Headline photo

Headline photo
Rockcliffe and Kippford from South Glen Brae: Ed Iglehart [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Introductory text

Kippford and Rockcliffe are on the East Stewartry Coast, an unspoilt National Scenic Area with two other NSAs in close proximity. It is in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland, a region known for it's wonderful scenery, biodiversity, turbulent history, smugglers and black and white 'belted' cattle known as Galloway Belties. This stretch of coastline has many names. Known locally as the Colvend Coast or the 'Secret Coast' (due to the peace and tranquility) it is often referred to as the 'Scottish Riviera' due to it being the holiday resort of choice for Victorian millionaires and having a Gulf Stream influenced microclimate: evidenced by palm trees in some gardens. Castle Douglas, the food town is a short drive away and Kirkcudbright, the Artists Town is over the next headland.


This a scenic and unique part of the world and we started the blog to share the experience of living in this wonderful place. We hope that it will be of interest to others who live here and give those planning to visit the area a taste of all it has to offer.


The blog has a correspondent in both Kippford and Rockcliffe village, you can also follow their Twitter feeds on the right of the page. If you would like to get involved we look forward to hearing from you.

Monday, 23 April 2012

Stay local, Shop Local, Eat local...

Glancing at the calendar I note that it's our local Farmers Market this Friday 27th April at Colvend Village Hall. (9.00 till 12.30) and make a mental note to drop in.


I always try sneak away from my busy schedule to pop in to the monthly farmers market at Colvend Village Hall (held every 4th Friday of the Month). Not to be recommended when you're hungry or have little or no will power (like me) as you will come out with nothing but a yummy selection of cakes, biscuits, chocolates and more cakes.

Despite my own tendency to gravitate towards the cakes there is lots more on offer and all produced locally - so we like to support the traders. My husband heads to the Barlochan Beef stall where we can buy the meat from the Highland Cattle that graze close to our house. They have also proved to be quite a tourist attraction as well, being so photogenic as you can see from the gorgeous photo below.  The beef is slow grown, so to speak, as the cattle are about four years old before they are taken. We know the cattle have had a good, healthy life, outdoors and enjoyed the views around the Colvend Coast, other than that the meat is delicious (so I am told by my husband as I am a Vegetarian ) You can see their range here: http://www.bhbeef.com/

“Eiteag & group” ... 
Eiteag is the beauty in the foreground ...
Note: it’s traditional to name Highland cattle in Gaelic ... Eiteag translates as  “white pebble”

 (Photo courtesy of Barlochan Beef)
Another favourite is the chocolate orange cake with its moist centre from Loch Arthur Creamery & Farmshop, a nearby community farm, and Mrs Royds utterly delightful cup cakes baked with love at her home in Southerness. They are so colourful and pretty you won't want to eat them. 
But, it's not all cakes though, you will find handcrafted silver made by Erwin of Red Crow Silver, (Red Crow website) a wonderfully talented silversmith in the village (his contemporary, and very wearable pieces,  are celtic inspired and have a lovely organic feel to them), hand made gifts and cards, organic vegetables, cheeses, delicious handmade chocolates, aromatic artisan breads from the Earth's Crust bakery, Lauriston, (Earth's Crust Bakery facebook page) and lot's more.


My sister always heads straight for the Loch Arthur stall, as she loves their tasty, toasted Granola and Honey/Seed loaf, before sidling along to the stall which sells homemade  chocolate truffles and then stocking up on Mr's Royds hazlenut macaroons. Superb!
 Nigel heads directly for the smoked salmon and meats - he adores the smoked salmon pate. That's the beauty of the farmers market, whatever your taste in food, there is a locally produced treat in store!
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I'm always a bit late to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea and home baking served in the hall by a group of hard working, well organised members of the community which is always my first port of call at most village functions,  But armed with my goodies I enjoy that pleasure at home. All I need now is the bicycle with a basket !

The farmers market has really taken off and we have many guests that time their stay with a visit to the Market.

NEXT MARKET: Friday 27th April 2012

Colvend Public Hall, Colvend, Dalbeattie, DG5 4QD
9am - 12.30pm

The Market takes place every 4th Friday of the Month


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