Coronation Weekend in Wigtown

We arrived in Wigtown on Friday afternoon and after sorting out all our stuff from the car we headed for a walk into town and then I went a longer walk along the old railway line bordering the Wigtown Marshes. We passed one of the nicest houses in Wigtown and it is called Barbados Villa. It was built by a family in the 19th Century based on money made in the Sugar industry of Barbados. 

The town is getting ready for the Coronation celebrations and in the centre of the town they have a Marquee where many of the community events will take place.

The Wigtown Marshes and the habitat for many birds

Wigtown is very fortunate in having its Bowling Green in the very centre of the town right in front of the Town Hall. This must be unique in Scotland and it makes the town centre such a lovely community space

The Parish Church, although Wigtown was predominately a Catholic community when Gaye lived here all those years ago. It's ironic that we are staying just a few doors up from the house where she spent the first 10 years of her life and listened to the Coronation on the radio 70 years ago.

On Saturday we took a run down the coast of the Machars and this is Isle of Whithorn

The river Bladnoch near the harbour and an outgoing tide.

Gaye enjoying a seat in Garlieston on a lovely Saturday morning so she read a book while I went a walk along the shore.

Lunch at the Steam Packet Inn at Isle of Whihorn and a bacon and egg roll with a Coffee.

A nice walk along the shore at Garlieston

The view from the seat Gaye was sitting on at Garlieston and at High Tide

The path along the shore at Garlieston and a bit tricky in places while Gaye enjoyed her book just round the corner at the harbour

The Martyrs Memorial for my Saturday evening walk on a wee hill just above Wigtown. The Solway Martyrs were two Scottish Covenanter Ladies from Wigtown who were executed by Scottish Episcopaleans in 1685 by tying them to stakes on the town mudflats and allowing them to drown with the rising tide.
 

The view of Wigtown from the Martyrs Memorial

 

A Grand Week in Galloway

My morning walk followed this Green Lane and its the best place I have ever seen for brambles with both sides of the lane for half a mile just full of Bramble bushes.

This is Ailsa Craig just out of Loch Ryan. Gaye used to sail out there in a 15ft yacht over 50 years ago. 

This is a young Turnstone taken at Isle of Whithorn

The entrance to Portpatrick Harbour on Wednesday. We had a lovely lunch at The Crown just sitting outside in the sunshine. 

The people on this yacht were at the next table to us for lunch. They had just come over from Ireland for a day out and a nice lunch.

The Confidante is based in Lerwick and is a Survey vessel in Stranraer harbour at the moment. 

The large Portpatrick Hotel which went bust a year ago and rumour has it that it has been sold again, but it's been empty all summer. It mostly catered for bus tour parties and these have been badly missed in Portpatrick. The town is still busy, mostly with visitors from Ireland and unlike many of the small towns in Wigtownshire it is looking good whereas some of the others are really beginning to look in need of care and attention. 

Our Irish visitors heading back home after lunch at The Crown.

Isle of Whithorn which is a lovely village but showing signs of needing some money spent on the properties there. 

On our way back from Isle of Whithorn to Port William we came upon this old church in the middle of a field. It is called Cruggleton Church and was build in the 12th century by Fergus, Lord of Galloway and restored in 1890 for the 3rd Marquess of Bute. There is an ecumenical service held there every September. 

The view from the bedroom window of our holiday cottage

Portpatrick Harbour

Gaye lived in this house in Wigtown for the first 12 years of her life. It is still much the same as it was then. Her next door neighbour was the actor James Robertson Justice. We enjoyed our week in Port William and look forward to staying for another week in Wigtown next May