2013 - 19 January - Kirroughtree – Newton Stewart

19 January Kirroughtree – Newton Stewart

19 January Kirroughtree – Newton Stewart   Report by Richard Kay

Eighteen ramblers and one well behaved dog met at the Anglers’ car park at the top of the Mines Hill above Blackcraig. 

Frances, Isobel and Sheila (new), drove to Newton Stewart where they met other walkers: Richard (leading), Jim, Mary, Claire, John (two poles), sisters Erica and Rosie (new) and Ken.   I then followed Richard who turned off at Blackcraig and then took another left turn which took us up a really steep hill with passing places, to the Fisherman’s Car Park.  Peter walked up the road from his house, with Bella, his dog. Florence arrived soon after with Jimmy, Mary (Cairnryan) and David (not put off by his epic climb last week!) as did Irene and Duncan.   We were a total of 18 walkers.  Richard was leading us as Andrea was unable to do so and he proposed me as backup because I am ‘always at the back anyway’!  I phoned Cinnamon to advise them of the number of scones required and gave them an estimated time of our arrival there.

The weak winter sun was working its way through the thin clouds and the ground was sprinkled with a light dusting of fine snow.  It promised to be a fine day for a walk.

I was totally surprised when we went uphill into the forest and came across a way marker for the Lade Walk in Kirroughtrie – I had no idea that this was so close to Blackcraig!  

The group headed off following the newly constructed Yellow Route which wound its way through the trees down to the Bruntis Lochs. These were built as a water source for the lead mines and could be regarded as industrial dereliction but are now a most attractive feature of the forest.  When they reached the big loch a pair of herons wheeled above the glassy water, silhouetted against a clear blue sky. 

Richard led us over tracks and forest roads and we soon reached the Bruntis Lochs.  The reflections were just wonderful which, added to a big area of ice on the water, gave the photographers amongst us plenty of scope!   We had a long stop on the other side of the larger of the two lochs, having crossed the beautiful bridge over a burn and admired the Jewel Stone.  There was plenty of photographic material here and I had to rush to catch up with the others with Mary who, like me, was trying to capture the image of a beautiful robin who kept pace with us for a while.

There was a short pause to admire the ornate bridge over the outflow from the main loch and the repaired Jewel Stone, a symbol of one of the Seven Stanes cycle routes.  As they stood there a cyclist whirred past on the downhill run towards the visitor centre.  The group then made their way round the north-east side of the loch until an old track led northwards to a forest road.  The forest road was followed round the north side of the loch until the leader realised he had missed a turn and they back tracked a little way to where the Blue walking route led up through the trees to yet another forest road.  This road was followed south-westwards until a short track followed a moss decked dyke to an upper road where the group turned northwards, following the white trail round Larg Hill.  Along the way they met two other ramblers who were walking a borrowed dog in the opposite direction.  Greetings were exchanged and the ramblers continued on their way.    
We were delighted to see Marie and Peter coming towards us with a spaniel – that of friends – which was more interested in greeting Bella, Peter’s spaniel. 
Views of the snow covered hills were seen sporadically through the larch trees.  They looked magnificent in the sparkling sunshine.

Soon afterwards we left this stretch of forest road to negotiate a moss covered dyke into the rougher ground of one of the fields of Larg Farm.  Peter and Bella left us then to return home and the rest of us concentrated on avoiding brambles and admiring the views of the snow covered hills in the distance.

The group followed the lower road below Larg Hill until they reached the edge of the fields of Larg Farm.  At this point one member and his dog left the group to walk home and the remaining walkers crossed the fields down to the remains of the Larg Tower, and ancient tower house believed to have been the seat of the McKie family.  This was built on land granted to the McKie family by Robert the Bruce for services to the king during the wars of independence. 

After examining the ruins they crossed another field and reached the New Galloway road by Larg Cottages.  The road was crossed and the ramblers followed the old road line up into the Doon Wood.  
It was really brilliant being led on a walk where most of us had not been before and the interest continued after we crossed the road and entered more woodland. 

They left the track and walked through the lovely larch wood to the Parliament Knowe.  This was an old hill fort of unusually small dimensions which had been used as a traditional camping ground for passing tinkers.  It is believed that the name derives from the practice of local miners meeting there to discuss their mutual problems.  Lunch was taken on the top of the knowe where quarrying activity had provided ideal seating.

The sun now disappeared behind scudding clouds and the temperature dropped markedly.  The ramblers returned to the old track and climbed towards the Doon Fields. The fields which are completely screened by woodland, had once been used as a training site for young motocross riders.  All signs of their activities have now healed.  The group crossed the field and went back into the woods.  This section is known as the Wild Wood.  The area is predominantly conifer plantation but scattered older broadleaved trees suggest that there may have been an old wood on the site. 
It was here that I was lucky to catch sight of a buzzard taking off from its high point in the trees.

The original intention was to walk further round Clark’s Wood to the east but felling of areas of Larch following the identification of the Phytophthora disease meant that they avoided these areas and turned directly down to the Bower Wood.  There was no sign of the local Fallow Deer which are commonly seen here.  Perhaps they had all gone down to Minnigaff village where they had been causing problems for gardeners.  The group left Bower Wood and crossed the golf course to the doocot which stood between the fairways. This was examined and the group was amazed at the number of cells in such a small building.  As no golfers were in sight, the ramblers then crossed the next fairway and entered the track leading to the Kirroughtree Stables. 

The track was followed round through the chalet park and down to Minnigaff.  The main road was crossed and the group picked their way by the driest possible route past Broomisle Cottage and down to the river.  This cottage was most unusual in that it has no road access and the occupants have to make their way as best they can over the fields.  Recent wet weather had apparently made this very difficult.  The group reached the riverside path and were amazed to see how high the debris from the recent floods had spread up the riverside trees.  The path had also been severely eroded by the floods.  The group made their way round the potholes and crossed the Sparling Bridge to the end of their walk in the Riverside car park.  While the drivers were ferried back to the start to collect their cars the remaining ramblers made their way to Cinnamon where they all enjoyed tea and scones.

I went in Jim’s car, along with Ken and Jimmy back to Blackcraigs to collect my car before joining the others in Cinnamon.  We were really pleased that Andrea was able to join us.  The staff at Cinnamon had put lots of tables together for us and, with a little bit of shunting, we managed to get all the walkers, including Ken, sitting together!