Gatehouse of Fleet Walk in Cally Estate

We decided to go a bit further afield today especially as the weather was looking so good so we headed off to Gatehouse of Fleet and the Cally Estate. This was a walk 3 of us did 2 years ago but it was new for Niall and Peter. This photo is taken in front of the Cally Palace Hotel overlooking the Lake and Golf Course.

The Bluebells were everywhere and almost at their best plus the fresh green spring foliage was splendid. 

The Beach at Sandgreen with high tide due just as we stopped for lunch. A bit early in the season as the beach was totally deserted.

Lunch by the sea.

On the second half of the walk we passed by this old churchyard at a village called Girthon.
This tree is just coming into leaf and provided  a rather nice photograph.

The old walls of the church were covered with these purple flowers

Back in the woods near the Cally Pallace Hotel we found this old Gothic Folly called the Temple.
This roofless folly with its battlements and faux windows was built in the grounds as a ruin in 1778 by the owner of the estate, James Murray of Broughton.

Near the end of the walk and a pose among the Bluebells seemed to be the right thing to do. A superb walk of almost 9 miles in lovely woodland and with Bluebells everywhere. After almost 4 hours of walking we headed home after afternoon tea in Castle Douglas.