2014 - Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland day 19

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

Isabelle and Robert beautiful new house in Newton Steward.

Day 19 (8.6.2014) visiting Isabelle and Robert in Newton Steward (45km)

We were all invited by Isabelle and Robert for Tea at their beautiful new house in Newton Steward. So this morning Norman John Robertson and wife Carol Anne Robertson came to pick us to visit Isabelle and Robert in Newton Steward.

We had the best Scottish homemade cakes and tea in her home and not forgetting the best whiskey from Robert. Here is what we had the traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits from Isabelle: - Banana Bread, Cheese Scones, Scottish Oat Cakes, Brown Ginger Bread, Smoked Salmon Quiche, Lemon Curd, Caramelized Red Onion Chutney, Matured Cheese, Pan cake and etc. 

 

Our sincere note below:
“Dearest Isabelle and Robert, we would like to thank both of you for the lovely tea at your new house. Your home cooked traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits were excellent. We had good time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was really good to have met you and would thank you for the wonderful tea. Please take care till we see you again. With Love from friends of Malaysia: Pauline Toh, Betty Ching, Catherine Oon, Val Allan, Lim Kee Moon and Ching Neng Bin.”

We drove back by driving on the southern west scenic coast as follows: 7 miles to Wigtown, another 10.6 miles to Whithorn for ice-cream at Central Cafe, 6.6 miles to St. Medan Golf Club, 3.6 miles to Port William and driving 23 miles back to Stranraer for another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies.

Sleeping: Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, Scotland.
Temp: min.11 – max.18 °C

Our road trip to Newton Steward and back to Stranraer,

Nice garden view of Isabelle's house along Wellhouse road in Newton Steward.


Nice garden view of Isabelle's house along Wellhouse road in Newton Steward.


Nice garden view of Isabelle's house along Wellhouse road in Newton Steward.


Meeting Isabelle and Robert for the first time and nice to know them at their new house in Newton Steward.


Meeting Isabelle and Robert at their new house along Wellhouse road in Newton Steward.


Meeting Isabelle and Robert at their new house in Newton Steward.


Beautiful bedroom with nice garden view of Isabelle's new house in Newton Steward.


Isabelle getting ready for tea as Norman looked on and Carol boiled water.


Isabelle taking out the last plate from the oven ready to be served.


All the traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits on the table with bottles of Lemon Curd and Caramelized Red Onion Chutney ready to be served.


All the traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits on the table ready to be served.


Banana and Brown Ginger Bread on the table ready to be served.


Scottish Oat Cakes on the table ready to be served.


Traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits on the table ready to be served.


Pan cakes on the table ready to be served.


Smoked Salmon Quiche on the table ready to be served.


Cheese Scones on the table ready to be served.


Matured Cheese on the table ready to be served.


Plates on the table ready for tea time.


Norman would have to say grace before eating - "Bless this food and the people who prepared it. Many thanks for the meal and the company".


It was a fantastic Tea-time with plenty of traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits.


Isabelle would keep on distributing cakes to all.


It was a fantastic Tea-time with plenty of traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits.


It was a fantastic Tea-time with plenty of traditional Scottish cakes and biscuits.

After the tea and so much food to eat, we spent sometime at the lounge chitchatting.


After the tea and so much food to eat, we spent sometime at the lounge chitchatting.


After the tea and so much food to eat, we spent sometime at the lounge chitchatting.


Ching Neng Bin and Robert at the lounge chitchatting.


Carol and Alistair at the lounge chitchatting.


It was time to say thank you and goodbye to Isabelle and Robert.


It was time to say thank you and goodbye to Isabelle and Robert.


A big thank you Isabelle and goodbye, from all of us. Hope to see you again.


A big thank you Isabelle and goodbye, from all of us. Hope to see you again.


A castle on the road to Wigtown.


The mystical Torhouse Stone Circle near Wigtown.


Discover the mystical Torhouse Stone Circle near Wigtown, also known as the Standing Stones of Torhouse. Located 4 miles west of Wigtown, the Torhouse Stone Circle is a Bronze Age structure rarely found in southern Scotland.


Also known as the Standing Stones of Torhouse, this Bronze Age stone circle consists of some 19 large granite boulders, ranging in height from 0.60m to 1.45m. There are three large upright stones in the centre of the circle known as King Gauldus's Tomb (Galdus being a mythical Scottish king).


This type of Standing Stones of Torhouse is most commonly found in NE Scotland.


Whithorn is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, about 10 miles south of Wigtown. The town was the location of the first recorded Christian church in Scotland, Candida Casa: the 'White or Shining House', built by Saint Ninian about 397.


Whithorn is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland


Whithorn's link to the sea was the port known as the Isle of Whithorn (a separate community from Whithorn itself and actually a peninsula). Much used in the middle Ages by pilgrims arriving by boat. The thirteenth century St Ninian's Chapel marked the point where pilgrims came ashore (the roofless remains are looked after by Historic Scotland).


This footpath to Clarksburn is to road A747 near to St. Medan Golf Club, Mionreith.


The path to Gavin Maxwell Memorial in Scotland.


The path to Gavin Maxwell Memorial in Scotland.


Gavin Maxwell was a Scottish naturalist and author, best known for his work with otters. He wrote the book Ring of Bright Water (1960) about how he brought an otter back from Iraq and raised it in Scotland. Ring of Bright Water sold more than a million copies and was made into a film starring Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna in 1969. The title Ring of Bright Water was taken from a poem by Kathleen Raine, who said in her autobiography that Maxwell had been the love of her life.


Maxwell's Otter. The memorial to Gavin Maxwell - a very appropriate statue of an otter, beautifully sited on a promontory overlooking Luce Bay.


The breathtaking view of the country side from Gavin Maxwell Memorial in Scotland.


The breathtaking view of the country side and its villages from Gavin Maxwell Memorial in Scotland.


Gavin Maxwell memorial overlooking the Medan Golf Club and Luce Bay.


Gavin Maxwell memorial overlooking the Medan Golf Club and Luce Bay.


St. Medan Golf Club, Mionreith – Scotland's most southerly golf course on the rugged Galloway coast. This is a golf course with a difference - 18 tees playing to 9 greens, giving the golfer new challenges and options on each 9 hole round.


Port William Harbour Scotland.


Port William Harbour was extended in 1790 and again in 1848, and it continued to have commercial importance until the end of the First World War. Further work was done to protect the harbour in the 1980s by building a breakwater to the western side of the harbour. It then steadily became what you see today, a haven for small fishing and leisure craft.



Port William Harbour Scotland at low tide.

Port William Harbour Scotland at low tide.


Port William Harbour Scotland.


Bronze statue of a fisherman on the sea-front by Andrew Brown (1999) at Port William Harbour Scotland.


Bronze statue of a fisherman on the sea-front by Andrew Brown (1999) at Port William Harbour Scotland.


A reflection of Port William's seafaring heritage is found in the life-size bronze fisherman's statue overlooking the Port William Harbour. In front of the statue is a plaque with the first verse of the poem Leisure by W. H. Davies.


Bronze statue of a fisherman on the sea-front by Andrew Brown (1999) at Port William Harbour Scotland.


Sculpture by Andrew Brown (1999) at Port William Harbour Scotland.


The country view from Port William Harbour to Stranraer, Scotland.


The country view on road A75 from Port William Harbour to Stranraer.


The country view on road A75 from Port William Harbour to Stranraer.


The country view on road A75 from Port William Harbour to Stranraer.


The country view on road A75 from Port William Harbour to Stranraer.


The country view on road A75 from Port William Harbour to Stranraer.


Another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies at Shambley Residence, Stranraer.


Another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies at Shambley Residence, Stranraer.


Another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies at Shambley Residence, Stranraer.


Another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies at Shambley Residence, Stranraer.


Another lovely dinner prepared by the ladies at Shambley Residence, Stranraer.

 

"Leisure"
by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
 

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 

///