Titanic Belfast Visit July 2014

Me and my Ayrshire walking friend, the 'Ranger' are finally making a trip we talked about over twelve months ago. We're taking the ferry to visit Titanic Belfast

(It's only a few minutes from the terminal to Cairnryan's free north car park, we saved money and walked)

We're also taking advantage of Stena Line's Wonderful Wednesdays offer.

A return ticket for £10 includes a 'Metro' bus card for all day use.

A warning about the free transport though, check the times. Buses to Stena Port are limited to a single decker and limited to arriving at the port one and a half hours before sailing times.

Because I'd have missed our booking time at Titanic, I'd already decided on a taxi. We shared a 7 seater with one other and were charged £8 for the two of us to the Titanic Quarter. 

I'll start with a few pictures from the boat, then a few from the attraction.

Corsewall lighthouse after rounding Milleur Point.

Ailsa Craig.

The 'Ranger' thought she was Marilyn Monroe as she had to hold down her skirt from the wind.

Two more Stena ferries and Kilroot Power Station, the only coal-fired power station in Northern Ireland.

Carrickfergus Castle.

It's possible there are a few of my readers who have never come across the song Carrickfergus.

One of the most beautiful ballads ever in the history of music. Almost every ballad singer of note has recorded it at some time or another. Fifteen year old Charlotte Church sang it quite beautifully back in 2001, but my favourite singer of it is Brian Kennedy.

I seem to remember identifying this big house on Belfast  Lough's southern shore once before, but at the moment it's slipped my mind.

I zoomed in for this picture from the boat. At the time I hadn't realized I'd got a sneak preview.

So, after disembarking, we did go round to the bus stances, but we'd have had to wait around fifteen minutes, and then we'd have to change in the city centre. We got the taxi.

Here then is the view of the centre as you approach.

Having booked online, we now had to collect our tickets from one of the kiosks just inside the entrance.

There's an official photographer who'll take a picture of you on your way in. We thought it was a compulsory  part of the experience since our way to the escalator was roped off. It was only after we'd had our picture taken we saw people remove the rope and head up the escalator. At £7.50 for the cheapest we decided against. I can take a selfie for free !

An escalator took us up to the first of  The Galleries. ...........

There are website links to each of these and I'll include them as we move along.

..............the first of these is called Boomtown Belfast

I wonder if our Mary is related ?

For anyone who wants to take in all the experience, you won't do it in a couple of hours. There is so much content that were we to stop and study every information board or exhibit we'd still be there.

Modern technology and very large exhibits work together with 'hands on' computer terminals to begin the story.

We move on to the Arrol Gantry and The Shipyard Ride

We climb into carriages for the Shipyard Ride This is like a fairground ride that ascends a replica of one of the giant pillars of the Arrol Gantry. As we spiral upwards, we see animations and reconstructions recreating the shipbuilding of the time. It's quite a trip !

There must be an amazing control room somewhere in the centre.

As we come to the top of the Shipyard Ride, there's a lot of noisy activity behind the bar doors.

We thought perhaps if they had the doors bursting open and someone falling out it would add more authenticity. More likely give someone a heart attack.

The next gallery is The Launch

There's a screen showing the launch (CGI I think)

Then somehow the windows are electronically wired up.............

..............which suddenly clear from opaque to a view of the gantry and the ship.

Before moving along to the next gallery, there's an opportunity to look over and down to the entrance hall.

It's a busy place so I can understand why they have booking times.

We're now into the Fitting Out gallery

I mentioned earlier that I thought there was a lot of CGI imagery, the web page for this gallery confirms it.

Before we reached this exhibit, I wondered whether they hired actors to recreate scenes.

It was only as we got closer I realized it was screens on either side of the mirror giving the effect of a hologram.

Very clever !

Second and third class compartments were really small.

A young lady goes about readying for bed.

Here we stand in The Cave. It's a 270°, high resolution, moving up through the decks, reconstruction of the interiors of the Titanic. It can make you dizzy, a woman nearly fell on to me. 

I took some video here, but I've since learned it's prohibited, but have a look at this link to see how it pans out.

Isodesign - The Cave

  

There are lots of Artefacts throughout the building.

The next gallery concerns the Maiden Voyage.

A window looks out on a very modern city. Well done Belfast.

We continue on to The Sinking

It's another electronic display..............

...............with an inevitable outcome !

Here there are stories of the survivors and those notables that perished.

The gallery of The Aftermath.

This reconstruction of a member of the enquiry board makes him out to be nodding off to sleep occasionally.

There'll be many an untold story yet.

Harland and Wolff

Titanic Layout

Myths and Legends gallery.

More views of the city of Belfast.

It's almost a cinema that begins the Explore the Wreck gallery.

After sitting watching on screen an underwater exploration, the gallery guide then calls us to the front.............  

...........where we watch 'Titanic Beneath' beneath our feet as Dr Robert Ballard's high definition footage scrolls by. A little imagination and you're in that submersible over the wreck. 

I doubt whether the 'Ranger' is considering the diving suit for her wardrobe.

Our last gallery is in fact not a gallery, but the Ocean Exploration Centre where live pictures are being beamed from the 'Nautilus'. There's a lot happening in the deep. Here's the dedicated website.

Nautilus Live.

Our tour over we headed to the souvenir shop.

After purchasing fridge magnets (I gave the baseball cap a miss), we headed out to find our bus stop.

Here we managed a self timer.

A dry dock holds the old and the new.

We found the bus stop for our journey to the city centre.

We had a short while to wait and as around half a dozen folk congregated, I handed out the wine gums.

Our journey into the city centre didn't take long. 

We'd intended to eat somewhere, but we learned from our bus driver that our terminal bus would leave in twenty minutes. 

As I said earlier, this bus got us back to the terminal way too early.

We ate on the boat.........I shouldn't have had that muffin in the terminal !.

The 'Ranger' having had to leave in the middle of the night to catch the boat managed forty winks.

I took some pictures.

By the time we got to our vehicles the traffic from the boat was well away. I only had one slow car and one slow lorry to overtake. The 'Ranger' wasn't so lucky she got behind a tractor and a horsebox.

A great day out, but I'm still not back to full health. I'm tiring too easily still.

The Black Burn, Carsbuie

Last week I shared these pictures with my family and friends on Facebook.

This week I thought I should share them with my blogging friends.

Last Friday late afternoon I took a run up to Blairbuie north of Shennanton.

I first looked around here in 2009.

Here's that post Ring of Barfad.

This is the Black Burn before it runs into the Bladnoch River. 

Just after taking this picture I heard a flapping sound.

I just managed to zoom in on this fella before he/she flew out of sight.

There's a point where the burn runs slow and deep. I sat and watched as the dragonflies flew by.

There were dolphins and gators in the burn (unless you see something else)

My Facebook friends saw a frog, a demon and a petrified heron here.

 I saw a girl in a wheelchair race.

Though I sat for a while, the otters never showed. 

We pass by here on one or two of Shorty's walks and it's quite a magical place.

I'll be back

Wigtownshire Ramblers Port Logan to Damnaglaur July 2014

 Saturday the 19th of July 2014

I was quite confident I'd be fit enough for Scoop's moderate walk. We're here at least once a year. Here are some links to previous visits. Scoop's walk report will follow the pictures.

Scoops 2011

Damnaglaur Walks

2011 Walk

2012 Walk 

 After making the error of not checking the walk start and a quick tour of the South Rhins we got to Port Logan and joined the others.

Twenty five of us headed up the steady incline on the track leading south out of the village.
We soon gained enough height to view Port Logan Bay. It was overcast and a little misty. The forecast was for rain.

Nice polite sign entering the land of Cowan's Farm.

The track south. Some parts well trodden, other sections less so.

Three hares on a hill were being playful and boxing. I thought I'd got a good picture of them. Ha ha !

Scoop kept us nicely refreshed with sweeties.

Bottom right above is all that remains of Castle Clanyard.

It seems we are becoming a more popular group of walkers, new faces appear every other week now.

Don't mind me folks, it's only to overcome my shyness that I sometimes appear to be slightly mad.  

Here's a well tended welcome to this estate.

Castle Clanyard,the one time residence of a branch of the Gordons of Kenmura and Lochinvar.

This from Gordon Castles.

"A 16th Century legend has it that young McDouall of Logan and Gordon of Clanyard were both in love with the same maiden, the daughter of M'Kinna of Portcorkerie. Gordon, by fair means or foul, had the young lady taken to Cardoness Castle, near Gatehouse of Fleet - the residence of another branch of the Gordon family.

Hearing of this MacDouall gave pursuit with his men and overtook the party on the sea-shore at Killeser. A conflict ensued and the maiden was freed, but her rescuer, MacDouall of Logan, was slain. According to the tradition, about 40 men fell, and between 30 and 40 small cairns still remain in the small plantation at Ardwell to mark the graves."

This building has been in construction for six years now.

Now then here's a thing. The lady in the picture was quite abrupt to any of the group who tried to talk to her, she was complaining of a lack of privacy. Well then dearie, might I just say that if it's privacy you want then the house is too ostentatious for a start, it's next to a public right of way and it's in walking country. Here in Scotland we also have a 'Right to roam' law. From what I can see happening all over Scotland is the rise of 'PRIVATE' signs. The beauty of our country is for all of us to enjoy, not the select few as of the 19th century. The only help I can suggest is that you completely surround the building with Leylandii. You'll then have the privacy you seek.

The nicest element of the above picture is in the foreground.

Wild Orchids

Here's a rarity among South Rhins cattle.

Arriving at Kirkmaiden.

Lunchtime.

In the grounds of Kirkmaiden Old Church.

"Sacred to the memory of the family of McDoualls of Logan who have been laid to rest in this vault for many centuries. Vault closed in 1897".

Headstones of some of the crew of the S.S. "Rio Verde" (London) which was torpedoed by a German submarine on 21st February 1918. The master and 19 crew perished.

Scottish War Graves

The rain which started gently now got heavier. Having forgotten to fetch my waterproof camera, I took no more pictures on the road back to Damnaglaur. 

Here to complete the photographs are a few pictures from our illustrious walk leader.

Scoop's Pictures 

Back at Damnaglaur we were treated to a preview of the Scotlands Gardens' open day. Scoop and two of her neighbours are participants in today's (Sunday,July the 20th) event.

A grand day was completed with most splendid scones, cakes tea and coffee ably assisted by her friend and fellow walker, the 'Weaver' and her family.

I though I'd come through the day well, but by eight in the evening I ached and my legs felt like lead weights.

Though I'm not quite right yet at least my blood tests were clear.    

Here's Scoop's report.

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Port Logan – Damnaglaur Gardens 

Despite the adverse weather forecast 25 ramblers assembled at the picturesque harbour of Port Logan for the walk.  Trying to spur the walkers on to cover as much ground as possible before the expected rain, the leader set off, taking the steady incline of the track leading south out of the village. Before long they'd gained enough height to appreciate the views back to Port Logan Bay despite the greyness of the day.

Moving through to the fields of Cowans Farm a quaint message by one gate read 'Be ye man, be ye wumman - Be ye gaun, or be ye comin - Be ye early, be ye late - Be ye share tae shut the gate', read with delight by some of the newer walkers who had not seen such a sign before – a polite way of making sure we closed the gates behind us - rolling fields of sheep and cattle meant there were a number of them to open and close!

The track was a good one with only one stretch where the vegetation had grown high enough to warrant care in proceeding and the group were rewarded for their perseverance through this section afterwards when sweets were distributed by the leader.  Those who had been able to look at more than where they had put their feet would have noticed a variety of wild flowers, the yellow Common Bird’s Foot Trefoil,  the tall pink Rosebay Willowherb and purple Bush Vetch as well as the now fading Red Campion. The route became easier the views took in the cliffs above Clanyard Bay and over the Clanyard Moor, criss-crossed with ancient dykes enclosing sheep and cattle.

Reaching the road, they passed Castle Clanyard - all that remains of the 16th castle is a tapered corner of the walls in a nearby field. This was once the palatial residence of a branch of the Gordons of Kenmura and Lochinvar.

After walking through the buildings of Castle Clanyard Castle, footpath signs indicated permission, they continued south along the Glen of the Hole, passing an almost finished new build of some grandeur.  Its building had been followed with interest since foundations were laid, about six years ago.  With Cairn Fell to the west they next reached the crossroads below Inshanks Fell from where they turned east on the unclassified tarmac road to Kirkmaiden. The views over Luce Bay to the Galloway Hills should have been magnificent but today the former was only just visible whilst the hills were hidden from us.

Next stop and lunch was at the 17th century Kirkmaiden Old Kirk, just as the promised rain started to fall.  A third of the party opted to stay outside as, at that stage, it was just more than a drizzle, the others went into the Kirk to enjoy the shelter and its wonderful ambiance.  Leaving no crumbs and some monetary donations, the group took a wander through the Kirkyard as the rain fell more earnestly before setting off down School Lane.  The restored school and its schoolhouse created some interest and part of its garden was viewed over a front dyke before the walkers reached the turnoff to take the track upwards to High Kildonan.  It was a steep slope, a solid one at its start and, after passing the remains of the house, one which deteriorated into a grass and bramble narrow track where the ramblers had to manoeuvre their way as the rain increased.  It was with relief that the road was again reached and the short walk to Damnaglaur brought the group to some measure of shelter!

This was taken in all of the three gardens open with Scotland’s Garden Scheme on Sunday 20 July, open today for a preview to the Wigtownshire Ramblers.  Unfortunately, today was not the day to completely appreciate all the work which had been done by the owners of the gardens of Ardoch, Damnaglaur House and The Homestead!  Eventually the leader welcomed them into her house for refreshments after outer clothing had been hung in the garage and boots were lined up in the utility room.  When the walkers had finally dried off they DID appreciate the teas and cakes provided and donations were made to the British Red Cross for the hospitality and plants they had received at Damnaglaur House!

Next week’s walk will be a circular in the hills and glens of South Ayrshire. Meet for car sharing at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 9.00 am, the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 9.30 am or the walk start at Auchencrosh Cross Roads (NX 095 790). Please note this is an amendment from the published programme. For further details or if going to the walk start please phone walk leader on 01581 200256. New members are always welcome.

Update Monday 21st July from Scoop's new Sony 

Damnaglaur Garden with magnificent view

I called on Scoop on Sunday during her Scotlands Gardens open day.

She reports a great success and lots of donations to the Red Cross

An evening stroll

An evening walk.

I took a little walk Tuesday evening, here's a few of the pictures I took.

Over on Blairmount, I can't identify this shy bird. Anyone ?
Well, thanks to Inky Marie, That Cat, Shorty, The Milkmaid and A Nother who have all told me that these are juvenile moorhens. I can't argue with any of these knowledgeable people.
(I wonder if anyone else like myself failed to spot the second chick in this picture)

Sad news. I'd noticed in the morning there were only six cygnets. Back in the evening, there's still only six.

There are foxes around. 

Cat on St Couan's Road

Magpie on pylon

The Challoch Burn

I've seen this scene above people's mantelpieces.

I love this picture.

Ayrshire perhaps ?
I am reliably informed by the 'Milkmaid' that this is a herd of Montbéliarde
Her superior knowledge is unquestionable. 

Sun going down on by Barnkirk Sub Station. A pleasant little outing.

It's Wednesday morning now and pouring rain.