2024 May 13th and 18th Kirkcudbright

 2024 - 13th May

Later on we headed to Kirkcudbright to get some basic supplies of food. 

It’s a lovely town, coastal, with plenty of boats, a large bridge, where we saw yet another tractor and trailer, wide streets, pastel coloured houses, and a pleasant coffee shop for lunch - the Solway Tide.  

The tables in its yard are set out with large potted .shrubs between, the coffee is excellent and the sandwiches are also very good.

We saw swifts flying around near the town and river.

On May 17th we  ate at the Selkirk Arms. Excellent haddock and chips and superb service too.

Then a brief, slow stroll through the town, to the river, where we sat for ages. Back in the centre we watched swifts and martins.

2024 May 13th - into Dundrennan

 Monday 13th May 2024

Hung around until coffee time, and at 11.30 we took a walk into Dundrennan. We took the track from Cutlar’s Lodge,

and then the small road past Rerrick, and made a short detour into the cemetery. The  gravestones give family stories in much greater detail than we normally find in England - something we noticed at Portpatrick a couple of years ago. 

http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/dundrennan-plane-crash-1944-memorial-to-the-members-of-the-hamilton-familywho-died-on-18th-july-1944.33150/

The whole story, as told by the sole survivor in 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8156122.stm

Our route included a section of the walk round the original route of the abbey walls, passing the old mill, crossing the river twice, and with views of the abbey. (almost 5 miles).

Dundrennan is a village of no shops and no pubs, but a lovely walk, alongside flower filled road verges.

Back to base - the only traffic on these minor roads appears to be tractors and trailers and the occasional enormous cattle truck.

2024 May 12th - A day to relax

 Sunday 12th May - Orroland

A recovery day from aurora watch on Friday and drive on Saturday.

Sitting around, drawing, and Harry cooked. 

Late-ish afternoon stroll down to the rocky shore to listen to the sea, and sit.

Warm and misty glimpses of Isle of Whithorn area, and the large mid Solway wind farm.

Through steeply sloping woods with bluebells, campion and wild garlic.

Around the Machars - Wigtown

 Friday 13th May 2022

First of all a stroll around the centre of “Scotland’s Book Town”, with a coffee and scone in The Reading Glasses a bookshop and cafe.

Then we walked down to the tiny basic harbour area, past the old prison house…

to the harbour

along to the bird hide, and by the marshes to the monument to the Wigtown Martyrs.

Back to the town past the church

About three and a half miles of wandering around.

Around the Machars - Port William

 May 10th and 11th 2022

After dinner on May 10th we went to Port William by car and walked about a bit. Lovely evening views of sun water and the Rhins.

On the 11th we went to Port William lifeboat cafe (The View) for lunch - tuna sandwich and salad. Then to the Spar shop to replenish provisions

Around the Machars - Garlieston

 May 9th 2022

Garlieston - After a wet morning we needed some air and movement.

So a morning for a slow breakfast, coffee and ginger loaf, and putting on the washing machine. Harry has suggested we go out for lunch, which seems a good idea. 

By the time we got to Garlieston, the pub was closing (for food anyway), so we wandered along the sea front in the blustery wind, as it began to rain again.  The rain appears to have won the washing line wager of wind v rain, so those clothes will take their chance overnight. 

Garlieston was a place where they tested prototypes for the Mulberry harbour for D-day. 

We returned via Whithorn and lunched at home.