Wigtownshire Ramblers Mains of Penninghame-Carsegowan December 2011

Back at the end of June I first visited Carsegowan.
I thought I'd posted my pictures from then.It looks like I was mistaken.I'll call it an age thing.So what I'll do on this post is include pictures from my June visit.

Since I was leading today's walk my mind wasn't on my camera and I never noticed a smudge on the lens.That'll be the reason for some hazy pictures then.So I'll also be using some of my fellow snapper Scoop's pictures as well.
The walk report will be after the imagery.

The Fishing Pond (Walk Start) back in June

Towards Wood Of Auchleand 

Climbing White Hill (Scoop's Pics)

Climbing White Hill

White Hill and muddy descent (Scoop's Pics)

Auchleand Farm

View North West

Approaching Carsegowan

This video consists of photographs I took back in June

They show the wild flowers of the moss and woods

Billy the Honda Kid exploring the Magazine Roof 

More pictures from Scoop 

The big mushroom of the previous picture

Spot the young deer, I didn't !

June visit 

More from June visit

Park Farm and views

Approaching the Clachan of Penninghame

Reading a headstone (Thanks Scoop)

Exploring the graveyard

And a final one from Scoop.

On the last leg

Wigtownshire Ramblers

Saturday the 10th of December 2011

A frosty but bright morning saw twenty walkers gather near the Mains of Penninghame for this new walk in the North Machars .

After setting off, a farm track south brought them to a forest road at the Wood of Auchleand.

A short distance along this road a muddy track was taken to ascend White Hill. After surmounting an awkward ditch and dyke the hill top was reached via a grassy field.

A short break was taken to enjoy the wide panoramic views across Wigtown Bay . Cairnsmore summit was obscured with low wintry clouds.

A gradual descent South East over wet and boggy fields brought them to a farm track. This may well have been the muddiest track in South West Scotland. Over the next half mile, great care was taken to limit how much mud stuck to boots and gaiters. Even the feeding cattle looked astonished to see these bipeds walking by.

After passing through Auchleand Farm a solid track was followed to reach the main Newton Stewart to Wigtown road. Three hundred yards north, Carsegowan Moss car park was reached via Fore Faulds.

Access to Carsegowan Moss is a path through the old ICI Explosives factory.

The group were intrigued as they passed by a large concrete structure and other buildings.

Arriving at Carsegowan Moss they learned that this raised moss is one of only a few left in Britain .

The surviving bog is blanketed by sphagnum mosses and heather amongst which lichens, bog asphodel, cranberry and sundews can be found. Due to the amount of rain recently the Moss was not explored, but viewed from the edge.

The walk leader also mentioned the RAF plane crash on the edge of the moss in 1942 which resulted in the death of all five crew, two of who are interred in Kirkinner graveyard.

Now they began a circular exploration of the Black Powder factory ruins. The works were in operation between 1940 and 1945.

The walk leader had a copy of Dennis Sawden's 'Carsegowan Moss Explosives Factory' and other information so they could identify the various structures.

The largest concrete structure they'd previously passed was identified as 'Incorporation Runner Mills' within which nitrate, sulphur and charcoal were mixed by rotating rollers set in a metal bowl.

Bunkers, Press Houses and Magazines were amongst other structures Identified.

A lunch break was taken amongst the range of buildings which included offices, the Home Guard station, ambulance and first aid buildings.

After lunch they left the fascination of this historic site and retraced their steps to Carsegowan Cottage.

A track alongside the old railway line took the group up to Bishopburn Bridge from where they followed the old road running parallel to the A714.

The A714 was crossed at Causeway End where the minor road north west was taken.

After passing Park Farm a short detour was taken to explore the old graveyard at the Clachan of Penninghame.

Graves, some dating up to 300 years old with familiar local names were viewed.

It was noted from certain headstones that in many cases there was continuity of ownership of farmland and property.

Back on the minor road they continued north to the T junction at Barwhirran Croft where a flooded depression in a field goes by the name of Foul Hole.

Half a mile west the Mains of Penninghame road was taken back to the walk start.

The general consensus was that with the exception of the mud it had been an enjoyable, dry and very interesting walk.

The next walk on Saturday the 17th of December is an 8 mile walk around the Mull of Galloway. At the end of the walk, traditional farmhouse refreshments will be served.

Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks, Stranraer 9.30am, Riverside , Newton Stewart 9.00am or the walk start at West Cairngaan Farm (NX 128 319) at 10am. For further details or if going to the start please phone walk leader 01776 840226. New members are always welcome  

First Snow and Kippy and Co

Monday the 5th of December.
An enjoyable but sober Ramblers Christmas party yesterday.( I was driving the minibus)
My photo quiz was  enjoyed by all ,some of the answers were very very entertaining !

Anyhow the forecast was for snow overnight and it duly came.

This was the view out my back window.

Plenty birds around the feeders.

It snowed on and off all morning so fresh footprints were often visible.
OK,the snow isn't deep,but I'm not sure about this young lady's footwear.

The traffic is moving at variable speeds.
Some drivers are ultra careful while others are just nut cases.

A hedge top looks photogenic so I snap it.

Apparently here at Dashwood Square earlier in the day,the traffic was at a standstill.

The chip shop seems busy.

I saw these gnomes in a garden,but I didn't like the background.Hence the enhancement.


Now a couple of 'Macro' shots.

When I lived in England, I had holly growing in my garden and I used to cut sprigs and leave them boxed outside at Christmas for anyone to take away.I certainly don't need to here in Galloway,there's an abundance of the seasonal leaf.

I love this picture, but isn't it an amazingly colourful view for December.

Friday afternoon was the official Christmas Lights switch on in Newton Stewart.Part of the entertainment was provided by a band who go by the name of
Kippy and Co

They can be found on Facebook here.
Kippy-and-co on Facebook

I took some video but my zoom microphone was playing up, however this performance of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You came out ok.

I believe her name is Lindsey.She's got a great voice. 

Wigtownshire Ramblers Stranraer Circular December 2011

I will write an account of this walk later.
.....and here I am.
Saturday the 3rd of December 2011.
Sixteen walkers set out from the Breastworks Car Park in Stranraer for the walk.
It's a walk we've done a couple of times before.
January 2009
August 2009
Today's walk has been extended a little and will be ten miles.

A happy gang set out in a south easterly direction.It's the same start as we used for our last Castle Kennedy walk

We take the 'Approach and Ladies Walk' to reach the ruins of Culhorn House.

Here we join the Southern Upland Way which we'll follow to Knockquahassan Reservoir.

Birds and cattle were predominant throughout the walk.

I've photographed this old car a few times.I guess it's beyond repair now.

Ducks,Seagulls,Lapwings and Curlews were identified by our newest birder, a volunteer with the R.S.P.B
So as well as knowing the breeds of sheep,we should now have no problem with the flighted creatures.

Continuing along the SUW,we cross the major road of the A716,and the embankment of the old Portpatrick railway line.

A slight incline brings us up to Ochtrelure.
A farm with the same pronunciation keeps the local supermarkets well stocked.
Auchtralure Eggs

The Hillside Piggeries,( now a garage and poultry farm) and Greenfield came next.

On reaching Knockquhassan Reservoir a lunch break was taken.With a cold wind blowing, shelter was sought behind a drystone wall.

At this point we've left the SUW.

After lunch we ascend  the small hill north of the reservoir....

..........this is the hill that gave my Ayrshire fellow blogger his nickname.This is Slewtrain Hill.
You can keep up to date with Slew on his blog here.
Ayrshire 'appenings

From the radio mast on Slewtrain it's downhill all the way to the Dindinnie reservoir.On the way we pass fields and pens of sheep and cattle and the working quarry adjacent to the reservoir.
 

Dindinnie farm comes next.We get glimpses of Loch Ryan now.

The new Stena terminal at Cairnryan is now operational and we see both the P & O and Stena Ferries.

A full zoom shows this to be one of the two new Superfast Series that have just recently arrived.
Interested in the technical details ? Look here Stena Superfast V11

Now back on tarmac we pass the water filter station and Auchneel to reach the A718 road.
We make straight for Loch Ryan's shore, keeping an eye open for wayward golf balls as we cross a part of the local links.
 

A short beach walk brings us to McCulloch Point where our leader again gives us a short history lesson.
Flocks of starlings are ducking and diving as we near the harbour.

I take a couple of pictures of the Lantic for Shorty who remembers the captain from some time back.

A long walk with a lot of road walking but with plenty to see and the weather was kind to us.