Wigtownshire Ramblers-Creetown Cairnharrow June 2010

It's Saturday the 12th of June and a lovely sunny morning.

Todays walk which was originally starting at Cairn Holy is now starting in Creetown.It's similar to a walk we did in January 2009 which can be linked here.
January 2009 Walk
We start as a group of 15, while another rambler will join us later.
We begin by walking through Creetown till we reach the Balloch Burn.This lady in her pony and trap is a regular sight in the village.
Just above Beardies Bridge are the ruins of one of the three mills that once employed the people of Creetown.This one produced cotton.
Now we're heading through Balloch or Ballochanamour wood on the well used footpaths that criss cross it.

With very little rain for a while,reflective pools are numerous.A red squirrel scampers up a tree.
This is a popular wood for us to walk.Here's a couple of previous walks.
October 2009 Walk
May 2009 Walk
Now we pass the Balloch bridge...
...and the Garrochar ponds.As always this is nature at her best,albeit with some human assistance.
After a bit of road walking and crossing Billy Diamond's bridge, we head over fields to reach Glenquicken stone circle.It's estimated this site dates back to 2000 BC.
Time for a short break.
On the move again we cross the Englishman's burn,and head towards Cambret Hill.
Today we'll not go up to the masts,but skirt round Cambret,and head towards Cairnharrow.


The remains of a stone circle and a large round Neolithic cairned burial tomb sit between Cambret and Cairnharrow.We've a spongy,boggy,tussocky stretch to cross before we reach it.
I investigate a hole in the centre of the cairn.Someone suggests filling it in as I'm down here.Thanks for the pics Scoop.
Now comes the long haul up Cairnharrow.I'm struggling with the incline as usual,and although I pass these guys taking a break,they're soon passing me again.This hill isn't as high as Craignelder which I climbed on Thursday,but it seems much tougher.I can't explain it.
Perseverance and my staying power always comes through in the end though.
The summit with all it's wonderful views is finally reached.

Now we have lunch.
This morning I received a lovely gift in the post from one of my daughters.It's a Stanley Compass engraved with a Robert Frost poem.After showing it around I recited the poem.
'The road not taken' from Mountain Interval 1920.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Over in the bay we see the islands from last weeks walk.The Murray Isles,Ardwall Isle and Barlocco.

Now we begin the descent .We're following the Claughreid burn and the Cleugh of Claughreid.

This is apparently the holiday home of a well known TV star.

Butterwort,one of Britain's carnivorous plants is spotted growing.
Another short break after crossing the Kirkdale burn.
A look round Cairn Holy 2...
...then trying to get the vibes at Cairn Holy 1.
A short walk down the lane gets us to Kirkdale Bridge.
This was the end of the walk for some of us.
The remainder took the climb down to the shore and Dirk Hatteraicks cave.
These pictures from Scoop.

A very enjoyable walk and great company today.

Mad about the Musicals versus The Foottappers

Last Friday and Saturday the 4th and 5th of June I attended two different shows.

On Friday myself and a few fellow ramblers were at the Ryan Centre Stranraer to watch the show 'Mad about the Musicals'.
This clip is from the UK entertainment channel.

It was a very enjoyable and very professional show.I knew quite a few of the numbers,but not being up to date on the current shows there were some not so familiar.The seating in the Ryan Centre isn't the most comfortable either.

On Saturday night a friend from Glentrool had booked 'The Foottappers' to appear at the Cinema in Newton Stewart.
The following clip is a jamming session taking place in Glentrool.
It's one from Ray on Youtube.
Ray's Channel

On Saturday I was transported back to the days of my youth and all the guitar groups that ever played the dancehalls and ballrooms.

These youngsters and the old guy who's an ex shadow were just brilliant as well as the seating being more comfortable.



Click on the above cutting to read the review printed in the Free Press.I wonder who wrote it ?

As far as this old rocker is concerned,although more professional 'Mad about Musicals' came second.

Craignelder

It's Wednesday the 9th of June early afternoon.
I fancy a climb.
This lump is favourite today.I've parked on a forest track just opposite Talnotry on the A712 (Queensway).This is Craignelder at 601 Metres.I'll take the direct route and head up alongside the forest plantation.
The stepping stones don't appear to be much used.

Over the other side I've encountered lots of tussocks.Too many convenient forest roads is the problem.
Mountain bikers are riding the feature known as 'McMoab' over on Kirroughtree's Seven Stanes mountain bike track.
Behind me,I'm soon on a level with Murrays Monument.
There's plenty of rocky outcrops,but also lots of zig zagging sheep tracks I can follow.
The hamlet of Craigdews sits below 'The Types' and the deer range.

Here I get a view of Cairnsmore of Fleet.
Above me now are the craggy outcrops of Wee Gairy,Little Road,Fleshmarket,The Minimarket,the Vegetable Market and Big Gairy.These are very popular with Rock Climbers.John Biggars page has lots of detail and pictures for anyone interested.
Fleshmarket

Still gaining height I get nice views over the Minigaff Hills as well as the Rhinns of Kells to the north east.
Once I'm up on the plateau I come across a number of mini cairns.I guess the biggest is Craignelder summit,though there's not a great deal between them.
Now I'm heading over to Millfore Hill(Not to be confused with Millfore in the Minigaff Hills).I've always wondered why the Knee of Cairnsmore was so called.From this point it's fairly understandable.

No problems identifying Millfore Hill (602 Mtrs) summit. Clatteringshaws is the loch below.
It's blowing a gale up here, and I'm trying out some self portraits with varying backgrounds from Millfore Summit.I've had to mask the resulting pictures.They're just too gruesome.Ha ha
I've found a crack in the rocks to jam the camera into for this picture...
...
and a final one with Cairnsmore behind.

My route down was almost the same as my ascent.The only difference was crossing the Palnure on forest road rather than the stepping stones.

I've no problem with these hills when i can dictate my own pace.

Footnote.
While climbing up the tussocky edge of the forest I stopped to tie a bootlace.Something down a pothole caught my eye,and stretching my arm down i retrieved a wallet.
Inside were credit and debit cards,library tickets,Identity Card,Student Card and money.Since everything apart from the plastic was soaking wet and I couldn't get a phone number. I handed it in to Newton Stewart Police Station.I hope the guy was pleased to get it back.My good deed for the day.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Cream o' Galloway and Ardwall Island June 2010

I'm a bit late with this weeks walk.No worries though eh!
Thanks to Scoop for additional pictures.
The press report will again suffice for the blog.
We had a good day.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Walk Report

Saturday the 5th of June 2010

A warm but grayish morning saw twenty walkers gather at the Cream o' Galloway for todays walk.

A warm invitation from the manager of the visitor centre to use their facilities had been gratefully accepted.
Cream o' Galloway


The walk began by following the centre's bue nature trail to Megan's Lochan.Here a little grebe's diving habits were observed.Lush colourful vegetation around the pond showed the coming of the summer season.

Passing by detailed nature information boards they made their way to the gate and steps to where the trail leaves the complex.

Next they made their way north along the eastern edge of Boreland Wood,where colourful wild fowers were in abundance.After crossing another drystone wall via well constructed wooden steps they came to a gate which would take them through the toughest section of todays walk.
The path along the edge of the plantation had become overgrown, and the group made their way through overhanging bracken,gorse, bramble and blackthorn bushes.Reaching the almost collapsed bridge over the Boreland burn, one unlucky rambler ended up in a bed of nettles.Luckily there were dock leaves to hand to apply to the stings.

Emerging into a field of sheep with the now baptized 'Wildwood' behind them, one more fence saw them reaching a gate onto the Sandgreen road.

Blossoming hawthorn and welsh poppies were a feature of the short road walk the group now took to the Carrick chalet park complex.

After passing Carrick Bay they reached the shoreline opposite Ardwall Isle.

Having arrived a little earlier than low water a short break was taken.

Some walkers had a change of footwear for the crossing , while others either kept their boots on or went barefoot.

A damp and sometimes muddy walk across the sand now saw the group reach the rocky shore of Ardwall Isle.

From Sandy Bay they made their via the low central plateau to the cairn on the southern half of the island.In places, evidence of run-rig could be made out.Now they stopped to view and identify the many landmarks in view.To the north clouds still hung over Barholm and Ben John hills.To the south, the ruins of the Corseyard Model Dairy known locally as Coo Palace and the impressive Knockbrex house could be seen.

Next they moved to view the boarded up house closer to the south of the island.
A well and an overgrown orchard were found close by.The surrounding gorse was bright yellow while pignut grew profusely.The house itself was surrounded by an escalonia hedge.
With thoughts on turning tides they now moved north to try to identify the site of the ruined 7th century chapel.With vegetation and undergrowth so thick the result was inconclusive.The walk leader however read out some facts concerning this very early and important christian site.
There's a very comprehensive report in P.D.F form on the excavations called 'An Early Christian Cemetery and Chapel on Ardwall Isle, Kirkcudbright' which can be found here.
Ardwall

This looks like it's been a small harbour over the years.There's a lot of work gone into building the wall.

Now they made their way back to the mainland, climbing up to Knockbrex Hill viewpoint where a leisurely lunch was taken.

Posers !

The sun managed to breakthrough during lunch as the tide was observed coming back in and Ardwall Isle again became cut off. Children could be seen wading where the group had so recently crossed over.
To the left in the above picture is Barlocco Isle.
Above the yellow gorse can be seen the Sandgreen caravan and chalet park.Why else would I include this picture.Ha

After lunch they now made their way east over undulating country through whin and gorse to reach a drystane dyke with a built in stile.Care was taken to avoid the live electric fence on the other side.This crossing brought about much joviality.
Skirting round Castle Hill they now reached the farm track north which would take them to Boreland of Girthon Farm.

Upon reaching the farm, the group encountered the farmer who they conversed with.They learned of the constuction of the viewpoint, more facts about Ardwall and the discovery on his land of a univallate spur site, or more commonly a promontory fort.
I think I've uploaded this picture before.

Back on the Sandgreen road they now retraced the outward route back to the Cream o' Galloway complex.The short path through 'Wildwood',being slightly easier on the return.

Now back in the complex they took the circular route via the Knockewan Lochan where a pair of nesting swans were seen.As they passed Megan's Lochan they could see the little grebe was still diving.

Back at the visitors centre, rucksacks were stowed away and the many varieties of the renowned ice cream were soon being sampled.

Thanks must go to the Visitor Centre Manager Helen Fenby and her friendly staff for allowing us the use of their facilities.

I think we might do this walk again.

The next walk on Saturday the 12th of June is a 'History and Hills' walk of 9 miles over Cambrett Hill and Cairnharrow.
Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer at 9am, the Riverside Car Park, Newton Stewart at 9.30am, or at the walk start at CairnHoly (NX 518 539) at 10am.
New members are always welcome.For more information contact the walk leader on 01671 820527