SW Scotland, Galloway - 25-26 August

Now over one week ago, I will struggle to remember exact details, I am sure. Suffice it to say, we had a wonderful trip with Jeff our tour guide and just 4 travellers.
Despite torrential rain as we left Glasgow, we enjoyed the beautiful low clouds over the hills, giving everything such a mystical appearance.
Our first stop was Alloway, birthplace of Robbie Burns, the most celebrated poet of Scotland. What a pretty little place, with its lovely stone Bridge of Doon, made famous in Burns's poem. Amazingly the rain stopped just as we stopped, and in fact at every stop we made, we had dry weather. 
Except for the red deer stop! It hosed down, but we could view the tagged wild deer from a hut. We also got to feed them - a fantastic experience but rather messy! 
They were lovely and some very big indeed. This was a young one.
We stopped for lunch in a picturesque little village in Galloway, called Port Patrick.
The cafe I ate in didn't look great from outside, but inside it was a friendly, welcoming space, full of locals and laughter. Delicious food too. 
It was a very quirky village for sure! 
This lighthouse is the most southern in Scotland, on the Mull of Galloway.
It is in a stunningly beautiful, dramatic spot, surrounded by heather on one side and steep cliffs on the other. It looks picture perfect 
But, it wasn't. There was a gale force 6 wind , 80 km per hour, and it was truly terrifying. As I started out on a circuit to see the cliffs and birds, I reached a point which said 'beware if the cliffs'. Unable to stand upright, I turned back, fearing I might be blown off. My raincoat was totally inflated by the wind, a bit like the squirrel suits people use to fly off mountains! The lady in the cafe assured me I had done the right thing opting for a tea, as deaths have occurred there! 

I had to be satisfied with this shot taken from the van window, opened very briefly for the photo. I have never ever experienced such strong wind! Our overnight stop was at the tiny, but picturesque village of Gatehouse of Fleet, where I had a fantastic room overlooking the Fleet. 
It was great to be able to join Cornelia, a Swiss lady on the tour, for dinner. Sadly, it was cloudy as I walked home. This place is like Tekapo, with no light pollution. However, no stars.
I really want a door bell like this one! 
I just had time for a very short walk along the river to the old port area, but it did give me some nice views back to the village.

Next stop Kirkcudbright, pronounced, Kerkubry!  Here I was transformed into a skinny wee tourist by the coffee cart with trick mirrors. 
There was an attractive harbour but  it wasn't much of a photo with the tide out.
It was a quaint wee place with very colourful house frontages and doors. Amongst all of these were some fascinating little alleyways.
Luckily, a very friendly local pointed out this oñe, so down I went.
How true!
At the  end of this pretty white alleyway was a very unexpected and extremely quirky Arts and Crafts trail with skeletons, musical instruments and old boats. A weird collection.
After some very stunning scenery throughout Galloway, we reached New Abbey village. Unfortunately we only had time to view the abbey and churchyard.
Sweetheart Abbey was built in 1263, disestablished  1624. It was named Sweetheart Abbey after a romantic story of human and divine love
Jeff seemed to have some sort of divine powers himself. Every time we stopped, so did the rain and frequently as we got into the van, the heavens opened.This photo above shows the ever changing weather 
Dumfries, the largest town in Ayrshire, was our lunch stop. I found it a pretty depressing place apart from its magnificent river and weir.  Like many local places, it consists largely of second hand charity shops, tattoo studios, vaping stores and bakeries. 
I managed to find a drop in cafe with fabulous, friendly staff, great food at good prices and a terrific mix of people and dogs! 
Our next stop was the very beautiful and currently restored Caerlaverock castle. Being triangular mnt it was easier to defend itself.
A lot of work has been done and is still going on to enable people to visit the ruins safely.
It is one of few castles with a moat all around.
So, this was our final visit of our very interesting 2- day tour. Lots to see and learn about. Now I am looking forward to a day in Glasgow before my next two, 1- day tours. 

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