Threave Castle Home of Archibald the Grim and Ospreys.

 

I have always enjoyed the short walk down to Threave Castle . As a child, I always ended up running there with great  excitement at the opportunity of ringing the custodians bell to call the ferryman before my sister.

 

I just loved the little boat ride over the river Dee.

 In those days it was a rowing boat now its a much quicker journey with an outboard motor so sea sickness tablets are not necessary.

 

Crossing the River Dee to Threave Island and Castle

 

Now its more of a wander down the path and an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history of the area and spot wildlife. I spotted two deer on this walk.

 

This trip was prompted by hearing the news that two Osprey a male and female had returned to the nest near the castle so I waited in the hide in anticipation There are five hides along the river and marshes and there is often a RSPB volunteer on hand who can give you lots of information. This time I was unlucky but have had reports from our guests who have seen them. I have been trying to find out if there are any eggs yet but have not heard.

 

If you are interested in Ospreys you can keep up to date by following the National Trusts Blog for Threave Estate.

http://dandgrangers.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

 

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The hard working NTS Staff have really made a difference on the Estate managing 1500 acres, laying paths, planting trees, encouraging wildlife and  building hides. Earlier this year work was carried out to ensure the Osprey platform was secure and safe.

 

 Threave Estate was designated as Scotland's first Bat Reserve in 2010 with seven species recorded. There are two Bat trails  around Threave Gardens and Kelton Mains. Bat detectors are available to hire from Threave Gardens visitor centre

  

To learn more about Threave Estate and Gardens

http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Threave-Estate
 

Crossing The River Dee

 

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A thousand years ago Threave Island was said to be the home of the ancient rulers of Galloway. The tall, forbidding tower that now dominates the island was built for Sir Archibald Douglas in 1369 and is all that remains.

 

Sir Archibald had recently become Lord of Galloway, but is better known as Archibald ‘the Grim’. His Father had been King Robert the Bruce's friend during the Wars of Independence against England. Archibald continued that fight. The English gave him the name The Grim due to his frightening appearance in battle.

  In 1400 he died at Threave and was by then the 3rd Earl of Black Douglas, the most powerful magnate in Southern Scotland.

When James II tried to overthrow the over-mighty Black Douglases about half a century later, after a two-month-long siege at Threave, the island stronghold reverted to the Crown.

Threave Tower

I am always delighted to see Dumfries and Galloway in the National Press and receive recognition for being such a wonderful area and here is an article on a walk around the Estate published in The Guardian.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/

 may/13/castle-douglas-and-threave-Galloway-walk

 

 

Threave Island was also recently listed in UK'S Tiny Islands Top Ten Hidden Gems 
 

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2013/may/03/uk-tiny-islands-10-hidden-gems

 

The Island is managed by Historic Scotland for details of opening times please visit their website

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_288

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© All images and video subject to copyright - not to be reused, copied or altered without written permission
 

Making the most of a snowy weekend

This week-end has been a real treat: Being at sea level we don't usually get much snow along the Colvend Coast and so  we got out there and enjoyed it!

Although areas over higher ground had more, in Kippford, Rockcliffe and Sandyhills we had about 6 inches of lying snow with drifts to around a foot high. On Friday we were snowed in after heavy, constant snowfall throughout the day but, not to be deterred (and having an impatient collie reminding us it was time for 'walkies') we got togged up and walked along a snow covered, almost traffic free A710, then out over the sands at low tide. It was bracing to say the least but very exhilarating. We felt a bit like Scott in the Antarctic as on the return we were walking into biting winds and falling snow but hot chocolate and a good movie curled up on the sofa afterwards made a great reward.

Saturday was overcast and felt very cold due to the strong winds but as the roads had cleared a bit we just wrapped up warm and snug and headed out for RSPB Mersehead.

Due, no doubt, to a desperate search for food we had good views of Snipe, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds and of course the geese. This video clip shows a very excited collie on the beach enjoying the expanse of virgin snow. Yes, it was pretty windy but not nearly so bad as the sound on the video clip suggests!

On Sunday things were very different, the roads were clear and we had a bright sunny day so a walk around Rockcliffe was in order. Here are a few of the photos!

Very artistic!

The glorious yellow and coconut/vanilla scent of the Gorse contrasted beautifully with the crisp snow and blue skies and made a memorable sight.

The snow doing it's best to blanket the Gorse blooms

Rockcliffe beach doing a good impersonation of a Christmas card

The dogs had a great time racing around on the beach but poor Hamish (a Sproodle puppy) had problems with snow balling up in his fur so had to be carried home for an early bath!

Looking across to Rough Island with Rascarrel in the background

One of the great things about walking the dogs in the snow is that instead of having to wash off mussy paws or brush sand out of long coats they come back clean and sweet smelling. Just a brisk rub with a towel and they're done.

Walking in the snow is soooooooooooo exhausting!

However, it's not been good for everyone this weekend. I know that there will be many people across the region, especially those living further West in places like New Galloway and Newton Stewart, gnashing their teeth reading this, as roads have been closed and many homes have been without power. Our sympathy goes out to them as they have has a difficult time (particularly those caring for livestock which is never easy in deep snow). Also birds and wildlife will have suffered. We have reports of a Little Egret casualty along the frozen shores around Kirkcudbright Bay which is a real shame. 

Here along the the Colvend Coast we were lucky to have just enough snow to make it picturesque, so we got out there and made the most of it. It's thawing rapidly now and the roads are clear with traffic moving easily so it's back to normal!

© All images and video subject to copyright - not to be reused, copied or altered without written permission

Mull of Galloway: just had to share this fantastic story

'Scotland's Land's End'

nature reserve plan 

backed by locals

Continue reading the main story

The Mull of Galloway Trust balloted residents in the area, garnering 98% support

Scotland's most southerly tip could become a nature reserve after local residents almost unanimously backed a proposed community buy-out.

A local trust is confident of raising the £300,000 asking price for the Mull of Galloway, mainly through the government's Scottish Land Fund.

The Northern Lighthouse Board is selling the 30-acre site as part of an asset disposal programme.

Its lighthouse tower is not included in the sale and will continue to function.

The lighthouse tower is not part of the sale and will continue to function

The Mull of Galloway Trust was set up to secure the site, which includes cottages and other buildings, as a nature reserve and tourist attraction.

However, it needed to demonstrate community support to attract funding.

In a ballot of 541 local residents, 347 votes were cast, with only three voting against the proposal and two papers being spoiled.

That represents 98.5% support on a 63.8% turnout.

The trust's next step is to prepare a business plan and formal funding application.

It has said it wants to preserve the area as "a place of beauty", "a place of tranquillity" for locals and visitors and to avoid any possibility of commercial exploitation of "Scotland's Land's End".

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-21741256

A great walk for spectacular views: Mark Hill, Rockcliffe

Spring is here so it's time to dust of your walking boots and get out there.

We highly recommend this walk to guests at the start of their stay, especially if they are new to the Colvend Coast, as it gives you a really great view of the local area so you can orientate yourself.

Mark Hill Walk - Forestry Commission Scotland

Kippford and the Urr Estuary From Mark Hill

Time  - allow about 25 min's each way and time to take in the view.

Distance Approx 2 Miles

Shoes - sturdy, comfortable.

Difficulty - Moderate, A short walk on forestry paths but rough terrain and steep, rocky path up and down Mark Hill. Path made up of gravel road, wood chip, rocks, boulders. Muddy in Winter

Why do it - Amazing view

Rockcliffe and Castle Hill Point from Mark Hill

Start: From Rockcliffe car park turn left down the road (footpath) and walk down the hill towards the beach. Follow the road and go about threequarters of the way around the curve of the bay.

  Where a lane joins the road at a 90º angle, turn right (signposted to Barons Craig Hotel) and then left at the T junction towards the Barons Craig Hotel (closed this year for maintenance ). 

Walk along the path flanked by stone walls until you come to a 5 bar gate and clearing in the woods.

Here you have four other path choices, you need to take the third exit. First left takes you to the Mote of Mark, second left (straight on) is the Jubilee Path to Kippford. Take the next path which is a gravelled forestry road (3rd Exit ) to the left of this road there is a Forestry Information Board with the Mark Hill Walk outlined on it. This walk detailed on the board is longer and two miles from this point. Great for the more energetic.

Forest Path opening out at Mark Hill

Walk up the Forestry Road about 4 min's (few hundred yards) and at the blue marker on the left turn left  again on a forestry road. As I write this there is a lot of work being done on these roads  but the work should be completed soon. Please adhere to all route closures and diversions for your own safety.

Blue Forestry Marker and Path to Mark Hill

Walk up this hill for about 10mins and you will see a small path leading in to the forest. Turn left at blue marker in to the Fir trees

A beautiful February Day

The path starts to get a bit rocky and a bit of a pull but you will soon be rewarded by the view.

West to Glen Isle

At the top of the hill follow the plateau to the left (South) and it will start to go downhill. This path is quite rocky so take care. Once at the bottom you join the Jubilee Path and can turn left back to Rockcliffe and the car park or right towards Kippford.

Jubilee Path towards Rockcliffe

 All photographs copyright - © L Birdsall, Millbrae House

The first sign of Spring at Sweetheart Abbey

Last week I spotted what must be the first signs of Spring: a people carrier full of visitors getting out of their vehicle at Sweetheart Abbey! 

I was driving to Dumfries on a glorious, clear, crisp Spring day and has chosen to take the coast road (the A710), which is my favourite route as the scenery is stunning, when I spotted them as I turned the bend next to the Abbey Tea Room in New Abbey.

How did I know they were visitors? Well the walking gear, cameras and binoculars were a hint, but the reason they caught my eye was that, even whilst getting out of their vehicle, they were already staring with wonder and awe at the towering red sandstone walls of the Abbey. 

View of Sweetheart Abbey from the carpark next to the tearoom

Their total focus was the amazing and evocative building in front of them, everything else was being done on auto setting. It reminded me of my first sight of this amazing place, not without a whiff of nostalgia I have to add, and reminded me that it is easy to take these spectacular places for granted and to forget that unique feeling you get when seeing something truly amazing for the first time. I have to admit I felt envious of them experiencing the Abbey, for probably, the first time.

And Sweetheart Abbey really is amazing as it is a place of personal devotion and a monument to the love of one person for another. 


In 1268, Lord John Balliol, husband of Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway, died. His grieving widow had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory casket which she carried with her constantly.

Lady Dervorgilla undertook many charitable acts in his memory but the most significant must be founding of the Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor (Latin for ‘Sweet Heart’) in 1273. When Lady Dervorgilla died in 1289, she was laid to rest in front of the abbey church’s high altar, with her husband’s heart to her bosom.

View of Sweetheart Abbey from a distance

Sweetheart Abbey’s conception as a shrine to human and divine love is a deeply appealing concept as is its attractive, rural village setting. The imposing ruin nestles between the grey bulk of Criffel to the West and the shimmering waters of the Solway Firth to the South, whilst its dark red sandstone walls contrast with the lush grass of the pastureland at their feet.

For more information on Sweetheart Abbey follow these links:
Historic Scotland - access information and prices

History and background

As Spring is definitely here it's a good time to be thinking of getting out and about with the walking boots on so the next post is a great walk for orientating yourself along the Colvend Coast, great views and yes, a bit of a climb, but well worth it!

Happy Birthday to the Rock-Ford Files

It came as a huge surprise that, as of 11 Feb, we have been writing the Rock-Ford Files - Kippford and Rockcliffe blog for one whole year... so I hope you will join me in singing 'Happy Birthday' to the blog!

This iconic wee cutie is seen regularly at Millbrae House or Riverview Lodge by guests. Red Squirrels seem to love it around the Colvend Coast and we are understandably proud that they choose to live here. (Could be something to do with the well stocked nut ad seed feeders)

It seemed that we should mark the occassion in some way so I thought I would change the type face to a more modern one and report on the success of the blog and key milestones

The blog now has 15 followers (Hello to you all and thank you for following, please encourage your friends and family to follow suit) and is read by lots of others on an ocasional basis world wide... YES! world wide, as this latest breakdown of recent readers shows.

United Kingdom	39
United States	14
China	2
Germany	2
France	1
Russia	1
Sweden	1
Ukraine	1

This came as a (very pleasant) surprise to us as we thought that interest would be mainly from the UK. So a very special 'hello', hi y'all, 你好, привет, bonjour, guten tag, Hallå, Привіт to anyone reading from outside the UK. 

We are all-so celebrating another milestone. We have just hit 4000 page views and averaged over 330 visits a month!

Over the past year we posted 48 posts on a wide range of subjects from walks, recipes and events to concerts, local celebrities and charity fund raising, which included some lovely images of the area, who knows what we will be writing about this year? 

Mersehead Sands with the dune system in the foreground and Castle Point, Rockcliffe in the distance.

Our aim this year is to achieve at least one post per week (as you can imagine things slide a little around out busiest times of year) and we have some interesting and informative ideas in the pipeline including more local walks, recipes and events.

With 2013 being the Year of Natural Scotland and 2014 being Homecoming Scotland we have plenty of scope and are looking forward to welcoming lots of new visitors to the area!

Looking North from the peak of Screel.

If you have any thoughts on the blog, would like to contribute to a post or simply get in touch please do, it would be great to hear from you.

Best wishes
The Editor

NOTE: All images are copyrighted. Not for use or publication without written permission.

Enjoy Dumfries & Galloway with some of the best access rights in the world

As outdoor enthusiasts we are very lucky, here in Dumfries & Galloway, to enjoy some of the best access rights in the world. 

Which is fantastic for the many people who come here to enjoy the amazing biodiversity and recreational facilities Dumfries & Galloway has to offer. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives the public the right to be on most land and inland water for recreation, education and going from place to place, providing they act responsibly. 

The "Scottish Outdoor Access Code" (as it's known) provides guidance on access rights and responsibilities but  it is not in it'self an authoritative statement of the law, although it has been approved by Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. As I understand it, the code is more of guidelines that, if followed, help you observe the law and are an example of good practice when out-and-about in the countryside.

Many of our guests are keen walkers, birders, cyclists or dog owners and most come from outwith Scotland. As Scottish access rights are different to other countries they are often  hesitant when going out and about, as I was when I first came here. I grew up in Yorkshire where the only option to explore the countyside was to use a permissive footpath so although I love the freedom,  I am still sometimes uncomfortable 'roaming free'. With this in mind I looked up the  Scottish Outdoor Access Code when I moved here and always check my rights over my chosen route before I go.

Guests often ask about the Scottish right to roam when exploring our beautiful countryside so I thought it would be a good idea to do a post about the "Scottish Outdoor Access Code" as a handy reference. This is just intended as a quick overview, there are links to official publications at the bottom.

The Land Reform  (Scotland) Act 2003 gives you the right to enjoy:

• Informal pastimes such as walking, camping, picnicking and sightseeing

• Active pursuits including cycling, mountaineering, canoeing and horse riding

• Dog walking, provided your dog is under proper control

• Taking part in recreational and educational trips

• Simply going from one place to another

NOTE: Motorised activities (unless for disabled access) and hunting, shooting and fishing are NOT included.

... over most of Scotland including:

• Urban parks

• Hills and woods

• Most grass fields and field margins

• Beaches

• Lochs, rivers and canals

However, in the interests of safety and to encourage goodwill between the public and to land owners and managers, it is equally important to note the places where you CAN NOT exercise this right. 

The main places where access rights do not apply are:

• houses and gardens, and non-residential buildings and associated land

• land in which crops are growing

• land next to a school and used by the school

• sports or playing fields when these are in use and where the exercise of access rights would interfere with such use

• land developed and in use for recreation and where the exercise of access rights would interfere with such use 

• golf courses (but you can cross a golf course provided you don’t interfere with any games of golf)

• places like airfields, railways, telecommunication sites, military bases and installations, working quarries and construction sites

• visitor attractions or other places which charge for entry

The Code: is based on three key principles which apply equally to both parties, the public and land owners or managers. These are simply, in my opinion, basic common sense and are second nature to most countryside lovers/users and wildlife enthusiasts so are not onerous to abide by.

1. Respect the interests of other people. 

Which means acting with courtesy, consideration and awareness. If you are exercising access rights, make sure that you respect the privacy, safety and livelihoods of those living or working in the outdoors, and the needs of other people enjoying the outdoors. If you are a land manager, respect people’s use of the outdoors and their need for a safe and enjoyable visit. 

2. Care for the environment. 

If you are exercising access rights, look after the places you visit and enjoy, and leave the land as you find it. If you are a land manager, help maintain the natural and cultural features which make the outdoors attractive to visit and enjoy.

3. Take responsibility for your own actions. 

If you are exercising access rights, remember that the outdoors cannot be made risk-free and act with care at all times for your own safety and that of others. If you are a land manager, act with care at all times for people’s safety.

There are also places where, although not specifically excluded,  you are expected to exercise basic common sense; these include bird nesting sites such as wetlands and shingle beaches which should be given a wide berth during the breeding season in late Spring. An example of this locally is Rough Island (an island bird sanctuary just off Rockcliffe/Roughfirth with nesting oystercatchers and ringed plovers.)  There are signs asking people not to visit during the breeding season in May and June.

I hope that this post is useful as knowing the code gives me the confidence to explore freely. 

You can get more extensive guidance and download several documents here:

The Scottish Outdoor Code website

These include:

The Scottish Outdoor Code Summary Leaflet

The full Scottish Outdoor Code

I hope this helps you to enjoy the wonderful diversity Dumfries & Galloway has to offer to the full, particularly in this Year of Natural Scotland

Source: Scottish Natural Heritage - http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/