A rather miserable day and very windy, so we headed for the Galloway Forest Park as we thought it would be more sheltered. We tried to stop at several places for our walk, but there is so much felling going on we ended up at Black Loch.
“The Eye”
Large cones
Berries, presumably some kind of Rowan
Burn
We spotted a Dipper here on the way back, bad sadly didn’t manage a photo!
A misty Bennan
Colourful moss on a fallen tree
Back to “The Eye”
My birthday weekend so a good excuse to visit New Abbey for lunch and to collect my prize for winning the Sweetheart Abbey photo competition in the Abbey Cottage Tearooms. Would thoroughly recommend a visit to these award winning tearooms as the food and service is excellent! They also have lovely gift shop and small gallery.
Our plan was lunch at the tearooms and then walk it off with a walk up to the Waterloo Monument on the hill above New Abbey.
A few photos of Sweetheart Abbey…
…before setting off for a walk
View from the Sweetheart Abbey carpark
We parked in the small car park by Glen Burn which is up the lane past the Mill Pond by New Abbey Corn Mill. We then headed up the hill to the Waterloo Monument
Old Oak
Already the views were amazing! (Click to view larger)
Sweetheart Abbey…
…now getting smaller and smaller!
Loch Kindar with the Solway beyond and Cumbria in the distance.
Not sure what these are for!
A steep climb but well worth it!
Tower and view
Not easy but you can climb to the top
The steps are tricky and beware when you get to the top there are no railings! Jelly legs time!
Erected to record the Valour
Of those British, Belgian and Prufsian soldiers:
Who under WELLINGTON and BLUCHER
On the 18th June 1810
Gained the Victory
Of
WATERLOO
By which French Tyranny
Was overthrown
And Peace restored
To the World
Panorama (click to view larger)
Autumn colours Shambellie Woods
Click to view larger
Logs
Loch Kindar
What an amazing walk that was, the views are simply stunning!
Oh and look what was waiting for me for tea!
Next day we headed down to RSPB Mersehead.
This character was waiting in the track to the reserve!
Lots of Rosa rugosa hips still about, a lot have been eaten by the Greenfinches though, look out for their red beaks!
Still plenty of Red Admiral butterflies about
Panorama from the Bruiach hide
Its good to see the water has returned, last time we visited these wetlands had all dried up!
Panorama from the Meida hide
The Barnies are back!
What an amazing sound they make when flying over!
Tree Sparrow with no tail seen from the Visitor Centre
A lovely weekend!
