Photo Gallery - Rockcliffe Circular: 12^th Jul 2009 

Leader: Linda Mullen & Tom Mullen

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick & Tom Mullen
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan   Despite departing from East Kilbride under grey skies with an unpromising weather forecast, then encountering an unwanted heavy shower in Dumfries Duncanrig Rambling Club went on to spend a delightful, dry and unexpectedly educational day's walking on the Solway coast. The 2 walks were a 9-mile walk and an alternative which followed the last 5 miles of the main walk. The main walk followed the fringe of Dalbeattie Forest for more than 3 miles on good land rover tracks, the multiplicity of which required careful navigation. Then, at the edge of the forest, at a place called Newbarns, the walkers had an unexpected surprise in the shape of a visit to an archeological dig where the archeologists themselves split the group into 2 parties and treated them to a 45 minute account of the history of the site which dated from 2400 BC and included evidence of habitation from the neolithic through to medieval times. The experts displayed and explained artifacts such as an almost perfect tiny metal bell from the Roman era and a medieval shoe buckle, an enthralling and enlightening experience for their audience. Forced to move on, the hikers took to the road for a mile down to the coast at Port O' Warren Bay where, after a stiff climb, they followed the undulating terrain along the cliffs, past a colony of cormorants. Regular encounters with high drystane dykes allowed a respite as the walkers queued to use the stile. The lush plantlife was evidence of the favourable conditions and mild climate where even in the frequent dramatic clefts in the cliffs you could find a clump of fragrant honesuckle. The full heat of the afternoon was felt as the narrow tracks forced the ramblers to brush past jaggy gorse, through shoulder-high bracken and head-high reeds on the shoulder of Barcloy Hill as they headed for the viewpoint at Castlehill Point where a change of direction took them north along the gentler terrain of the coast of Rough Firth past the well-tended gardens and bathers in Rockcliffe, beside the sailing boats moored at Kippford to the end of the walk. The Anchor Hotel welcomed them for an hour to recuperate and restore energy to weary limbs before their return to East Kilbride at the end of an extremely varied and entertaining day.