Wigtownshire Ramblers-Stranraer Circular December 2009

It's Saturday the 19th of December.Todays walk is a circular round Stranraer,taking in part of the Southern Upland Way.
It's a crisp sunny morning in the Riverside car park as i'm picked up by fellow ramblers.
As we come into Stranraer drops of drizzle appear on the windscreen.
We're a group of thirteen walkers as we leave the quayside.The drizzle hitting the ice is making the pavements slippy,so we head out warily.
Opposite the Stena ferry terminal,a plaque and some wall mounted panels were pointed out by the walk leader.Admiral Sir John Ross is one of Stranraers most famous sons.John Ross

Three pieces of public art were created and installed by Sybille von Halem. The creation of this work and the public consultation involved was made possible, in part, by Sybille’s parallel artist-in-residence project in Stranraer. The work was commissioned to celebrate 400 years of the Burgh of Barony.
As we head south the rain gets worse,the paths and roads get slippier and three of our walkers decide to head back to the cars.We're a group of ten.
We pass the creamery owned by the Caledonian Cheese Company.They're the one's with the 'Seriously Strong' logo.
Upon reaching the Industrial Estate road,the rain eases.
Now we head into the Culhorn estate,one time home of the Earl of Stair after Castle Kennedy was destroyed by fire in 1716.

The top left picture in this collage shows all that remains of Culhorn House.
When Lady Stair moved to Culhorn House near Stranraer in 1792 the garden grew a remarkable range of vegetables, including five types of onion and six varieties of cabbage

Continuing on we now join the Southern upland way heading west.The sky is quite atmospheric.The rain comes and goes.
Here's an old wreck (That would be the one on the right! ha ha)
We cross the Stoneykirk road,pass Whiteleys and veer north west towards Dunbae.I still manage to get my Canon out for some photos.I usually fetch my little pocket camera for inclement weather,but i've forgotten it today,so i take great care to keep it dry.
Some interesting items on this next section include this Nissen Hut,a fishy weathervane and a discarded rattan chair.
Nearing Dunbae we get a view of Loch Ryan and the outline of Ailsa Craig...
...before turning west for a short section of road.The turbines above Portpatrick are now fully operational.
We head northwest again up to Ochtrelure,west for a short distance on the old Portpatrick road,then northwest again to Hillside Piggeries where we stopped for lunch.The rain ceased beautifully while we ate and drank.
On the move again,as we pass Gallowhill farm.I might have posted this photo before.The hand painted notice reads differently without punctuation marks.
Now we head up the track to Gallowhill,where the views of Loch Ryan and Stranraer are excellent.
An alternative view of Stranraer.I've squeezed a panorama here.
We reach Springbank Farm...

...where a yappy collie makes sure his masters know we're about.
We now head back towards the northern end of Stranraer,as the Stena HSS comes in to the harbour.Todays walk leader points out buildings of interest...
...and where he used to live.
Heading through the suburbs we reach Loch Ryans shore line at McCulloch Point.
After it's usual quick turn round,the Stena HSS is on it's way back to Belfast.
A dead fish is spotted.Some ramblers think it's a dogfish.I'm not committing myself.
A line of Oystercatchers are on the move.They're so co-ordinated,it looks like they're having drill practise.
The last stretch now.I fail to get a decent picture of some Blackbird sized birds hopping about on the shoreline.I've no idea what they are.I'm sure our top twitcher Slewtrain will enlighten me.

It was quite a miserable start today.I've a feeling our walk leader was ready to call it off near the start.In the end it's turned out to be a good healthy walk in pleasant company with lots of pleasant discourse.
The rain is back on as we reach the car park.

Views from Cambret and Carsluith

Friday the 18th of December 2009.
Our short fall of snow last night didn't last long.What's left can be seen on my car roof in the picture below.It's coming in from Russia,so the east coast has been hit worse.
I'm taking a drive and a walk up Cambret Hill,hoping for some views.

Panorama of The Isle of Man to Cairnsmore of Fleet on CleVR.com

This is a 180 degree panorama.To the south is the Isle of Man,and to the north Cairnsmore of Fleet.

It'll soon be the winter solstice.It's not much after 2 PM as i zoom in on the Isle of Man.
Over to the west is the Mull of Galloway and beyond Ireland.I've never seen the Mountains of Mourne so clear.
As i head back downhill,there's the makings of a Mackerel sky behind me.
As the sun gets lower,i head along to Carsluith for a few more pictures.
Wigtown Bay sunsets are brilliant.

Creeside

I took a little walk alongside the Cree today.
It meanders a lot just south of Newton Stewart at the Loop of Carsenaw and Carse of Barr.
I park my car at Parkmaclurg.(Since i haven't got a clurg to park lol).
My first stop was to look at where the railway line used to cross the river.When the tide's low you can see some of the bridges wooden supports.Looking back along the line towards Palnure,it looks gorse and bracken free.They're usually overgrown.
There's a nice view back up river to Blackcraig.
This wee Grey Wagtail looked as though he wanted the company.
He stuck close to me for a long while,jumping in and out of puddles along the track.
The ice wont thaw in this trough today...there's snow on the way.
After disturbing a large Heron,a noisy flock of birds flew overhead.This one was brave enough to let me get some photos...
...I think it's a Fieldfare,one of our winter visitors.

As the river nears Carty Port,it widens quite considerably.When i've seen this stretch from the otherside,there's often large quantities of birds.I disturbed a couple of ducks...
...and there were some quite small birds on the far side,but i had no binoculars with me today.

We've had one fall of snow as i write this.The east coast are bearing the brunt of it tonight.

Black (Bird) Power or How to get some peanuts with a struggle.wmv

At the top of my garden here in Galloway,a hungry crow shows determination to get some food.
Music is 'What is love' by Haddaway,because it fitted the clip.(And i quite like the song)

Cairnsmore Viaduct and View

Tuesday the 15th of December,and it looks like i'm on the mend.

I took myself over to the Cairnsmore estate,and first had a wander round the old railway viaduct.The owners of the bottom house have certainly made use of the isolated middle section.

Panorama of Cairnsmore of Fleet from Palnure on CleVR.com

Walking along the disused line back towards Palnure,i took this panorama.(I might try and incorporate it into a future ramblers walk).

I then headed up the side of Wicklow wood looking for a recorded mineshaft,stopping to talk to a drystone waller.He's retired,but still keeps doing a bit.
I didn't find the mineshaft.
Heading through Wicklow woods,i joined the picturesque Graddoch burn for a while.Heading over a field i stopped and talked to a local farmer who told me where a shaft was located.I'll look for it the next time,i've a feeling my map reading might have been off a little today.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Mindork Forest

It's Saturday the 12th of December.
Yesterday i received good news.The scan i had last week has shown i have no major problems.Feeling a little better this morning i decided to go on todays walk.
I've said it before about our group of walkers,but they're such a great bunch of people.Their concern over my health problems is genuine,and they're glad to hear my good news.
It's a moderate circular walk of six and a half miles through Mindork Forest near Kirkcowan.
We're a group of twenty three walkers as we set off into the forest just south of High Mindork.
Our leader today knows these woods well.He planted them!The first section took us on a forest track to the west,emerging back on the road that heads south and passes the 'Old Place of Mochrum'.
Now we head east into Mindork Moss.This is quite marshy land in places,but with the hard frost from the previous night lingering,it makes our going much easier.
Deer shoot platforms are prominent today.The sound of rifle shot tells us there's a shoot going on somewhere to the east.
There's not a cloud in the sky today..
..the rising mist gives the forest an atmosphere.
A gap in the trees allows us a rare view of the Galloway Hills.With the sun not reaching them,many of the ponds here in the forest will stay frozen.
Soon it's time for lunch,and we've found a nice sunny clearing.Tomorrows christmas lunch is one of the talking points.
After lunch we head north where we cross the Clugston road to Low Mindork.On one of my solitary walks,i'd looked for ruins that were on the OS map,but couldn't find any.I learned today they'd been flattened as a safety precaution after thieves had stolen all the wooden joists,and left the buildings in a dangerous condition.

These oil drums were originally here as markers for a car club that had a circuit through the woods.
Heading on through a ride we're reaching the edge of the forest...
...and the river.This is Tarf Water which runs into the Bladnoch near Kirkcowan.
We follow the river along past Barnearnie on the other side,before re-entering the forest.
A beautiful spiders web stops the walk.
About half a dozen pocket cameras appear.I thought i'd the only camera today.Aren't spiders amazing.
Now out of the forest,we head over...
...to the road and junction at Mindork farm.
Just before getting back to the cars,i take a look at some ruins in the field opposite.This pheasant is much more photogenic.
I've enjoyed today.