2014 – Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland day 07

Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)

The aerial view of Portpatrick and the harbour. 

Day 7 (27.05.2014) – Portpatrick and Mull of Galloway Lighthouse (58km)

This morning at 10am Carol Anne Robertson came and in two cars we drove onto Old Military Road to Portpatrick (11km) first and then to Mull of Galloway Lighthouse (47km) passing by Stoneykirk on road B7042, Sandhead, Ardwell and Terally on road A716, Kirkmaiden on B7065. We had soup, roll and coffee for lunch at Gallie Craig Coffee house. The return journey took us 38km. For dinner we had spaghetti and wine.

Sleeping: Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, Scotland.
A cold but sunny day - Temp: min.8 – max.13 °C


We always loved the morning breakfast of fresh milk with cereals and coffee at Shambley Residence.


Carol Anne Robertson came to pick us at Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.


Farmland on the road to Portpatrick from Stranraer.


Farmland on the road to Portpatrick from Stranraer.


Portpatrick has a fascinating harbour with a lighthouse and Dunskey Castle on the cliffs to the south. In the 1830's it was the main port for crossing to Ireland. Now the ferry's leave from Cairnryan.

Portpatrick village still retains a fishing fleet as well as a lifeboat station. The Southern Upland Way Footpath begins in Portpatrick and ends on the east coast at Cockburnspath a 339km long.

The heart of Portpatrick is its harbour, home of the life-boat. Portpatrick is one of 30 stations in Scotland that has a life-boat continually "on call".


The Portpatrick life-boat station was established in 1877 and the exhibition, open to visitors.

Portpatrick War Memorial, Scotland.

Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.


MV Princess Victoria Memorial in honour of the Portpatrick Lifeboat men who took part in the rescue of the Stranraer to Larne ferry Princess Victoria sank off Corsewall Point with a loss of 134 passengers on 31st January 1953. Portpatrick lifeboat helped in the rescue of the survivors.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.

Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.

The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.

The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.


Walk-about at Portpatrick, Scotland.

The high up Fernhill Hotel, Portpatrick will reward both the sportsman and the holidaymaker. High on the north cliff is Portpatrick Golf Club with its picturesque 18 hole and 9 hole courses.

The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


The attractive buildings cluster round the Portpatrick harbour, making it a very picturesque village.


There is an excellent beach with launching ramp, rock and freshwater fishing, and several boats take sea anglers out from the Portpatrick harbour to catch wrasse, cod, mackerel, whiting, plaice and skate.


At Portpatrick harbour watching the kayaks paddling off across 35km of the Irish Channel to Ireland.


At Portpatrick harbour watching the kayaks paddling off across 35km of the Irish Channel to Ireland.


At Portpatrick harbour watching the kayaks paddling off across 35km of the Irish Channel to Ireland.

Cradled at the foot of rocky cliffs, Portpatrick looks across 35km of the Irish Channel to Donaghdee.


At various times in its history Portpatrick has been an important harbour for fishing craft, freight ships, mail packet boats and the Irish ferries, a military base, coastguard station, lifeboat headquarters and holiday resort.


A beautiful old lighthouse at Portpatrick harbour.


Nice little decommissioned lighthouse in the scenic Portpatrick habour with Scottish Heritage.

Cradled at the foot of rocky cliffs, Portpatrick looks across 35km of the Irish Channel to Donaghdee.


Half a mile south of the Portpatrick village is Dunskey Castle, reached via a steep trail and a narrow bridge.


A view of the Portpatrick village.


The Portpatrick village lies at the foot of a deep cleft cut through the cliffs giving easy access into the hills to Stranraer 11km away, and to the rest of glorious Galloway.


A view of the Portpatrick village.


The rock and cliffs are home to large numbers of seabirds and chicks can often be seen on the ledges in early summer.


The magnificent ruins of Dunskey Castle are picturesquely perched on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the Irish Sea. The massive tower house was built in the mid-16th century for the Adairs of Kinhilt - the same family that owned the Castle of St John in Stranraer - and the long wing to the north was added in the 1620's.


By 1700 the whole building was ruined. The defensive ditch on the landward side is all that survives of an earlier Adair Castle. First recorded in the 14th century, this castle was destroyed around 1500 by the McCullochs of Myrton and Cardoness. Dunskey Castle is located on the coastal path from Portpatrick.


Unfortunately, there is no access to the Dunskey Castle interior. Care is needed if visiting as the cliffs here are steep and dangerous and you are advised to stay on the path.


The Gulf Stream, flowing into the channel from the north, gives the area a mild climate in which sub-tropical plants and trees flourish at Dunskey Castle.


The Gulf Stream, flowing into the channel from the north, gives the area a mild climate in which sub-tropical plants and trees flourish at Dunskey Castle.


The Gulf Stream, flowing into the channel from the north, gives the area a mild climate in which sub-tropical plants and trees flourish at Dunskey Castle.


The Gulf Stream, flowing into the channel from the north, gives the area a mild climate in which sub-tropical plants and trees flourish at Dunskey Castle.


The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.

The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.


We had soup, roll and coffee for lunch at Gallie Craig Coffee house, Mull of Galloway Trail.


At Craig Coffee house we met two Malaysian students studying in Glasgow.


The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.


The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.


The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.


The Mull of Galloway Trail is a project of Rotary Club of Stranraer.


Mull of Galloway Lighthouse - This 114 steps southerly lighthouse has the best view in south west Scotland.


Perched on the edge of a 260 ft. high cliff, the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse sits on the edge of southern Scotland.


Perched on the edge of a 260 ft. high cliff, the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse sits on the edge of southern Scotland.


Mull of Galloway Lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson in 1828 and taking 2 years to complete. The light, which stands 99m above sea level, was first lit on the 26th March 1830.


The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is open for visitors to climb on a weekend. In addition the Lighthouse Exhibition, in the former engine room, is open daily throughout the season. Exhibition and tower: Adult £2.50


The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is open for visitors to climb on a weekend.


The long way down to the fog horn at Mull of Galloway Lighthouse.


The large fog horn is a fog signal that uses sound to warn boats of the presence of other vessels in foggy conditions.


The farmhouse at Mull of Galloway Trail.


The cows grazing grass the whole day at Mull of Galloway Trail.


The cows took a rest after grazing grass the whole day at Mull of Galloway Trail.


For dinner we had spaghetti and wine at Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.


For dinner we had spaghetti and wine at Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.

Click below to view daily adventures:
Day 01 (21.05.2014 Wed) – MH16 KUL/AMS 2355hr – 0655hr on 22May
Day 02 (22.05.2014 Thr) – Amsterdam City, Holland
Day 03 (23.05.2014 Fri) – Amsterdam Zaanse Schans Village (21km)
Day 04 (24.05.2014 Sat) – KL.1477R AMS/GLA 1535hr - 1605hr Glasgow Airport
Day 05 (25.05.2014 Sun) – Stranraer, Scotland

Day 06 (26.05.2014 Mon) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan
Day 07 (27.05.2014 Tue) – Portpatrick and Mull of Galloway Lighthouse (58km)
Day 08 (28.05.2014 Wed) – Lide supermarket (2.8km) and Museum
Day 09 (29.05.2014 Thu) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (56km)
Day 10 (30.05.2014 Fri) – Kirkland Fishery Farm in Leswalt (4.6km)

Day 11 (31.05.2014 Sat) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (60km)
Day 12 (01.06.2014 Sun) – Trekking 20.8km Loch Ryan Coastal Path
Day 13 (02.06.2014 Mon) – A free and easy rest day
Day 14 (03.06.2014 Tue) – To Robert Burns Cottage at Alloway (78km)
Day 15 (04.06.2014 Wed) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan

Day 16 (05.06.2014 Thu) – A trip to the Giant Causeway (153km) by coach
Day 17 (06.06.2014 Fri) – Trekking 4km Ardwell Pond, Ardwell Bay (18km)
Day 18 (07.06.2014 Sat) – Our ladies went shopping in Ayr (72km)
Day 19 (08.06.2014 Sun) – Visiting Isabelle/Robert in Newton Steward (50km)
Day 20 (09.06.2014 Mon) – Overnight stay at Fishing Station, Lady Bay Loch Ryan

Day 21 (10.06.2014 Tue) – Visited a farm using automated milking
Day 22 (11.06.2014 Wed) – Day 1 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 23 (12.06.2014 Thu) – Day 2 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 24 (13.06.2014 Fri) – Day 3 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 25 (14.06.2014 Sat) – Day 4 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland

Day 26 (15.06.2014 Sun) – Day 5 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 27 (16.06.2014 Mon) – Allan and Pauline 50th wedding anniversary
Day 28 (17.06.2014 Tue) – Mysterious beach walk at Loch Larbrax, Scotland
Day 29 (18.06.2014 Wed) – Lake Loweswater, Lake District, UK (day1)
Day 30 (19.06.2014 Thu) – Outward Bound Ullswater, Lake Ullswater (day2)

Day 31 (20.06.2014 Fri) – Return from Lake District (day3)
Day 32 (21.06.2014 Sat) – Our last visit to the bothy at Lady Bay
Day 33 (22.06.2014 Sun) – A farewell dinner hosted by Margaret Modrate
Day 34 (23.06.2014 Mon) – A farewell tea hosted by Vera Little
Day 35 (24.06.2014 Tue) – To Glasgow for a night stay for next day flight
Day 36 (25.6.2014Wed) Glasgow 6am to Amsterdam 8.40//MH17 12noon to KLIA
Day 37 (26.06.2014 Thu) – MH17 touched down at KLIA at 6.20am.

 

37day expenses per person was RM6,139.05 

///