Old Age Travellers.: Kirkcudbright 2018

Neilson's Monument Ringford.

From the small village of Ringford on the A75 follow the A762 north, sign-posted New Galloway, for approximately 2 mile until you see a large sign on the right hand side to Barstobrick Visitors Centre. Follow the track until you come to the centre where you will find a car park, the Equestrian Centre and a large roomy cafe that’s well worth a visit. There are quite a few walks from the centre but the one that interested us was the climb up to the local whinstone and granite monument situated at the top of Barstobrick Hill.

Views across to the Galloway Hills.

Views to the north.

On a clear day you get a panoramic 360degree view from Little Ross Island at the mouth of Kirkcudbright Bay to the south, across to Castle Douglas and Threave Castle in the north east and the Galloway Forest Park and hills in the north west.

The 10.6m (35 feet) Monument was commissioned by Walter Montgomery’s Neilson in 1883 in recognition of his father’s achievement.

Queenshill Estate with Little Ross Island in the distance.

James Beaumont Neilson was born in Glasgow in 1792. This Scottish inventor was responsible for the hot-blast method of iron smelting which hugely increased productivity, tripling the output per ton of coal and enabling the use of inferior fuel. He patented his invention in 1828, after spending many years defending his rights through the courts. The profits from this patent enabled him to buy and retire to the Queenshill estate north of Ringford and just below the obelisk his son had erected in his memory.

Kirkcudbright Festival of Light October 2018.

Kirkcudbright is a historic harbour town best known for the artists’ colony that blossomed here in the early 20th century, including EA Hornel, Jessie M King and Charles Oppenheimer who made the town their home. Kirkcudbright artistic roots continue today with many contemporary artisans continuing the tradition. Recently the town has welcomed the opening of Kirkcudbright Galleries, an artistic venue of national importance, which will no doubt attract many visitors to the area.

As it announces in its programme of events “The Kirkcudbright Festival of Light began as a way to celebrate the light that has inspired so many artists and makers, marking the opening of the new gallery that displays their work. With the support of our guest curator Sally Hobson, our community has created an exciting programme of events and experiences that combine world class cultural performances with illuminated immersive experiences that will delight and inspire”.

The photographs that follow will hopefully give you a wee sample of some of the lighting effects seen during this well attended festival.

Window Decoration.

Toll Booth.

Wall Art.

The Trees.

Always Food Stalls!

The New Art Gallery.

The Parish Church.

The Church Hall.

Our Sea Hames Horse.

Firework Display.

Loch Mannoch and the Lairdmannoch Estate.

Loch Mannoch is an inland loch north of Tongland in Kirkcudbrightshire. A very quiet place far from any town, it is known mainly for coarse fishing.

The loch's shore of marsh and blasted heath produce a bleak place of forbidding beauty, and the woodland breaking through on the western shore adds to its wilderness appearance.

At the edge of Loch Mannoch is a boathouse where you can hire a fishing boat for the day and leave the £30.00 fee in an honesty box.

The Loch borders the Lairdmannoch Estate which has a shooting lodge, said to designed by James Kennedy Hunter (Cir. 1898) the Scottish Architect born in Ayr in 1863, although the Dictionary of Scottish Architects only credits him with designing Miefield in Twynholm.

The Sea Hames Horse in Kirkcudbright - Summer 2018.

Kirkcudbright Scottish Night 19th July 2018.

Riding of the Marches. July 20th 2018.

It was the year 1455 and Kirkcudbright was given Royal Burgh status by virtue of a charter granted by King James II. The Persuivant from the King and the Cornet together rode round the boundaries referred to in the charter. This act is recreated annually by the Kirkcudbright Cornet’s Club with their spectacular ceremony of the Riding of the Marches through the town ending in the Harbour Square

Little Ross Island from above the Tors March 2018.

Low Bridge of Tarff.

Views From Barr Hill.

A grand sunny day led us to walk up to the mast at Bar Hill, some thing i can see from the house, and see the views from this high point above Kirkcudbright. As you can see the walk was well worth it to get a chance to see these marvellous views not only across Kirkcudbright out to Ross Island and the Solway Firth but also a 360 degree view of the surrounding country side.