Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)
L-R: Norman John Robertson, Carol Anne Robertson, Pauline Toh, Val Allan, Betty Ching, Lim Kee Moon, Catherine Oon, Ching Neng Bin at Swallow Barn, Loweswater.
Day 31 (20.06.2014) – Return journey from Lake District to Stranraer UK
From Swallow Barn, Loweswater we got onto road A66 to B5291 to 591 to A595 for visiting St. Mary's Church, Beaumont on the Roman 'Hadrian's Wall'. Got on to road M6 to A74 to visit Lockerbie Garden of Remembrance.
Had lunch at Cafe Dargavel and then on road A75 visiting Castle Douglas for the best ice-cream and walked to Sulwath Beer brewery for beer and then to Kirkcudbright harbour.
Stopped at Norman’s house in Newton Steward for tea and continued our journey and had dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer and then back to Alistair’s house.
Sleeping: Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer. Temp: min.12 – max.18°C
In the morning we had a talk with the owner (left) of Swallow Barn, Loweswater.
The beautiful Herdwick sheep escorted us out of Swallow Barn, Loweswater, Lake District.
The Herdwick is a breed of domestic sheep native to the Lake District of Cumbria in NW England. Herdwicks are prized for their robust health and their tendency to be territorial and not to stray over the difficult upland terrain of the Lake District.
The wool quality of a Herdwick has thick bristle type fibres will often protrude from garments forming a protective barrier layer in blizzards that protect the sheep in similar conditions. They have been known to survive under a blanket of snow for 3 days while eating their own wool in the Lake District.
Country view of Lake District in UK.
St Mary's church at Beaumont was constructed the late 12th century from stones provided by the nearby Hadrian's wall. When the Normans arrived they constructed a motte and bailey as a vantage point to repel invasion from the Scots. A castle of the Le Brun family, Lords of Beaumont, was set on the motte and eventually became St Mary’s Church.
St Mary's church at Beaumont was restored in 1872. The single chamber is still mostly of the earlier period, notably the south doorway and three east windows. The windows, porch and vestry are 19th century restorations.
St Mary's church at Beaumont was restored in 1872. The single chamber is still mostly of the earlier period, notably the south doorway and three east windows. The windows, porch and vestry are 19th century restorations.
The organ in St Mary's church at Beaumont is a single keyboard with pedals powered by bellows be pumped by hand till 1970 when an electric blower was installed.
The unique wooden roof of the St Mary’s Church, Beaumont, UK
The writing on the wall of St Mary's church at Beaumont.
Dryfesdale Lodge Visitors' Centre & Garden of Remembrance.
Originally built as a house for the cemetery caretaker, in 2003 eight Trustees was formed and with money awarded by the Lockerbie Trust the building was developed into a centre for the local community, visitors to Lockerbie and to the Memorial Garden.
Dryfesdale Lodge Visitor Centre alongside The Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial and Garden of Remembrance create a lasting memorial to the 270 lives lost as a result of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on December 21st 1988.
The path to the Lockerbie Garden of Remembrance and Memorial.
Lockerbie Garden of Remembrance and Memorial located off the A709 about a mile from Lockerbie, in Dryfesdale Cemetery. It comprises a semi-circular stone wall in the Garden of Remembrance, with the names and nationalities of all the victims along with individual funeral stones and memorials.
Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial at Dryfesdale Cemetery.
Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial at Dryfesdale Cemetery.
Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial at Dryfesdale Cemetery. Karen Lee Hunt was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988.
Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial at Dryfesdale Cemetery. Steven Lee Butler - In his diary Steven wrote, "Pleasure is the basis of my life philosophy. Just enjoy yourselves and then die. If there's more to come, deal with it then. Life is life, life is life."
Dumfries High Street a market town located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth.
How about this for lunch at Dargavel Cafe, Dumfries.
Catherine Oon and Betty Ching had lunch at Dargavel Cafe, Dumfries.
Val Allan and Pauline Toh had lunch at Dargavel Cafe, Dumfries.
Castle Douglas is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies in the lieutenancy area of Kirkcudbrightshire, in the eastern part of Galloway, between the towns of Dalbeattie and Gatehouse of Fleet. It is in the ecclesiastical parish of Kelton. 
The Public Library at Castle Douglas, Scotland.
The Clydesdale Bank, Castle Douglas.
Castle Douglas is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
The Toffee shop at 109 King Street, Castle Douglas.
The Toffee shop at Castle Douglas. Glen Urr Ice cream made with milk and cream produced from award winning herd of Ayrshire cows at Halmyre Farm, Haugh of Urr, Castle Douglas.
The Toffee shop at Castle Douglas specialises in wide range of chocolates and ice cream produced by Glen Urr Farmhouse Ice Creams.
We were still eating Glen Urr Farmhouse Ice Creams on King Street of Castle Douglas, Scotland.
The clock tower on King Street of Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Sulwath Brewers Ltd. Off-Sales & Brewery Tap at Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Sulwath Brewers Ltd. Off-Sales & Brewery Tap at Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Met the brewer at Sulwath Brewers Ltd. and sample the ales and witness the care and skill that goes into preparing traditionally crafted ales. First established in February 1996, Sulwath Brewery takes great pride in the production of products which are brewed traditionally using only 100 percent natural ingredients.
Once you have found your favorites at Sulwath Brewers Ltd. buy them at a discounted price.
Lim Kee Moon and Norman John Robertson tasting beer at Sulwath Brewery, Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Entry to Sulwath Brewers Ltd. visitor centre includes the tasting of Sulwath's bestselling cask ales such as Criffel and Knockendoch, and the brewery's own range of seasonal and specialty beers.
Hops are the female flowers of the hop plant used as flavoring and stability agent in beer to impart a bitter and tangy flavour at Sulwath Brewery, Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Beer drinking at Sulwath Brewery beer garden, Castle Douglas, Scotland.
Tours of Sulwath Brewery are available 6 days a week from 1pm. A beer garden is located to the rear of the brewery which you can enjoy after the tour with one of our original beers.
Kirkcudbright town lies southwest of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea.
MacLellan's Castle in the town of Kirkcudbright was built in the late 16th century. It stands in the centre of Kirkcudbright, on the south side of the River Dee which flows into the Solway Firth.
Kirkcudbright Harbour is the busiest commercial fishing harbour in Dumfries and Galloway.
The catch at Kirkcudbright Harbour being processed locally and is used by 12 fishing vessels.
Wooden statue in Kirkcudbright harbour - memory of loved ones lost at sea.
Stopped at Norman John Robertson’s house in Newton Steward for tea.
Nice view of the surrounding houses from Norman John Robertson’s house in Newton Steward.
We had tea in the garden with beautiful flowers at Norman John Robertson’s house in Newton Steward.
We had tea in the garden with beautiful flowers at Norman John Robertson’s house in Newton Steward.
Bar 12 opened in June 2007 is situated in the heart of Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is relaxing and the food is all homemade and is delicious.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Dinner at Bar 12 in Stranraer next to Hanover Square Car Park.
Click below to view daily adventures:
Day 01 (21.05.2014 Wed) – MH16 KUL/AMS 2355hr – 0655hr on 22MayDay 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.
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Wow…Your shared pictures are very nice it shows how much you have fun there. I also visited Lake District many times yet this is one of my favourtie travel destinations. My recent trip was just before my boston washington bus tours with my family. I visited its most of attractions which I have mentioned below.
ReplyDeleteWhitewashed cottage near Grasmere
Hiking in Great Langdale
Buttermere and Honister Slate Mine
Climbing Helvellyn via Striding Edge
National park
And I must say your food setion is looking very yummmm.....