Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

330 Glenapp to Ballantrae

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The bus drops me off at the little Glenapp Church. A signpost tells me it’s 11 miles to Stranraer and 36 miles to the Mull of Galloway. But I’ve been there, done that…

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Posted in 20 Ayrshire and Arran | Tagged Ayrshire Coastal Path, hiking, photography, travel, trekking | 12 Comments

329 Stranraer to Glenapp Church

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The tide is high. A ferry leaving from the far side of the loch sends a flurry of waves crashing up onto the concrete walkway. I decide to stay dry, and stick to the road.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged cattle, ferries, hiking, photography, travel | 18 Comments

328 Kirkcolm to Stranraer

Posted on June 24, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

In Kirkcolm there’s a patch of green parkland where they’ve buried a millennium time capsule. The plaque says, “Dedicated by the Gala Queen, Nicola McClorey and her attendants...” How wonderful to be the gala queen in the year they decide to commemorate your name forever!

I wonder if Nicola (now in her 30s, I assume) still lives locally. Continue reading →

Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged golf, hiking, photography, shore, travel | 13 Comments

327 Leswalt to Kirkcolm

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

In Leswalt I pull out my camera. The light is dull, but I want to capture this view because I like the way the memorial pillar in the graveyard echoes the upright tower on the hilltop behind.

I leave Leswalt along the road, and climb up the hill towards the tower. Yesterday, I felt too tired to take a closer look, but today I’m going to explore the place. Continue reading →

Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged cows, hiking, photography, travel, wildlife | 14 Comments

326 Portpatrick to Leswalt

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The harbour at Portpatrick is run by a Community Benefit Society (a charitable set-up). The dock is quiet but active, with several pleasure craft and a handful of working vessels currently moored.

I’m feeling a little frustrated. I got up early and drove to a village called Leswalt – my planned walking destination today. But I must have misread the timetable because I discovered the bus I was hoping to catch doesn’t run on this particular day of the week! So I had to hang about and catch a later bus to Stranraer, and then a second bus to Portpatrick. Continue reading →

Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged hiking, photography, Scottish, southern upland way, travel | 9 Comments

325 Ardwell to Portpatrick

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

I’ve had my confidence badly rattled by several scary encounters with cattle, yesterday and the day before. Today I plan to stick almost entirely to road walking, as I head from Ardwell to Portpatrick. (There is a short distance of coastal path towards the end of my route which I might follow if the way seems clear of bovine bovver.)

Ardwell seems very familiar now, with it’s pretty white cottages.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged coast, hares, hiking, photography, travel | 13 Comments

324 Port Logan to Ardwell

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

It’s another great day – blue sky, blue seas, no wind – perfect for walking. I catch the bus to Port Logan and set off along the sand.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged bulls, gardens, photography, travel | 24 Comments

323 Drummore to Port Logan

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

There are only a few of us on the bus to Drummore. One old boy is walking in the same direction as I am – up the hill to Damnaglaur. I wonder why he’s going there. He doesn’t look dressed for farm work.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged cattle, hiking, photography, travel | 19 Comments

322 Drummore to Mull of Galloway

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

There is no bus service to the tip of the Mull of Galloway. So, today I’ve planned a circular walk from Drummore to the Mull and back again.

I park in a tiny village called Damnaglaur. (I’ve chosen this spot to reduce the amount of road-walking I must do at the end of the day.) From here it’s a mile’s walk down the road to Drummore.