Wigtownshire Ramblers Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston February 2013

It's Saturday the 16th of February 2013.

Today's walk is one of our most regular and popular.

It's a linear from the Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston. We alternate the walk start between the two. Here's a couple of previous walks.

2010 Walk

2008 Walk

Twenty three of us got on the bus at Garlieston to travel to the Isle. 

After looking at the BBC's weather forecast I for one was optimistic we'd have a good day weather wise. Wrong! 

Although it never really rained the whole day was dreich with a constant smirr and/or mizzle.

Not good for my camera. At times I left it out of it's carrying case for too long which has resulted in at least half the pictures I took being nonpublishable. Permeating sounds a good word for it.

  

Accessing the shoreline via Stinking Port we head north. We pass the 'Clept', a natural narrow bay once used as a harbour for fishing boats.

We're a colourful, adequately dressed group for the conditions.

It's a fairly turbulent sea below us.

The Trig Point at Stein Head. This is Scotland's second most southerly trig point. Inshanks Fell on the South Rhins is the most southerly. (It is however the most southerly non-primary in Scotland, but don't ask me, I know nothing) 

Another constant feature of today's walk was mud.

There's lot's of fun to be had at the drystane stiles on the route.

A 'Beetle', part of a 'Hippo Pier' in Cairnhead Bay, Portyerrock Bay part of the Mulberry Harbour

Even with the damp now getting to my camera I managed to get these next pictures of fungi. Probably the best pictures in the post.

Called Hirneola Auricula.........................or..........

.............................Auricularia Auricula - Judae.......................

...................It's among a group called Jelly Fungi......

................translates as 'The Jew's Ear Fungus'...........................

..................and is edible................here's what Wikipedia say

Auricularia Auricula - Judae  

Wished I'd known about it, I could have gathered it and sold it to the local Chinese Takeaway!

This boat has the right name for today's walk

Passing Portyerrock Mill

Here we pass the remnants of promontory forts at the 'Howe Hole of Shaddock'.

A Badger's Sett pointed out by our walk leaders.

Evidence on our deputy walk leader's boot of mud, mire,sludge or muck. For Spanish readers it's barro, cieno, fango, limo, lodo, pecina.

Or if you're Dutch it's drek, modder, slijk, slik.

Removal of some of the aforementioned.

The stile to access Cruggleton Castle

The damp is now in my camera but I get in the picture thanks to a young lady with a smart phone. Thanks Ecky.

With the camera now back in my carrying case we continue on to Cruggleton Lodge, then along to a track High Lodge. Two restored 18th century cottages on the Galloway House Estate.

(My camera's now dried out a little)

Now we cross a field to arrive here......................

.....................at Snowdrop Cottage, in the woods just south of Galloway House. 

How the cottage got it's name is patently obvious

Rounding Rigg Bay

(What a difference since I was last here at Rigg Bay, it was a during a visit by my twin daughters back in November. Twin's visit. ) 

Walk finish at Garlieston. Tired me out anyway !

We're off to the Bayview Bistro in Wigtown for our after walk refreshments (and what a welcoming spread they put out for us)

The walk report author this week is 'Knot'Dolian' (nickname devised by herself in reference to a certain hill with a similar sounding name. I asked if she liked this hill, she replied I'm a frayed knot), and if this post hasn't caused any offence I'm hopeful she'll forward it for inclusion here.

Wigtownshire Ramblers 16th February 2013 Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston

Twenty three ramblers met at Garlieston to take the bus to the Isle of Whithorn for the eight and a half mile walk back along the coast. The morning start was cool with a steady drizzle which didn't bode too well for seeing the fine views normally visible on this walk. As they waited for the bus more waterproof clothes were donned, gaiters, gloves, scarves and hats made walkers almost unrecognizable  On the bus it was standing room only and the astonished driver wished everyone a good walk as they alighted, no doubt thinking they were all a bit mad to do a coastal walk on such a miserable morning.

The start was through the village, past the old schoolhouse heading north along the coast towards Portyerrock Bay. Passing the holiday houses crocuses, snowdrops and an early celandine were spotted promising better weather to come and lifting the spirits. The drizzle eased a little as pregnant sheep pushed ahead and darted into the next field to avoid close encounters with this strange looking band of folk. A slight detour was taken to see the first landmark – a trig point, but still no views over the bay.  Curlews could be heard calling above and a cormorant was seen skimming the waves heading southwards as the group squelched through fields and climbed over stone dykes – one in particular proving a challenge to shorter members as there was only one stone footrest over a high wall. After much pushing, heaving and hilarity everyone was safely on the other side and a congratulatory pause for sweeties was taken.

As they walked on three deer were seen giving the group a good looking over before they turned and skittered off into the distance. The walkers now entered a small wood, passed some ruined Second World War buildings and followed a muddy path into a farm field. This route enabled them to avoid the shore where the going over seaweed and slimy rocks would have been treacherous. A 'Beetle', part of a 'Hippo Pier'of the Mulberry harbour constructions was visible as the tide was at a low ebb. Emerging from the field the B7063 road was followed for a short distance to the old mill at Portyerrock where a stile was crossed onto the coastal path to Garlieston. The going became very muddy at this point and the ramblers had a hard time struggling through it. Oyster catchers were busy along the shoreline but the arch at Cruggleton, normally visible from this point, was nowhere to be seen as the mist and drizzle persisted. Eventually the walkers crossed over a dyke and thankfully found rest and shelter behind it for a lunch break. Some cleaned off their boots little realizing that there was worse to come.

The next field proved to be the undoing of some as, although a detour was taken to avoid the worst of the mud, one particularly nasty patch saw some getting their boots stuck and one or two fallers as walkers and mud did battle and mud won the day. Eventually a bedraggled and clarty group staggered up passed the wind turbines onto drier ground. A nearby burn was used by some to clear off the worst of the mud as the castle of Cruggleton was finally reached. Here another short breather was taken before the group walked on to the lodge where they turned left and followed the drive down to the road. The walking was easier here and the pace picked up. At the road the group turned right through a field heading for the ruins of Snowdrop Cottage which proved to be the highlight of the walk as snowdrops in all their delicate beauty stretched through the woods as far as the eye could see. The walkers now proceeded through the grounds of Galloway House and back onto the coastal path which was followed to Garlieston.

A longer time than usual was taken over getting cleaned up as the ramblers had booked tea at the Bay View Bistro in Wigtown and wanted to be presentable. The staff there had a most welcome cream tea waiting for the rosy cheeked walkers – a fitting end to what had been a challenging walk.

Next week’s walk has been changed owing to more mud and will now be a moderate six miles starting at Leswalt Village hall at 10am. For car sharing meet at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart at 9am or the Breastworks car park in Stranraer at 9.30 am. New walkers are most welcome, please contact the walk leader on 01776 870441.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Knockman Wood/Garlies Castle February 2013

Saturday the 9th of February.

Today's walk is an area we know well.

My most recent trip was in the Snow in January

Other old posts can be seen here Garlies

and here Knockman Wood

Today's leader is Shorty with NotDolian as his back up.

His report will follow later.

There are twenty one of us today. A misty but dry start got damper as the day progressed.

I'll be publishing a few pictures from Wednesday's recce to brighten up the post.......it was a much nicer day. 

The scene as I left my house for Wednesday's recce.

Shorty, shortly into the walk explains the forestry lay out of the area

Recce views, fungi and chambered cairn

A short break at the Boreland Neolithic Chambered Cairn

A bigger picture of the cairn

Lots to read

We passed the time of day with these nice folk, also walkers, from Gatehouse of Fleet

It's the last push up to the top of Knockman Hill

Back on the recce, I was taking the view when Shorty stepped into the frame

After describing all the views (they couldn't be seen), our leader distributed the confectionery

I zoomed in on the recce to get this view of Penninghame House, I quite fancy The Ultimate Health Experience

We disturbed deer on the recce, there's three in the picture

Macro shots of Honeysuckle buds

The first burn crossing. The damp in the air is penetrating my camera........

..........I'll put it away for a while

Approaching Garlies Castle on the recce

Lunch is taken in and around the castle, it's not a four star joint nowadays is it ?.

Garlies Castle

I think the big burn is the Pulcree, a confluence of the Castle Burn and the Peat Rig Strand (and then again it might be either of the latter two)

Emerging from Garlies Wood, these were the views on Wednesday

I can just about make out the mast over at Risk today

Shorty had effected a little drainage engineering on the recce. The results were very effective, but not extensive enough............a JCB would probably be better than a size twelve boot

Glenmalloch Lodge

Last picture on this post. It's a happy smiling 'Teacher' and the Millennium Cairn.

Now we're all off to the Galloway Arms for scones and butter and jam and coffee and tea.

So long as there's nothing in this post to upset Shorty, I'm hoping he'll forward his report as usual which will appear here when he sends it.

A very enjoyable outing despite the mist.

Wigtownshire Ramblers – Saturday 9 February 213 – Knockman Wood & Garlies Castle

Twenty-one ramblers assembled at the Forestry Commission car park at Knockman wood near Minnigaff.  The weather was overcast with low cloud but the forecast hinted at better things later in the day so they set off up the new forest road towards the summit of Knockman Hill.  As they went they were distracted by a loud whistling noise; apparently a bird call. None of the walkers could identify it.  The road climbed through the coniferous woods and soon reached the old deer park dyke which formed the boundary with the areas managed by the Cree Valley Community Woodland Trust.  Here the conifers had been cleared and a mixture of older oak woods, new broadleaved planting and open spaces provided a more open aspect.  A newly repaired path led the group steadily up the hill towards the Boreland Chambered Cairn.

The group paused briefly to examine the cairn and then continued to follow the rough track through the wood pasture zone towards the summit of the hill.  Numerous information boards outlined the environmental interest in the area.  On the way up they met a small group of walkers who were resting on their way back from the summit.  They had intended to make a more strenuous walk in the hills but had changed their plans because of the weather.  The group then climbed onwards and upwards into the mist.  When they reached the summit cairn they paused while the leader pointed out the fine views which were available.  Unfortunately none were visible in the mist.

The ramblers then left the prepared path and followed deer tracks down the hill while trying to avoid the worst of the boggy ground.  They soon reached the lower path and turned northwards to continue to descend gently.  A deer fence which enclosed a regeneration area followed the left side of the path.  At the lowest point of the fence the group again turned off the prepared path and followed the deer fence until turned back up the hill.  At this point the group could then see the effect of an earlier deer fence where the growth of trees was abruptly cut off at the old fence line.

At this point the walkers left the fence and followed the harder ground through groups of oak and alder trees down to the old deer dyke; an impressive dry stone wall nearly 2 metres high.  An old gateway gave access onto the open moor.  The route crossed a small burn and an area of mixed rocky and boggy ground to reach the old track marked on the maps.  The line of the track was just discernible over the grassy land and led to the site of an old ferm toun; a collection of long abandoned ruins where once families would have scratched a living from the unforgiving land.  Beyond the ruins the track led down to Garlies Wood which surrounds the castle.

On reaching the castle the ramblers spread out among various perches to take their lunches.  As they ate the rain began to drizzle from the leaden skies but the trees and ruins provided adequate shelter.  After lunch the group headed down through the woods to the Peat Rigg Strand.  This is a substantial burn.  Fortunately it was not running too fiercely and the group crossed largely dry shod.  The route then led up through an attractive stand of oak trees to another gate in the deer dyke.  They then emerged into open, if somewhat soggy, grazing land and they followed the wheel tracks of a farm vehicle down to the track in the valley.  The track took them past the Glenmalloch Schoolhouse.  The group wondered how a teacher had managed twenty-five girls in such a small room.

Beyond the schoolhouse the track ran along the wall of the Cumloden policy woods with its large trees and dense rhododendron.  Near the end of the policies the group crossed the moorland to reach the old track which leads back to the Pheasant Liggat in Knockman Wood.  A small diversion took them to the top of Torbain, a low grassy hill with a Millennium cairn on its summit.  The group crossed the hill and regained the track which they followed back to the cars.  The somewhat damp ramblers then returned to the Galloway Arms in Newton Stewart for tea and scones and a warm fire.  They were pleased to meet another rambler who is recovering from a broken leg but had made the effort to join them.

Next week’s event is a moderate 8.5 mile walk along the coast from the Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston.  Meet at 09:00 at the Breastworks Car Park, Stranraer or 09:30 at the Riverside Car Park in Newton Stewart to share transport.  The group will start with a bus from Garlieston at 10:30 to the start of the walk.  New walkers are always welcome but please contact the walk leader on 01988 840268 to discuss the details.