Help us support D&G canine Rescue

Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue do a fantastic job - please support them!

On 29th December, Centre assistants Sarah and Zoe bravely spent a chilly night in one of the kennels at the rescue centre in order to raise money to buy new toys and equipment for the dogs in their care. 

I think they deserve a huge thank you and so have just sponsored Sarah and Zoe at Virgin Money Giving, on behalf of our rescue collie.  I would like to help them reach their target of £500, so if you cold please spare a donation, however large or small, please  click here Make a donation here

This link takes you to Virgin Money Giving, where you can sponsor the girls and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre.

The girls said "By sponsoring us you will be helping to provide our dogs with toys and activities which will provide mental stimulation thats helps to reduce frustration and boredom.

MANY THANKS FROM YOUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS!"

This is our rescued collie at his favourite place, the beach at Sandyhills. He loves living along the Colvend Coast as there are so many fabulous beach, coastal and forest walks.
A big thank you to D&G canine Rescue for helping him.
Photo: subject to creative copyright  - not to be used without permission.

The centre do an amazing job giving love, veterinary attention and a home to many dogs who really need it. You can visit their website here: www.caninerescue.co.uk

We really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.

Note: Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity's behalf where the donor is eligible for this. 

These are a few of our favourite things.........

As it's the Easter Holidays I thought it would be a lovely idea to hand over our seasonal blog post to a post done by children. So, for all  families and those young at heart visiting the area here is Dumfries & Galloway through younger eyes. Enjoy!

Just in on Twitter: Galloway Slow & Wild Food Day

Riverview Lodge and Millbrae House joined Twitter a few weeks ago and it's proving an excellent way to keep up with what's happenning amongst like minded people in the region. (You can follow us on Twitter @LodgeinKippford or @MillbraeHouse).

For example, I've just been Tweeted about what sounds like a fantastic event so I just had to share it. The details are:

Galloway Slow & Wild Food Day

When: Saturday  September 1st, All day, assembling at Carrick shore from 5pm
Where: Carrick Shore, Near Gatehouse of Fleet
Cost: Free and child friendly
Come and forage in Galloway, then join us and lots of friends for a party on our beautiful coast. Great wild food, like-minded people, live music and foraged tipples. Round up your friends and family and come and explore a beautiful place and meet some lovely people!


For more information go to their website: http://www.gallowaywildfoods.com

Photo courtesy of www.gallowaywildfoods.com

We have availability in the Lodge (www.holidaycottagekippford.co.uk) and at Millbrae House (www.millbraehouse.co.uk) for that weekend so you could get a group of 'foodie' friends together and join the fun. Carrick shore is just a pleasant 45min drive along the coast and Castle Douglas, the Food Town, is only 15 mins away.


See you there!

Good Morning Vietnam...

"It's hot, damn hot, R E A L  hot..." here on the Scottish Riviera. Now bear in mind its only March 5th, yet my dinky little weather station recorded an amazing 45.5C in full sun around 9.30 this morning. I put it in the shade (which I was told was the 'proper' way to do it) and it registered 28C.


A neaps tide this morning at 9.21am so not much water up Southwick Water but a fantastic view along the Colvend coast at Sandyhills across to Port Ling.

Colvend Coast to Port Ling at neaps high tide

And before you ask, no! I have not used a filter on that sky, it's the real thing. Won't be long now till all those branches burst with colour. 


Off to get the bikini out!

A chilled Chablis of a day...

It was such a beautiful day we just could not resist getting up and getting out. Visibility was superb, the sun bright, the sky a cerulean blue and the air intoxicating. It was a morning as crisp, clear and bursting with flavour as a glass of chilled Chablis - every sight, sound and scent, fresh, vivid and clear. Paradoxically, it was what I think of as the perfect Autumn day.


8.30am saw us at the RSPB Mersehead Reserve at Southwick. The Visitor Centre (a converted traditional, whitewashed Galloway cottage) looked pretty as a postcard in the morning sun.

We decided to head East for a change as the sun was still so high. (Later in the day it's better to set off West) Despite the sun, last nights' frost spangled the grass and made artwork of the puddles as we strode out along the lane towards the Sulwath centre and the two hides. (It was a day made for striding - Brisk and invigorating).

Recent hedge trimming had revealed the remains of a last years Long Tailed Tit nest along the lane, there is a healthy population of them around here and I love it when around 12 - 15 all try to get on the same fatball. It always makes me laugh as it looks like some outlandish Xmas tree decoration.


We decided to visit Meida hide as you can usually spot Deer to the East of the wetland area in front of it so set off through the woodland. Unfortunately we didn't see the Treecreper who is usually about (maybe he was having a lie in?)

From the point when we left the car we had Barnacle Geese flying sporadically overhead. Their distinctive calls, described by some as like a dog barking, punctuating the whole 2 hour walk. Large numbers of the Svalbard population arrive at Mersehead in the Autumn and can be seen grazing the wet areas in densely packed flocks throughout the Winter months. I am always sad to see them go. There are 9,000 Barnacle Geese this year, a lower number than last year but still a fantastic spectacle. Not to be missed.   

After 20 mins in Meida Hide where we spotted all the usual suspects (waterfowl) we then went out onto the beach, Murphy's favourite place. Being a stick hound he loves the wide open space where he can chase sticks to his hearts content. The view was amazing. The East Stewartry Coast from Southwick along to Castle Point at Rockcliffe at the end of the long sandy beach. The dunes are very special and protected along with the rest of this coastline which is designated as a SSSI and a National Scenic Area.

Our bird list this morning included Barnacle Geese, Curlews, Phesant, Pink Footed geese, Chaffinch, Green Finches, Yellow Hammer, Snipe, Mallard, Widgeon, Teal, Pintail, Coot, Gadwall, Mute Swans, Lapwing, Skylarks to name a few.  It was a fantastic walk, one I will not forget. You can see the route here:

You can do the circuit in about an hour but today we lingered and savored the day. At the Visitor Centre you can get Fairtrade coffee and tea and Chocolate Muffins and Brownies to go with it or even a tub of delicious Cream O' Galloway ice cream. There are a couple of big squadgy sofas where you can sit in the sunshine and watch the birds on the feeders or borrow Binis' to look out over the Lapwing nesting area. The team of permanent and volunteer staff on the reserve are always on hand and are a great bunch of people. They do a fantastic job so a big thank you to them for all their hard work.