A Day in Kippford

On Sunday we decided at short notice to have a day out at Kippford as it had been a hectic and difficult week for both Gaye and myself with several friends going down with Covid and also my busy schedule at The Buccleuch Centre. This would be an ideal tonic so we headed off at 9.00am which of course was the old 8.00am before the clocks changed. We parked up in the main car park in Kippford and walked along the sea front and soon came upon this Blossom that was spectacular.

The tide was on its way out so it was just perfect for us to walk the causeway to Rough island in about an hour after our arrival.

This is the UK Tree of the year.

The Causeway to Rough Island. It was a wee bit muddy in places on the way out but much better on the way back. We enjoyed a wee picnic on the shore at Rough Island.

I have admired this tree for many years and am so pleased it has been give the accolade it so deserves.

On our way home we took a short detour to Southerness and stopped at the roadside to take a photo of this herd of Cattle enjoying paddling in a flooded field. We did not enjoy Southerness as its has become quite grubby and is obviously a downmarket caravan site now which is not in keeping with the rest of the area. 

One of the lovely boats moored at Kippford. It was a perfect day except for the fact we could not have lunch at The Anchor in Kippford as they were fully booked for Mothers Day lunches despite the fact when we were there at 12.30pm it was still quiet but as we were leaving it got much busier. We just had a Coffee and a packet of crisps each and then Fish and Chips when we got home. 

 

Kippford to Rockliffe via Rough Island

The Causeway from Kippford to Rough Island. If you are going to go there its important you check the tide times as you could easily get stranded as the tide comes in so fast.

It was only Tom and myself yesterday so with a good forecast for the whole of the South of Scotland we decided to go to Kippford and with the tide times perfect to enable us to walk to Rough Island and then do the circular path to Rockliffe and back. We arrived there at 10.15am and as high tide was not until 3.00pm we had a window of about 2.5 hours to cross to Rough Island. You need a 2 hour window each side of low tide. This is Kippford at low tide. You are not allowed to visit Rough Island between 1st May and 31st July to prevent disturbance to beach nesting birds.   

The walk along the shore from the car park takes you to this area where a local resident has for many years displayed many figures like these. Its a great place to take kids to see the many interesting figures. 

The beach at Kippford composed almost entirely out of Cockle Shells 

The view from the highest point on Rough Island looking over to Heston Island 

Tom at the highest point on Rough Island with Rockcliffe in the background.

The view from Rough Island looking towards Screel

The village of Rockcliffe

Looking back towards Kippford. It was a perfect day and we finished with a lovely lunch at The Anchor Hotel and then tea and cake at Canonbie Community Cafe on the way home.