Wigtownshire Ramblers-Knockquhassen and Dindinnie Aug 09

It's Saturday the 29th of August and todays walk is the reverse of the first walk we did in 2009.
The previous blog's here
Knockquhassen and Dindiddie
Holidays and Bank Holiday weekend have kept our number down to eleven walkers today.We set off from the Breastworks carpark heading northwards on the western side of Loch Ryan.

There's quite a bit of cloud about,and the forecast is for showers,sometimes heavy.As it turned out it stayed fair for all our walk.Once clear of the town at McCullochs Point we're walking on the beach up to the golf course.

There's a working JCB blocking our exit at the golf club,so a mini detour over the golf course is required.We're soon on our way over the A718 and up past Auchneel farm and cottages...

...where there's a good view back to Loch Ryan.

The end of the tarmac and we're heading along a farm track...

...where we get our first look at Dindinnie reservoir and quarry.We disturb some cormorants.If we'd continued on over a couple more fields we'd have come to a farm by the name of Several Glenstockadale.I wonder where that name came from?

We head on across the dam and round the loch where we meet a fisherman who thought we'd just come to watch him 'Fush'.Hope he's as good at the fishing as he is at making wisecracks.

Avoiding the wet and muddy pools on the track we're soon at the opposite side of Dindinnie and heading uphill.We're a happy bunch today.
There's one more entry on Google on the internet since i mentioned the name Slewtrain,the name of this hill..........but it's only my previous blog.Surely someone knows the origin?
It can't be the big fella in the bottom picture can it.Hey !! Slewtrain,what you up to ?

Now we're at Knockquhassen Reservoir where we've a short swampy reedy bit to negotiate.It's no big problem though,and we're soon through to this....

...anglers hut where we'll lunch.It's a bit windy at the front of the hut,so i joined the elite round the sheltered side,no wind round there,but no sunshine either.Que sera !

Lunch over and after putting the world to right with lots of humour we're on the move again.

It's tarmac road back to Stranraer now.We're on a stretch of the Southern Upland Way here.The swallows are in training for their September migration.This Post box is misleading.It's a farms private letter box.
Having passed the Hillside Piggeries,we're now descending Gallow Hill back into Stranraer.Ailsa Craig was in view when we left,that's when i should have taken a picture.It's hidden in mist now.
Passing the Glebe(The cemetery,not the blog)we're back into a tidy looking Stranraer...
...where we learn that this house has some historical significance.....todays walk leader was born and raised here! I didn't realise he was that old.Thanks for the birthday bash invite though.

Back at the car park,and by the looks of it the Stena HSS is just about to join it's big sister at the terminal.We'll miss the ferry traffic if we're sharp enough.

Having been out of sorts most of this week,i needed this walk.
I certainly feel better for it.

Kirkcudbright 2009-Highland Dancer

From a 2009 Scottish night in the bonnie toon of Kirkcudbright,one of Kay Alexanders dancers performs one of her own compositions.
If someone tells me her name,i'll include it in this description.
A beautiful dance.

Jack and Charlotte visit Galloway

August 2009 saw Jack and Charlotte and their parents visiting South West Scotland,sometimes having to endure heavy rain.
Nonetheless they had a great time,visiting lots of waterfalls and standing stones,the Cream O'Galloway,Glentrool,Portpatrick,The Mull of Galloway,the Machars and Clatteringshaws.
Thanks to Mobygratis for the accompanying music 'Houses'

Watching

Taken on Monday the 24th of August 2009.
A picture from the Machars Coastline

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Newton Stewart Circular August 09

The lack of activity on my blog is mainly due to me being pre-occupied with visiting family including two of my adorable grandkids(watch this space).

Saturday the 22nd of August and todays walk is one we did back in April.
April Walk

I'm going to cheat a little here today.Since i've been landed the task of sending the walk report to the local papers,i'm going to paste it here and only caption the uploaded pictures.


Heron

Wigtownshire Ramblers Report for Saturday the 22nd of August.


Due to unforseen circumstances the Wigtownshire Ramblers scheduled walk of Meikle and Little Millyea had to be cancelled.As an alternative at short notice, it was decided to repeat a walk from April.A circular walk round the edge of Newton Stewart.
A nice sunny morning saw twelve members crossing the Cree at Sparling Bridge,and following the river up to Creebridge.At the weir,the ever present heron stood patiently waiting for a passing snack.
Kirroughtree House

The group then made their way through Minnigaff to Kirroughtree House,where some of its history and association with Robert Burns and the Heron family were read out.


Newton Stewart Golf Course

They then walked round the northern perimeter of the golf course and into Bower Wood, the Bluebells now being long gone.


The 10th Tee

Bower Woods

Emerging from the woods on the Old Edinburgh road,they made their way to the Queen Mary bridge.Here attempts were made to secure a wish by cleanly dropping pebbles into the wishing pot,a gleeful shout usually accompanied a successful drop.
Monnigaff Parish Church

The next stop was at Monnigaff Parish Church and graveyard,where the 900 year old Yew tree and the listed Heron memorial were among the many points of interest.



Banks of the Cree

The group then recrossed the Cree at the King George V Suspension Bridge.Using the riverside picnic tables and benches,a leisurely lunch in glorious sunshine followed.
Old Hall Farm


After lunch they then headed up to the Girvan road at Douglas Terrace before turning left up the hill at Duncree.
Crossing the old coach road which originally went from Old Hall Farm to House O' Hill, open views to Penninghame and the Galloway hills were enjoyed .


Above Old Hall Farm

A change of direction via drystane stiles then took the group over Hill of Old Hall with views over Douglas Ewart High School and the town.Blue Faced Leicesters and Scottish Black Faced sheep eyed the group cautiously.

They then made their way to the Barnkirk road via Doonhill Woods and Blairmount Park,where preparations for the afternoon football match were underway.

Lots of rabbits were spotted in a field at the junction with the A75.A large domestic cat was mistakenly identified as a fox by several walkers.

Teasel

After a careful crossing of the major euro route the group then made their way to Barbuchany where the Teasel was in full bloom.



Barrhill Woods and Phone Mast
The mobile phone mast above Barrhill woods was the groups next target, where a short break was taken to enjoy the outstanding views over Newton Stewart.




The area of Barr and the Cree Valley

The descent eastwards via the route of the old railway line,rewarded the group with brilliant views of a high tide along the meandering Cree Valley.


Alongside the Cree

Crossing the A714 they completed the walk back to the riverside via the new cycle and pedestrian path alongside the river.

The majority of todays walkers missed doing this walk in April,and the fact that we enjoyed such good weather made this a really worthwhile and pleasurable walk.

Thanks also to my fellow rambling photographers for allowing me the use of their pictures

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Anwoth Circular

Saturday the 15th of August and it's been raining incessantly for the past 24 hours.
Yesterday's weather forecast said it would clear up today,but it just doesn't look like it.
Apart from a little sojourn to the shops for some essentials,i haven't been out since Thursday,so despite the weather i'll see if anyone's walking today.
Yes,the walk is on.An eight mile circular from Anwoth.

The river Cree looks high,so the few local walkers prudently move cars to the Tourist Information car park...we've seen how the Riverside car park can turn into a lochan.
Our walk leaders are from Drummore,and we'll all get in their car.
Firstly out to Gatehouse of Fleet to meet up with however many others are bonkers,and then we're off to Anwoth and the walk start.

The smallest group i've previously walked with totalled ten.Today we're down to eight.Can't say i blame them for staying at home.We're all well kitted out for the conditions as we set off from the historic village of Anwoth.

Our route initially takes us past the old schoolhouse and the old kirk and into the Killegowan Wood.The burns are all in spate.The footpaths are abundant with mud and flood,and lots of fallen branches,so this part of the walk is a bit of an obstacle course.I'm using my small Fuji A820 while it's this wet.

We eventually emerge on the north bound old military road south of the Pulcree Burn.We'll take the road to the left at Pulcree Cottage.
It's still tippling down as we get to Ornockenoch Loch.There's a number of swans over the other side.An inlet pipe is pushing water uphill into the loch.An explanation to the question How? is answered by a local lady.It's coming off a nearby hill.
It was wet the last time we were round this way.
Carstramont
Continuing alongside the loch,another swan keeps popping it's head up.The local lassie had said there were cygnets,so she was obviously being understandably wary.

At the end of the loch sits Ornockenoch House sold in November 2008 for £880,000.There's no'one inviting us in for tea and biscuits so we're back onto muddy and wet tracks.

It's a couple of kilometres of dodging puddles and mud before reaching Upper Rusco.Here we turn south and begin climbing Rusco Hill.The rain appears to be easing.It's eased enough for me to get my Canon Powershot out and clicking.
Here we can see over to the Clints of Dromore.

We reach the end of the forest track east of Kenlum Hill.This is where we'll have lunch.
I think about getting myself in this picture,but there being only boggy wet ground to set the camera i'll await another opportunity.The sky must be turning blue,there's a few smiley faces.
There's a mine here.On the Canmore website this isn't specifically classed,except to say 'may have been for non-ferrous metal extraction'.
There are a couple of Copper mines just south of here,so it's possible that's what they've been looking for here.

I ventured in about two of the twenty seven and a half metres.Must have been fairly cramped working conditions.

Lunch over and we're going to climb Kenlum Hill...assuming we can find a way through the six feet high ferns and bracken.An intrepid walker volunteers to be the pathfinder.Following the drystane dyke up seems a good choice.This is much steeper than it looks.
I'm told that blaeberries don't grow below 800ft.There were bushes on the lower slopes without berries,but as we gained height the berries appeared.Is this true ?
Suffice to say,i sampled a few.

Finally atop Kenlum and the dyke makes for a good tripod to get myself in the picture.

'Watch your step' as we head down through the heather to Kingslaggan farm.The weather's improving all the time.
Just above the farm i have a second look(I drove up earlier in the week) for the adit to this old copper mine.Once again i'm beaten by the undergrowth.I did find the remains of the copper mine at Lauchentyre though.My fellow ramblers wondered whether i'd fallen down a hidden shaft,and were discussing if anyone would volunteer to look for me.There'd been no takers by the time i got back.Sob sob!
Here's a picture of Kingslaggan and Kenlum hill i took earlier this week.
Now were looking back towards Kingslaggan from the old military road running south east which will take us all the way back to Anwoth.
Last week while climbing Falkland Hill with my aunt and cousin,i'd introduced him to 'Sooricks'.Not many of todays group had had the pleasure or even knew what 'Sooricks' were,so i kept my eye out and was eventually rewarded with finding some prime succulent leaves.Once i translated Sooricks to Sorrel,one or two lights came on,but few had tasted it.They were for the most part pleasantly surprised.
We're still negotiating a lot of standing water.
I recognise this old railway carriage.I've walked up here previously from Anwoth,so we must be nearly home.How do they get these old carriages to some of the remote spots they end up at?.

The last stretch back to the village.My legs feel quite heavy today.
This end house has the most amazingly colourful garden.

A look around the old kirk and graveyard almost completes our walk.

Anwoth's most famous inhabitant was the Rev. Samuel Rutherford (1600? - 1661), who was the minister at Anwoth Old Kirk from 1627 until 1636 when he was banished to Aberdeen. On a nearby hill, there is Rutherford's Monument, a 55 foot high granite obelisk erected in 1842. A millennium cairn opposite the monument lists the names of all the ministers of Anwoth and Girthon until the year 2000 when it was erected. The Old Kirk was in use until 1825, but is now just a ruin.

At the back of the kirk are bramble bushes 'Hingin thick' with the biggest berries you ever saw.Three of us gorged ourselves on them.What with Blaeberries,Sooricks and Brambles i just hope i haven't over indulged.
Considering the weather as we started the walk,it's ended up being a really nice day.
I'll be asleep on the couch later.

Elvis on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Dont be Cruel.
I've just found this clip on YouTube.
Whether you're an Elvis fan or not,you won't find pure raw talent like this on the present day talent shows.