Wild Seasons In Dumfries And Galloway

This Friday evening is the first event in the 2019 Gatehouse Talks and Excursions programme. Following the talk there will be an electro-fishing demonstration on Saturday (free event but booking essential). See poster for further details.

Come along to the Environment Fair this Saturday for a great day out - lots of interesting stall holders attending.

The coastline of Dumfries and Galloway has many interesting and strange place names. Discover more at #solwaycoastwise

Crammag Head is an area of mainly granite sea-cliffs, overlooking the North Channel near the Mull of Galloway There has been a lighthouse on Crammag Head since 1913. The current lighthouse became operational in December 2009. The rocks and cliffs are very dramatic and colourful due to the many different species of lichen that have colonised them. Look closer and they appear like miniature forests.

What a difference a week makes! A few pics from last Wednesday out surveying the route of the Rhins of Galloway Coast Path north of Larbrax Bay. Blue skies mostly but a fret kept rolling in from the North Channel creating some magical changing views. The gorse flowers were a vivid yellow and the coconut-like scent was intense with the temperature reaching a heady 20 degrees! Came across carpets of spring squill which I think are equal to showy bluebells any day. Looking to the south Killantringan lighthouse just peeped through the fret every now and again. #visitsouthwestscotland

Interesting evening talks on offer at the Newton Stewart Walking Festival 2019- no need to book, just come along

Well done to the Grentrool and Bargrennan Community Trust on the opening of the new community path. A great example of a partnership project between a local community, Dumfries and Galloway Council Environment Team and Forestry Commision Scotland. It took a long time but the results were worth it. Many thanks to all the funders who contributed to the project; the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Scottish Rural Development Programme , Kilgallioch Community Fund, Cree Valley Community Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, and last but not least the local fundraising by the Trust , Glentrool Camping and Carvan Site and House O' Hill Hotel. It was a pleasure working with the Trust volunteers. Best wishes from Bryan, Anna, Craig, Ross, D&G Council Environment Team.

Looking South towards High Slock Fell from Crammag Head, Rhins of Galloway

Out on the Rhins. Beautiful carpets of Spring Squill and pin cushions of Thrift

Restoration work on the Rutherford Monument, outside Gatehouse, is now complete. This Friday evening there will be an illustrated talk ‘In Search of Samuel Rutherford’ by Professor John Coffey. He will be explaining why Rutherford became famous - so famous that eventually people would erect monuments in his honour!
Friday 26 October 7.30pm at the Mill on the Fleet. Cost £2 (incl. refreshments), under 16s free.

Music and readings this Friday evening at the Mill on the Fleet - a celebration of William Nicholson the Borgue Piper and Poet.

Here's the talk information...

Another intersting talk coming up on Friday night at the Mill on the Fleet. George Fraser's neice tells the story of his final expedition to the Himalays in 1959 and his influence on the mountaineering world.