to be an infectious joviality around.
At Kirriereoch farm road end,a herd of friendly goats greet us.They weren't interested in the apple i offered them.I enjoyed eating it.
Who's this idiot?
Thanks to Scoop 1 for the picture.
This is the last leg back to the vehicles.
Looking back up to the hilltops it's doubtful they'll clear today.But we'll be back.
A very enjoyable walk despite the visibilty.