Wigtownshire Ramblers
16 July 2011 Ardwell Bay Circular
I
arrived at New England Bay at 9.50am and was surprised to find none of the
walkers there. At 10am I knew that
something was wrong and phoned Irene who said they were all waiting for me at Ardwell,
which was what was in the local paper (and, as I found out later, it was on our
programme – sorry for keeping you all waiting!). I and then discussed a change of walk with
Irene and Elaine who had organised our having lunch in the Logan Botanic Garden
– thank you both and for putting up with my bad mood at the beginning of the
walk. Not wanting to arrive at the
garden too early I was suggesting a longer walk and we set off northwards on a
really lovely day. Debbie was there with a friend of hers from Zimbabwe. Duncan, Jack, Florence, Jim, Christine (PP
caravan), Carl, Isobel, Mary Sloan, Ken, Audrey and Christine Sloan were also
there.
A sunny
morning saw fifteen ramblers gathered at the walk start at the Chapel Rossan
Bay car park. The weather forecast was for heavy showers but the group were
cheerfully optimistic they'd avoid some of them. A short road walk south on the main Drummore
road brought them to the track opposite Auchness. Auchness Castle is a 16th
Century Tower house. Three storeys high, it was a MacDouall family stronghold.
Still occupied, it was converted into a farmhouse in the 19th century. A fresh
coat of whitewash made it a picturesque view in the sunshine.
The
track westward took them now to Logan Mills on Luce Bay. A custom built small
creature and bug palace was admired. Made from air bricks, small ceramic pipes
and wooden pallets, it looked a work of art. A short detour was taken for a
closer view of Logan Windmill. Built in
the late 17th century and used for grinding corn it's in amazingly good
condition considering it was built of whinstone rubble and boulders from the
beach.
Now the
group took to the stony beach and headed south. After rounding Balgowan Point
they reached the caravan park at New England Bay. From here they headed west along a minor
tarmac road going towards Port Logan. After a few hundred yards they turned
north along Killumpha Drive. Dotted
along here were a few small derelict buildings, remnants from the world war two
airfield of Low Eldrig. At Drumhill a rockery ablaze with colour was
admired. Across the road sitting atop fence posts were Bill and Ben the
Flowerpot Men fashioned out of wood and flower pots.
Reaching
the B7065 another short stretch of tarmac
north brought them to the track to Logan House Gardens. Passing palm trees and more Himalayan Balsam
they soon reached the entrance to Logan Botanical Gardens. From here they made
their way to the Potting Shed Bistro where lunch would be taken. Up until now the expected rain showers had
failed to materialise and the group claimed three picnic tables overlooking the
lily pond. With such delightful fare on the menu all the walkers purchased
their food and drink from the bistro. In such beautiful surroundings lunch was
taken at a leisurely pace.
After
reaching the farm the tarmac road back to the Drummore road was taken. Cows with young calves and a different view
of Auchness Castle were seen along this stretch.
After
reaching the main road they were soon back at a very busy Chapel Rossan Bay. Water
sports enthusiasts were making the best of the still wonderful weather. The
sky, the sea, the wild flowers, lunch at Logan Gardens and the company made
this a very enjoyable walk.