Finnarts

It's an overcast and dreich Wednesday the 19th of May 2010.
I fancy a wee coastal walk,so i'm heading north of Cairnryan to Finnarts Bay.
After parking by the disused fish factory, I head round the shore at Garry Point.Looking back to this bridge over the Water of App,it's probably the original road over,but perhaps not the original bridge. Historically bridges in South West Scotland were never built to survive the onslaught of flooding after days of torrential rain.A regular occurrence around these parts.
It's a rocky rugged terrain,but high enough up are sheep and animal tracks to follow.Here's Galloways very own version of Antrims 'Carrick A Rede' rope bridge.The cave underneath looks like it goes in a long way,but looks totally inaccessible.
Apparently this stretch is popular with cliff edge climbers.It's easy to see why.I keep an eye on the waters edge,there's many a shipwreck along here.Not much chance of spotting anything today though.There's lots of seabirds about though.
The highest hump ahead is my target today.That's Finnarts Hill.There's a Nelsons Cove along here.
Goatspeak interpretation."We dont get many two leggers along here"
A perfect location for a pair of ravens.They'd been broadcasting my approach for quite a while,and after a couple of sorties overhead,I had visions of being dive bombed.My fears were unfounded though,and I stayed upright.
I managed a few silhouettes of them.
I'm opposite Milleurs Point on the North Rhins here.Although I've taken countless pictures in the past of Loch Ryans ferries,I can never allow one to pass without snapping it.
After disturbing a few woolly creatures I'm atop Finnarts Hill.The furthest i can see today is a hazy look at Ailsa Craig.The sky's still heavy with cloud.
It's not much better to the south.I can see the work on the new ferry terminal is fairly moving along.I'll be heading back down via that isolated structure on Garry Hill.
It's obviously a remnant from WW2.A perfect spot for a lookout.Not of a regular pillbox design though,it's got an upstairs!
I head down to cross the humpbacked bridge back to the car.A swampy marshy pond exudes colour.
This view of Sandloch Hill brings todays damp walk to an end.
It's been wet but enjoyable.

Glen Tig with the Ayr and District Ramblers May 2010

N.B.I'm trying a few frames around some of my pictures.A different slant for a change.

It's Sunday the 16th of May 2010, and I've decided to branch out a little.
I'm heading for Ballantrae to walk with the Ayr and District Ramblers.
They walk quite often in the Galloway area,and have regular Sunday walks,so it's a nice alternative if I want a Saturday free for other things.One of our group lives in Ayr,and will be walking today.
I get to Ballantrae early enough for a walk around.
'Ballantrae in Bloom',is always colourful.
My mobile ringing disturbs the tranquility.It's 'Slew' to inform me the walk start will be at Herensford,and that they're running late.
As I wait at Herensford there's more colour for me to photograph.
It's not too long to wait till the convoy arrives.It's not the easiest thing for seven or eight cars to find places to park along a narrow country road.Were soon gathered though,and after I'm introduced our walk leader outlines the route.There's 25 or 26 walkers today.
We're soon on the way in a generally easterly direction following the river Tig.The first part will be a bit of an obstacle course our leader tells us.

He's not wrong as we clamber over barbed wire fences,gates,fallen trees and muddy burns.
We're heading through Craig Wood when we come upon this derelict mill.In the archives there's a mention of a mill in Glentig in the late 1500's.This is surely more victorian.The engineering is fantastic though.Most of this land belongs to Lord Richard Gerald Wellesley of Knockdolian,son of the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.It's possible that's the reason for lack of information on the internet.Places like this were inaccessible to the public until 2003 and the 'Right to Roam' law.

This black fungi on a dead branch is Daldinia concentrica,also known as King Alfred's Cake.(I'm not really knowledgeable about a lot of the stuff I write on here,but the internet is like an encyclopaedia of everything.A couple of mouse clicks and Hey Presto there's the answer.)
This is our first 'Coffee Break'.It's not as tranquil as it looks,there's one or two fairly vociferous females in todays group.Not that the men are that quiet either.
Another break after a fairly difficult section to allow the tail enders to catch up.

Once clear of Craig Wood a steady climb brings us to the banks of the Meraddie Burn where we have lunch.The sun's come out,and the views to the Galloway Hills are excellent.Eating,drinking,and enjoyable conversation makes the break seem too short...
...and we're soon preparing to start the walk back.
We meet a farmer later who produces a rule book regarding young cattle and how ramblers must avoid them.There may well have been cattle in this field somewhere,but we saw no sight or sound of them as the farmer insisted we must have.
Across the glen,construction of the Arecleoch Windfarm is well under way.
Now it's all tarmac and farm track back to the start point.
The North Channel,officially classified as the "Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland" comes into view.
Now we can look down and across our outward route.
At the Mains of Tig the young steers are intrigued by our passing as they run across the fields to take a closer look.

It's just a short walk back to the cars now,and my first walk with the group has been a gentle and enjoyable introduction.I'll walk again with them when they return down our way.
On my way home I stop overlooking Colmonell...
...and finally get some pictures of the ruined...
...Craigneil Castle.Built in the 13th Century and named after Neil,Earl of Cassillis.
In its time it's served as a hiding place of King Robert the Bruce.It's been a feudal prison,and they used to execute people here.
Archive dot org describe it as "a grim old peel, rearing its bare walls above a rocky eminence".
There are signs detailing the perils of entering here.It certainly looks as though it could collapse at any time.
It's been an enjoyable day.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Auchenmalg Stairhaven May 2010

It's Saturday the 15th of May 2010, and todays walk is from Auchenmalg to Stairhaven and back.
Todays walk will be known as our 'Baton' walk.To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Ramblers, a baton will be carried on walks the length and breadth of Britain.Hence the baton in the picture below.

Sixteen ramblers assembled at the Cock Inn at Auchenmalg for the walk.We're soon on the way north navigating the odd muddy patch and burns that are along the route.
We did this walk back in March 2009.
March 09 Walk
As usual we've a happy crowd walking.The weather's reasonable with occasional glimpses of the sun, but it's gradually becoming overcast.
This picture stop was to capture the baton being carried.
Here are some of the wild flowers blooming at this time of year.

As well as walking today, I also recce'd the walk on Monday with Slew and the Grand Sheik.Over both days we saw a great variety of birds including these Cormorants and Seagulls.We also saw a couple of seals on the recce, but none today unfortunately.

We take a short break here at Garliachen Fort, a promontory fort of Bronze or Iron Age origin.It's fairly easy to imagine how it might have looked back then.
As a Gannet glides gracefully past, Stairhaven comes into view.
Below us about here is the Stairhaven Broch.
This from Wikipedia:-A Broch is an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure of a type found only in Scotland. Brochs include some of the most sophisticated examples of drystone architecture ever created, and belong to the classification "complex Atlantic Roundhouse" devised by Scottish archaeologists in the 1980s. Their origin is a matter of some controversy. The theory that they were defensive military structures is not accepted by many modern archaeologists (see the 'general references' below), while the alternative notion that they were farmhouses is ridiculed by some others. Although most stand alone in the landscape, some examples exist of brochs surrounded by clusters of smaller dwellings. Brochs were almost certainly originally roofed.
After the last time we did this walk, I did come back for a closer look at the Broch, but which folder I put the pictures I took that day remains a mystery.
I took this wee bird on the recce.
Now we head down to the village of Stairhaven.
It's more a row of holiday homes than a village.Harbour View and Beach View being the names on two of the houses.Whatever happened to originality ?
Here we make use of the beach wind shelters and seating to have lunch.
This is Dr Geebers - a homeless man who has set himself the challenge of walking around the coastline of the UK.He's building pebble sculptures around the country for charity.
Here's a couple of links concerning his travels.
Criccieth
Hele Beach

Rather than head inland today, we'll retrace our path back along the coast.It's much more scenic.
Soon the holiday park at Auchenmalg comes into view.
A walk along the beach finishes todays walk.
It only remains for the majority of the walkers to seek welcome refreshments in the Cock Inn before heading home.
Another very enjoyable walk.

Britannia Panopticon Music Hall-Trongate Glasgow

A few blog readers will know that I became a member of 'The Sons of The Desert' a couple of months ago.It's an international Laurel and Hardy appreciation society.
There are branches, or "Tents" all over the world, notably in the United Kingdom,the United States and Europe. Each tent is named after one of the films Laurel and Hardy made together.
There are four 'Tents' in Scotland.

All known British tents of the Sons of the Desert and their Grand Sheiks are listed here at Bowler Dessert.
Bowler Dessert
Other links include
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.com
Laurel and Hardy.org

Stranraer's tent is known as 'Their Purple Moment'.
At the oldest surviving music hall in the UK.
The Brittania Panopticon
Laurel & Hardy Film Nights are held monthly.
These pictures are from one of those nights.

Here is the Glasgow tents banner who's Grand Sheik also organises these nights.


Founded in 1857 the Panopticon's popularity quickly spread and up to 1500 people would cram themselves onto wooden benches for every show.
Lots of old posters...
...and artefacts are on display throughout...
...while on nights like this Panopticon souvenirs and Laurel and Hardy memorabilia,films and CD's can be purchased.
On display too are these duplicate books dating back to the early 20th century.
A good crowd of young and old enjoyed an evening laughing loudly at the antics of Stan and Ollie.