Wigtownshire Ramblers-The Mull of Galloway 2009

It's the last day of October 2009 and there's a break in the rain.We've a fair run to todays walk start.It's at West Cairngaan in the South Rhins.I don't often use my car to get to walks,so i'm pleased when my offer to drive is accepted by the Newton Stewart contingent.
We're the second car to arrive at the walk start,but plenty more pull in behind us for a well attended walk.
There's hardly a cloud in the sky as twenty three of us set out.
Ahead is the outpoint of todays walk-The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse.Farm track and fields take us over to the coastline.The Ramblers have had quite a few walks at this end of the Rhins and this is the first one i've managed to attend,so i'm really looking forward to it.
This is a very rugged coastline.It's an area of rocky outcrops,roman hill forts,caves and nature at it's best.It wasn't long before a peregrine falcon was spotted.We're zig zagging in and out of funny shaped knowes and knolls(or is a knowe a knoll anyway,i can never remember)

This is from the Mulls own website.
The Romans
Agricola looked across the North Channel to Ireland, which could be conquered and held, he thought, by a single legion of his regular troops supported by auxiliaries. The Roman hold on Britain would then be much stronger.

Agricola's dream came to nothing. He was recalled to Rome in 84. But he was right when he saw the strategic link between the Rhins and Ireland - a link which remains significant throughout the later history of the area. Some of the evidence for later developments is to be found in local place-names.

In Agricola's time, the people were Britons, speaking an older form of Welsh. In the South Rhins they are commemorated by the name of a farm, Drumbreddan (bold type indicates a place in the Southern Rhins), 'the ridge of the Britons.' Their chieftains lived in hill-forts, like that of Dunman, 'fort of gables,' 400 feet above sea level; some in drystone brochs, like that at Ardwell Bay. They built substantial fortifications, like the one between East and West Tarbet, which defends the Mull of Galloway against marauders from the north.

Probably before the end of the Roman period farmers and fishermen from Ireland arrived in the Rhins. Their language was an early form of Gaelic, which was to become the staple language of the countryside for the next twelve hundred years.


Beneath us here are Belloue and Carrickgill caves.
The track takes us down to a point close to the shore...
...where we take a break to enjoy the views....and have a natter of course.
Now we head into the Mull Glen and follow the burn back inland.There's a Kings Well on the map at this point.It's possible our walk leader pointed it out,but with me being towards the rear i probably missed it.
We're climbing out of the glen now.
Here we overlook West Tarbet Bay.I've never figured out what this tube is,and i've never got round to asking anyone.I'm not sure whether there's a door on one end.It would make a good shelter i suppose.
Now we reach the road up to the Lighthouse,we'll follow this up to the top.
The narrowest part of the South Rhins is where we joined the road between east and west Tarbet.It's almost like an island at the end where the land mass sharply veers east to west.Below us here is the pinaccle known as Gallie Craig.This is Scotlands most southerly point.It is further south than the english cities of Carlisle and Durham.
Now we reach the Gallie Craig restaurant and the entrance to the lighthouse complex.One or two ramblers who know the reserve like the back of their hands decide to partake of the beverages offered by the cafe...
...while the rest of us head over to the visitors centre.This is an RSPB reserve and most ardent bird watchers know of it's existence.They have their own website at
Mull of Galloway
A 'Spotted Today' board inside the visitor centre already had a Peregrine Falcon up,and to the chagrin of our member(Slewtrain) who spotted it,the Stonechat was there too.

While a couple of walkers climbed down to inspect the foghorn...


...the rest continued around the lighthouse...
...to regroup at the cafe.
We're heading along the southern and western edge towards...
...Gallie Craig.I wonder if there's a way down to the pinnacle?.The weather's still fabulous.
Behind us the headland of the Mull,with the waves crashing into it's seacaves is a picture postcard view today.
North of Carrickcorie now i get myself in the picture.Well reflectively anyway!
Now we head to the centre point of our figure of eight(that's a long pair of arms being held aloft there)...
...and overlook East Tarbet Bay.
As we head north,the path now becomes a bit more more difficult.It's more used to sheep than humans i think.
Just after spotting these shags enjoying the sun,we saw them take off-a fishing boat was getting a little too close to them.
Finally in this secluded cove we rest for lunch.There's several small bays up this eastern stretch,and until i see the walk leaders report,i won't hazard a guess on naming it,suffice to say it was sheltered from the wind and welcome.
Lunch over and we're starting the last stretch.We head back inland and up the nicely wooded Cairngaan and Auchie Glens.
Reaching the tarmac in time to see this boat go past.We're not taking the direct route along the tarmac road.We're rounding a couple of small hills going by the name of Slewmag and Biangens.
It's a couple of fields were crossing.These two soon scarpered once they realised we were coming their way.
We pass farms with names like Pulinkum and Muntloch.There's a lot of mud picked up on boots as we emerge at Cardrain.From here it's a short walk along the road back to the walk start at West Cairngaan...
...where to complete a really lovely day...
...we're treated to tea,cakes and all sorts of delights in a real farmhouse kitchen.
What a great way to end a walk.
A very enjoyable day,even more so since the rains coming back with a vengeance.

Stinchar Bridge and Falls

This is a secondary upload of my Stinchar Bridge video.Apparently Youtube is banned in Turkey,so this is an experiment to see if my Turkish reader can view it if it's directly on the blog.


Filmed on the 23rd of October 2009,from seven or eight different positions,i've accompanied the clip with a piece from the Suite in F major of Handels Water Music.

Lagbaes or Ballocharus Burn

N.B.I'm applying blogger perogative today.I've colour enhanced all of todays pictures.A brighter blog to chase the clouds away

Thursday the 29th of October.

It's another overcast drizzly day here in South West Scotland,but it's brightened up enough for me to have a little excursion.
On the Ordnance Survey map,north of the RSPB reserve at the Wood of Cree is a disused silver mine.
Today i failed to find it!

Following the only track i could find i headed into the woods.
The leaves on the trees are now falling rapidly...
...and the fungi seem to have reached maturity.
I came to the end of the track.Consulting the map i headed in what i thought was the direction of the Silver Mine.The forest is thick,and trees are down everywhere.When i reach a clearing it turns into bog.I see the occasional animal track.A promising forest ride,and i imagine i'm close....and the heavens opened.
I've had enough and turn west.
Reaching the Lagbaes or Ballocharus Burn i follow it back to the road.I can take it easy now the rain's eased a little.
I thought i was back in Canada here.I know we've a few beavers back in Scotland now,but i doubt any have escaped to Galloway.No beavers dam this.
Following the burn down was a steady operation...
...but very scenic

It's not a big burn but has plenty meanders,floods and waterfalls at this time of year.(It's probably only a trickle in the summer.)
I've also discovered that i'll be the first to blog the label 'Ballocharus'.
You'll only find it on Google here after i've uploaded it.I wonder who named it ?.Balloch is from the Gaelic meaning Pass or Opening,and Arus from Malay,the current of a stream.
I'm finally back to the road at Low Cordorcan,overlooking the Cree.
I'm heading back home via Clachaneasy and on the way i take this picture of the Water of Minnoch at Brigton.
I'll be back to find that mine...maybe there's a big silver nugget waiting for me.

Ring of Barfad

Monday the 26th of October 2009.
It's a nice bright morning,so i'm going to find the spot where the Black Burn joins the Bladnoch.From the A75 i drive up the unclassified road past Shennanton House.
Parking up at the entrance road into the Ring of Barfad,i head through the woods till i reach the Black Burn.
The centre picture of this collage,is my first view.The Black Burn is a long meandering burn starting north west near Loch Derry,so it's a fair old flow by the time it reaches here.
Following a meander,i met up with the farmer tending stock.A nice sociable person she walked with me down to the confluence of the burn and the river.With lots of boggy ground to cover,i was pleased to have an expert leader.Here the Black Burn becomes slow and deep.The farmer tells me that after prolonged spells of rain it floods and looks like a loch.
Now my guide says goodbye,she's a lot more animals to tend.Thanks for your help.
The Bladnoch nearly doubles in size now,it's debatable whether there's more water coming from the burn or the river.
Now i head north up the river.It's a combination of slow deep pools and shallow rapids.I disturbed two snipes and an otter,and of course got no pictures.
Now back among the farm animals,i give the thoroughbred the core of the Braeburn apple i've just eaten.He kept nudging me for more till i got through the next gate.
There's a fair variety of farm animals about.This particular ram kept giving me the evil eye.
Now i'm taking a look up Ring Hill,know locally as Drum.Below the overgrown copse of trees is actually an isolated piece of land.The Bladnoch splits in two,and runs either side,hence the name 'Hopeless Knowe'.
The lady farmer had said there were lovely views from here,and she was right.It's just a shame my attempt to get a 360 degree panorama failed.
Now i head back to the car.
Now on my way home i stop for this view of Cairnsmore and Craignelder...
...and this one looking over Challoch Church.
I'm writing this Tuesday morning.It's wet and windy again.

Stinchar Bridge-Handels Water Music

In the Galloway Forest Park,on the Glentrool to Straiton road in South West Scotland are the waterfalls at Stinchar Bridge on the river of the same name.
Filmed on the 23rd of October 2009,from seven or eight different positions,i've accompanied the clip with a piece from the Suite in F major of Handels Water Music.

Lochs Skelloch,Bradan and the Stinchar Falls

It's the 23rd of October and the weather's not so nice.
Undeterred,i'm taking a run up the Straiton Road for a look at Loch Bradan just over the county border in South Ayrshire.
Stinchar Bridge and falls is my first stop.Not many tourists about now.Apart from a couple of forestry vans and two logging lorries,the only other vehicle i encountered up here was a farmer transporting sheep.
After the falls i head east on the narrow tarmac road to the Water of Girvan.
Walking boots on i head upwards to a scenic viewpoint at a spot called Pedens Hut.
Here i get to see the Water of Girvan running into Loch Skelloch,beyond that the western edge of Loch Bradan,and to the right the bulk of Loch Bradan.

Panorama of Lochs Bradan and Skelloch on CleVR.com

Time to try and get a decent panorama.
After a while,and a couple of light drizzly showers i headed back to the car.
Taking a run up to Balloch Lodge and over to the dam on Loch Bradan i decided to call it a day.
Apparently this is a forest drive to take you over to Lochs Riecawr and Doon and emerge near Dalmellington on the A713,so that's for another day.

Pibble Mine

It's Tuesday the 20th of October,and my neighbour tells me that the forecast isn't good.Rain and wind moving in this afternoon.
I'm hoping to get a little exploration in before it arrives.
My first pictures of the day are these two quickly snatched views of this hi tech aircraft (I hope the MOD don't make me delete the pictures)
Having parked up above Craig Bridge on the Gatehouse Station road (We were here on Saturdays Ramblers walk),i'm heading up towards Pibble Hill.The sheep look healthy enough.
Here's my target to the left of the Belted Galloways-the ruins of the Pibble Lead Mine.
Here the ruins are of the Engine House...
...thanks to aditnow.co.uk for the following information.

The Cornish Engine House,was built for a Cornish steam-pumping engine. The engine is reputed to have been made in 1852 by the St Austell foundry in Cornwall. The engine house originally measured 15 m high, 9 m in length and 6 m wide with walls c0.8m thick. It is constructed of Creetown granite quoins (corner stones). The `bob' wall has collapsed into the pumping shaft. The main features of the Cornish Engine House that still survive are: Three sides of the Cornish engine house; lower sections of the boiler house walls; footings for the flue leading from the boiler house; chimney stack base adjoining the flue; balance bob box housing fabric; pumping shaft where water was extracted.

I'll tread carefully as i look around,but take this 'Arty' style picture first.

Looking down into the flooded shaft housing,i fancy getting some diving gear and delving into the depths.I can still have fantasies can't I ?
But i need to get a move on before the weather changes,there's drizzle in the wind.
I believe this reservoir was built to drive the water wheel...

...the fish on the pole indicates what it's used for these days.The cabin shows signs of recent use.From the reservoir the water is directed down to what must have been the watermill.The fenced off section at the bottom of this collage looks awfully deep.It's either a collapsed working or an adit.Apparently there are quite a few adits around,but i haven't the time to look for them today.
I take it the narrow bricked section here would have housed the water wheel.
This building is in more of a state of collapse than the engine house.The burn vanishes on the top level and reappears beyond,fifteen to twenty feet lower.No doubt it'll fall in sometime.I made sure i didn't disturb even the smallest stone.
The clouds are gathering as i make my way back down to the car.
I'll have to come back,there's still a lot of exploring to do here.
Heading back to Newton Stewart the tidal Cree makes a pretty picture.