Wigtownshire Ramblers Mull of Galloway August 2014

Saturday the 2nd of August 2014

It wiz blawin a hoolie as I made my way over to Scotland's most southerly point.

Parking in the car park at the Mull of Galloway, the rain by now was almost horizontal.

Our walk leader Scoop took the decision to shorten the eight mile walk to around eighty metres.  

We settled down to after walk refreshments in the Gallie Craig

After taking this picture Scoop got the girl behind the counter to take another one...........

.............so all nine of us featured.
For around an hour or so we talked rambling and put the world to right.
A short but very enjoyable outing.

Here's Scoop's walk report

Wigtownshire Ramblers 2nd August Mull of Galloway

Nine Ramblers made the supreme effort of walking from the car park at the Mull of Galloway down to the Gallie Craig. Torrential rain did not put off nine walkers from driving to a pretty miserable part of the country but it was decided that the eight mile figure of eight walk was just not feasible.  The alternative, to sit and relax in the coffee shop, drink tea and coffee and watch the rain teaming down outside, was voted a success but it is hoped that this will NOT become a frequent occurrence!  A walk in this usually beautiful area will be planned for in the Autumn/Winter programme when better weather might be possible.
Next week’s walk will be a moderate circular walk around Newton Stewart and its environs. Due to adverse ground conditions and forestry operations, the original planned climb of Craignelder has had to be abandoned.   Meet for car sharing at the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 9.15 am or the walk start at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 10am. For further details please phone the walk leader on 01671 403351. New members are always welcome.

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Still here ?

Before jumping back in my car I decided on fairly quick circuit of the lighthouse area.

The picture above shows the cafe on the clifftop to the right while the short jagged protrusion on the next headland is the feature Gallie Craig, known as Scotland's most southerly point. 

There are some nice links on this web page.
Discover South West Scotland

I stopped to talk to drystone waller Martin Luebke. He was quite upbeat and happy enough to be working in the rain. Nice talking to you Martin. 

The Lighthouse

As I got back to my car I was really surprised at how many cars were turning up.

There are some intrepid folk out there.

I'd planned a shopping trip to Stranraer at some stage so today was the ideal opportunity.

A couple of bargains made it a worthwhile trip.

RAMBLERS NOTE !

Changes to next weeks walk in Scoop's report.

A few pictures from around Newton Stewart

Pictures from a couple of walks around the town's periphery.

A colourful welcome

Towards Barrhill Farm

Small Toirtoiseshell

Dragonfly 

Same dragonfly different angle

The best picture

(I can't find what name it goes by)
Bob from Blue Sky Scotland tells me it's a Ruddy Darter. Having done a Google image search I must concur.

The same tortoiseshell

Newton Stewart view

Cree estuary view

A little way behind sat his harem

Ducks on Blairmout

Of the remaining six cygnets, five seem to be doing well. I fear for the wee fella !

Field bindweed

Monnigaff old parish church

Interesting wall plaque

I wonder who PM was ?

View to Drigmorn and Millfore

The Penkiln Burn

Bower Drive bird feeders

A popular dining area

View towards Wigtown Bay from Newton Stewart old golf fairways

an inland Oystercatcher

A drystone wall mystery

Zoom in to Wigtown Bay

Kirroughtree House

Last picture of the day

Wigtownshire Ramblers Auchencrosh Ballantrae Circular July 2014

Saturday the 26th of July

After a bad night's sleep and still feeling below par, I decided not to go on this walk.

It turned into a good ten miler, and though chances are I'd have finished the walk, I'd have still been recovering from it now.

But the good news is I'm definitely on the mend. 

I managed a fair walk yesterday (Sunday, I even broke into a run !) and today I managed to cut my hedge with no after effects. I'll be out walking quite a bit this week.

My doctor thinks I may have had one of those unexplained viral infections or even the Epstein Barr virus.

It looks as thought a good walk was had however. Shame the rain spoiled the conclusion.

The photographs are courtesy of Miss Goodnight, Scoop and Shorty, the report was written by Shorty.

Here are the pictures, apologies if they're not in order.

G.I Joe led the walk. 

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 26 July 2014 – Auchencrosh to Ballantrae Circular

After the recent hot weather the grey skies and gentle breeze gave more reasonable temperatures which made a welcome start for the 27 ramblers who assembled at the Auchencrosh crossroads on the A77 north of Glenapp.  After a cheerful briefing from our leader we set off across the A77 and along the county road towards Kilantringan and the coast.  The tarmac soon gave way to stone as we followed the track past High Ballochdowan, admiring the cattle and calves in the adjacent fields and amused by the young pheasants which scuttled ahead of us as we walked.

On reaching the junction with the Ayrshire Coastal Path we turned north along the Path towards Ballantrae.  The track took us downwards above the Shallochwreck Burn in a bracken and bramble clad valley which lead down to the sea.  It was reminiscent of the Devonshire coombes found below Exmoor, the effect enhanced by the higher temperatures as we were sheltered from the breeze.  Once on the shingly shore at Currarie Port we found a new track, probably constructed for the Ireland electricity interconnector.  Unfortunately, the winter storms had washed much of the fill over the large culverts on the Ballochdowan Burn.  A little scrambling got us across and we climbed up the hill and through the freshly cut bracken around Donald Bowie hill and onto a path above the cliffs.  There were fine views over the calm sea with Corsewall lighthouse and the ferries visible to the south and Ailsa Craig just appearing through the murk.

We followed the cliffs with the many small inlets as far as Wilson’s Glen where we stopped for lunch sitting on the rocks above the burn in the weak sunshine.  The burn in the valley was no more than a trickle after the recent dry weather.  After refreshment we continued northwards along the cliffs and around Downan Hill. We then turned inland and joined the tarmac road heading towards Ballantrae.  The sky was now becoming threatening with a bank of dark cloud to the west.  As we followed the road we had fine views of Ballantrae and Knockdolian Hill – one of our favourite walks.

We continued along the road and then turned back past the cemetery and then took the path up the glen of the Kilphin burn.  The first section through a young plantation was almost overgrown with the ground surprisingly damp.  We soon reached the larger trees and the path opened out.  There had been some wind damage since our last visit with one huge fir tree snapped and fallen into the burn.  Higher up the glen we were warned that no more than three people should be on the old swing bridge at one time.  It was decided that some of the larger members should cross alone.

The first drops of rain were felt as we proceeded up through the trees and by the time we reached Smyrton it had become a steady drizzle.  Waterproofs were donned and we carried on through the village and past the memorial hall.  At the crossroads in the green lane we turned back towards Auchencrosh in what was now a considerable downpour.  We soon reached the converter station and regained our cars after an enjoyable, if slightly soggy, ten mile walk.  We then repaired to the Merchant House in Cairnryan where we received the usual copious and excellent tea and cakes.

Next Saturday’s walk will be the popular figure of 8 walk around the Mull of Galloway starting from the Gallie Craig car park at 10:00. (NX 154 304)  Meet at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 09:00 or the Breastworks car park at 09:15 to share transport.  New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01776 840636 for full details.