A Walk at Talkin Tarn and Brampton

For the first time in many months we crossed the border into England for our Wednesday walk. No David today as he is away to St. Andrews on business and he has missed his first walk for 8 weeks so it was just me and Tom. The destination was Talkin Tarn and Brampton along the old mineral railway built in 1798 built to bring coal from workings on Tindale Fell. First of all a walk round the Tarn and this lovely Duck was diving every few seconds but I managed to get it in-between dives. I think it is a Tufted Duck but I am sure my friend Harry will keep me right there.

Talkin Tarn which is a kettle hole lake formed 10,000 years ago by mass glacial action. The Tarn is fed by underground streams and it covers 65 acres and there is a 1.3 mile path round it.  

From the Tarn we headed over a field to Brampton Station on the Carlisle to Newcastle railway line. The branch line to Brampton joined it here but it closed in 1923. We enjoyed a 15 minute coffee break in the covered section on the left hand platform.

On the outskirts of Brampton is this lovely Beech hedge

This used to be the Tarn End House Hotel but it was derelict for many years until a local property developer demolished it and turned it into very desirable flats. 

Next to Brampton station is this small pond where this family of Swans are resident.

This is one of the lovely lanes we walked along on our walk.

The old Brampton railway line.

Its lovely walking along the edge of a field of Barley

This is called Wood's Hill and it has always impressed me as I walked past it. 

This was the route we took for our 6.7 mile walk which we ended with a Cappuccino at the Cafe beside the Tarn. 

 

Two Walks and Two Dogs

I have had two excellent walks this week accompanied by friends and their dogs. The first on Wednesday with David and Tom and David's dog Ruger. Here he is befriended by a large lamb that followed us along the old Waverley railway line near Newcastleton.

This is Mangerton Tower next to the old railway line and was the Seat of the Chiefs of the Armstrong Clan. The last known Armstrong Chief was Archibald who was executed in 1610.

Ruger being followed by his admirer 

David and Tom with Ruger at the bridge in Newcastleton at the start of our 4.7 mile walk on a beautiful spring morning. 

A new born Foal in a field at the start of our walk.

 

My second walk was today with Mike Tinker and Mark Hallam with his beautiful Golden Retriever Henry. Mark is new to Langholm and is keen to learn as much as possible about the area so where better to start than Westerhall Estate and especially at Bluebell time. 

This is Henry the Golden Retriever.

We had hoped to see the Azaleas that Westerhall is famous for but they are late this year but the Bluebells are also late and are now at their very best.

I make a point of visiting Westerhall several times a year. February for the Snowdrops, March for Daffodils, April or May for Bluebells and Azaleas.

They are probably as nice this year as I have ever seen them.

This makes a change from the blue of the Bluebells

Mike and Mark enjoying the spectacle of Bluebells. We had an excellent 5 mile walk and the rain managed to stay away for most of it but near the end it came and looks like it will stay for the rest of the day. 

A Visit to Loch Trool

We have visited Galloway many times for holidays over the years but rarely visited the Lochs and Glens as we liked the coastal areas. This week we decided to visit Glen Trool and Loch Trool which Gaye had been to as a child but I have never seen. It was a lovely morning and there was virtually nobody else about as we had set of quite early. 

This is next to the Visitor Centre where we enjoyed our morning coffee and a scone beside this river.

Gaye sitting beside Bruces Stone.

This is the northern end of Loch Trool

A lovely view from here

The gorge at the Visitor Centre

Langholm is not the only place to have wild goats. We spotted these further up the valley from where we were sitting at Bruces Stone.

The Bridge at the Visitors Centre.

It really is a very remote Glen

The park is well served with walks and trails and there is a 5 mile walk round the Loch. I was very impressed with the work that has been done to make it such an attractive place to visit.

There are loads more Lochs we need to visit. The area is beautiful and you get a real feeling of remoteness yet within half an hour you can be in any number of small towns like Newton Stewart.

 

A Visit to Glenwhan Gardens

A superb visit today to Glenwhan Gardens near Stranraer and special thanks to Mike Tinker for telling me about them. They are not nearly as popular as Logan Botanical Gardens but they are just as good and probably better at this time of the year. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed lots of seats in sheltered and quiet parts of the garden. My only disappointment was the lack of wildfowl and ducks etc on the many ponds there. We never saw a single one despite there being such a lot of perfect habitat. 

A perfect habitat for wildfowl but not one to be seen. Maybe its not perfect or else they are all sitting on nests somewhere about there. 

Azaleas at their very best.

Gaye does enjoy a restful seat in the gardens.

Bluebells never seem to show up as well on the photo as they are in real life. Its something to do with photography and the colour blue.

Another large expanse of water and no birds in sight.

Thes Waler Lillies will be beautiful later in the year.

The final seat of the day.