A few nights out in SW Scotland.

Ricko · 2019-04-18 20:36:36

Day 1: Straight up the M6 then followed the GTR, stopping off in a few places; Annan harbour, Palnackie, Kirkcudbright etc. Had tea in a lay by then found a pull in near Palnure on the A75.
Day 2: Climbed Cairnsmore of Fleet in the most, went into Newton Stewart to buy a wooden spoon (my van one was missing) and some gas for my Trangia. Pulled in on the Wigtown road for a snooze. Still drizzling so into N-S for a Chinese; Bbq ribs followed by Beef in Oyster sauce with egg fried rice. Back to the same pull in off the A75 overlooking Wigtown Bay.
Day 3: A drive down the Mull of Galloway via Monreith, Port William etc. Looped back up to Glentrool and parked up at Bruce's Stone.
Day 4: Woke early and climbed Benyellary. Started to meander my way back calling in to see some friends on the way.
Books: The 39 Steps, The House at Elrig
Food: Breakfast= Porridge pot and banana; Lunch= Pork pies on the hill, Soup on the road; Dinner= Packet pasta with chopped up pepperoni in it

Ricko · 2019-04-18 20:47:36

645 miles
47.36 mpg

Photos to follow

Ricko · 2019-04-18 21:05:04

Ricko · 2019-04-18 21:10:38

Ricko · 2019-04-18 21:13:04

Name the film, name the pub

Ricko · 2019-04-18 21:15:16

I 'broke down' momentarily!

Ricko · 2019-04-18 21:16:20

I checked the oil before I went, it's used about 1 litre in the last 10 months or so.

OAT · 2019-04-18 23:22:17

You must know that area well by now. I like it round there. Unspoiled by gentrification. And I also like estuaries. Always something to watch.

Could have been a very bleak and blowy place to wait up at Shap. What was the breakdown?

Ricko · 2019-04-19 04:53:05

I love it up there and made the effort to get up some hills despite being a bit out of condition. There's just something about that coastline, lots of small ports/harbours etc.
I didn't breakdown as such, I just heard a bit of a funny noise and checked it out.

vaz2121 · 2019-04-19 11:13:55

It's been a while since I did a bit of roaming the region......... I must be taking it for granted or getting old probably both ................

Around the Raiders road and Black Loch etc up to about 5 / 10 yrs ago chased and seen some fantastic Forest stage rallies throughout D&G and seen quite a few what were and what are big names perform.............

Can't think of a lay-by at Palnure but I've a notion of what one you maybe used as about 30+ yrs ago they by-passed Creetown and made a wide runway for Irishmen chasing for a boat..........
It's a fairly busy fast section of road around there..........
I'm sure you'll have been but Kirroughtree Forest Visitor Centre is almost next to Palnure............

Rather than the Port William side etc....As a lot younger I tended to favour the Garliston, Whithorn and isle side as I had a couple of friends who lived there

Glentrool at Bruce's stone should have been dark and fairly quiet night.....

Maybe you've already done this but.......

Head further up the A 75 pass Glenluce but before the Dunragit by-pass turn left B7084 (It used to be an over height vehicle diversion, All changed now) Head for West Freugh you can follow signs for PortPatrick nice little place to explore ............
There was an old Freighter had run aground near there years ago..... but I don't think there's anything left to see now.........

But I'm suggesting to head for Drummore on reaching there head through village (a little bit of faf) head on out as far as you can to the Mull of Galloway lighthouse...........
Listed as Scotlands most Southerly Point............
Apparently you can arrange to climb lighthouse or stay in a cottage ? .............
But there's a largeish and a bit exposed I admit parking area there and within 100yrds a cafe (Coffee shop)..............
(I've never seen no overnight signs)
Or you can get here via the Port Logan rd

P.S. Can I guess the pub name was
"The green man" and the movie was The Wickerman.... The house looks like the place I seen when missing entrance and and turning back for the Cally palace at Gatehouse of fleet a few months ago.............

If I'm correct I think your give away was the Wickerman at the entrance to the festival site just up from Dundrennan on the Dalbeattie ...Palnackie ...... Kirkudbright Rd (Sorry if an unfair advantage....I spend quite a bit of time in Auchencairn and Dalbeattie ... Friends there)

Last edited by vaz2121 (2019-04-19 11:36:16)

Ricko · 2019-04-19 13:19:21

Funnily enough I didn't drive The Raiders Road this time, although I usually do!
Isn't there another Forest Drive up there??
It wasnt a lay by as such but a track to a Scottish Water place, I didn't mind the noise of the A75 because I could lie in bed looking across the bay.
I called in at the Isle of Whithorn, I think I need to get a boat....
Yes, I drove through most of those places you mentioned, some great scenery and places to explore.
The 'pub' is the old Cally Estate offices, now private houses. Of course you're correct on the film and the pub name.
I'll be back up again before too long I reckon.
Great place to explore, I'm made up that I managed to drag myself up a couple of hills too.

vaz2121 · 2019-04-19 15:57:17

I confess that the pub (houses building looked familiar) but it was my sister (Visiting from Worthing area) who said "We just watched Edward Woodward in the Wickerman and that looks like The Green Man inn from the movie" We did talk about how it was filmed on the west coast............ Other than that although familiar I didn't know that was there although I did know they used Gatehouse or very near for the church also Kikcudbright, Culzean Castle (Lived near there too), Isle of Skye, and Plockton where they also filmed Hamish McBeth........
There's lots of other film locations around here and not always for british consumption.......... The Convent in Dumfries was used extensivly in the The Magdalene Sisters as was Moniaive..... The old Edingham Munitions factory just outside Dalbeattie for a movie called Outpost.......... and of course Durisdeer for the 1978 version of the 39 steps to name a few ..................

On the way home from Cally palace took a long road for a short cut effectively down past Cream o Galloway sign posted off the Gatehouse by-pass ....via Borgue.... the Coo palace the Stell and into kirkcudbright then out past the tank traning ranges and then we also stopped at what was the Wicker man festival site gate for a photo.......... ( A friend of mine used to rent a house near there and you could see the Wicker man from his Kitchen window)....................

I'm sure your correct the other Forrest drive would be the Carrick Forest Drive near Dalmelington (Although that could be or very nearly Ayrshire) off the A713 up out of Castle Douglas past Loch Ken where I met Guy Martin doing his Hovercraft Speed thing Couple years ago............And I also believe you can there eventually via the road you used for Glentrool but stay on it ......Not turning off for Glentrool visitors centre and Bruce's stone etc..........

Iwas going to say I think the Raiders roads is still closed to driving through but it's April already

I've never been but keep threatening to go to the Dark sky Park (same road off A713)

Ricko · 2019-04-19 20:55:56

The 1978 version of The 39 Steps is one of the best in my opinion, I read my copy whilst I was up there. I'll have to have a look at Durisdeer next time I'm up. I drove The Raiders Road last year before it was officially open! Oops.
I need to find an inland objective as I always feel my trip is over when I get to the end of interesting coastline.
I've spent loads of time today looking up about places I passed this week.
I've travelled up round there for years, I used to have distant family at Annan, love it.

vaz2121 · 2019-04-20 11:58:38

Been a while as I said since I was over at Clatteringshaws and IIRC we drove off one of the raiders roads spurs to get to the rally stage................

If you decide to check out Durisdeer ......... Look out for Morton Castle it was used as a location also with the 39 steps...........
Durisdeer : A house was used in the sort of village Sq as the Post Office in the 1978 movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZBBE3OW8TU&t=609s

Incedently If after Morton Castle And Durideer You stay and carry on the A 702 it takes you over the Dalveen pass and eventually meeting the M74 again up near Crawford but you have the chance just before at Elvanfoot to turn off and head back in toward Leadhills and Wanlockhead which is the location of the highest Pub in Scotland and a nice get away from it Drive...... Should be plenty out of the way bits to stop

Stop next to a river and you'll be able to pan for gold big_smile

(It may seem daft but in the late 80's early 90's we used the Davlveen pass regularly for a number of reasons at the time..... even managed to roll the bosses BMW there one time)

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#1 2019-04-18 20:36:36

A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#2 2019-04-18 20:47:36

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#3 2019-04-18 21:05:04

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#4 2019-04-18 21:10:38

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#5 2019-04-18 21:13:04

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#6 2019-04-18 21:15:16

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#7 2019-04-18 21:16:20

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#8 2019-04-18 23:22:17

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#9 2019-04-19 04:53:05

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#10 2019-04-19 11:13:55

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#11 2019-04-19 13:19:21

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#12 2019-04-19 15:57:17

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#13 2019-04-19 20:55:56

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

#14 2019-04-20 11:58:38

Re: A few nights out in SW Scotland.

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