New England Bay
This is night No 93/2018 living in my caravan. We're now pitched at the New England Bay C&MC Site near Port Logan on the Rhins of Galloway. A very reasonable £22.20 for 2 nights for me, the van, and the mutts (free).
I was more than happy to leave Ayr. The weather was miserable and the whole area was not the sort of place to enjoy a break. The site was good enough, but the local walking and general feel of the place was not great. I don't think I'd hurry back unless there was something in that area that I was attending.
I left the site around 1000 for the 2hr drive south to New England Bay. I've been here before in my campervan, but the freedom of the caravan makes it a whole new experience. It's located on the Rhins of Galloway, the 'hammerhead' looking area of land at the furthest south west of Scotland. The journey is fine but passes through the dismal towns of Maybole (grim), and Stranraer (grimmer), but also a few really nice wee places such as Lendalfoot.
I arrived and was given a nice welcome by the wardens. I was told that the site was quiet, and I could choose from around 120 different pitches! It is a large site, but the pitches are arranged in little hedged off groups, and there are 2 toilet blocks. I was told that a chip van visits on a Tuesday, and they do a good fish supper for £5, and a fish van visits on a Wednesday selling fresh fish and shellfish.
It is a great site. Right on a shingle and sand beach and has a nice stretch of coastal walk running past the site. It's got fairly good wifi and a good TV signal.
The weather was improving as we arrived. Took the dogs for a run around the beach.
The site feels virtually empty, which is right up my street! Most of the caravans pitched up were empty 'seasonal' vans, and the entire waterfront line of around 20 pitches was empty due to last nights gales.
After setting up, I loaded up the dogs for a drive to the most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway lighthouse. I've never visited here before, as the final stretch on single track roads through a cattle field wasn't suitable for my campervan. It's about 10miles from the site.
On the way, I stopped at the 'most southerly shop in Scotland' in Drummore. A good wee shop and Post Office which was pretty well stocked.
Continued along the road, finally arriving at the lighthouse carpark.
I've visited a lot of lighthouses, and this one really was very well kept.
It was blowing an absolute hoolie. Must have been gusting around 50mph, and it made walking a bit of a grind. This former store is now a RSPB visitor centre, as the land here is surrounded by steep cliffs.
Interesting, I was reading an information board commemorating a plane crash here in 1944. A warplane, in the fog, misjudged the land, clipped a dyke, bounced of the ground, then clipped this building, and crashed into the sea in front of the cliffs. Must have been horrendous.
It is a nice place for a lighthouse.
I would not like to be on the Irish Ferries today, which sail from just round the coast. The seas looked huge.
The road passes through a large herd of cattle as you leave the lighthouse. This is big Galloway Cheese country, I passed the signs on farms on the way here.
Stopped again at Drummore on the return to the site to allow the dogs to have a run around on another beach. A touch grey, but thankfully it was dry.
There is a coffee shop and gift shop near the Lighthouse and they had a good selection of local honey. Got this one which is from a beekeeper in Whithorn. Not bad, a big jar for £6.
I was more than happy to leave Ayr. The weather was miserable and the whole area was not the sort of place to enjoy a break. The site was good enough, but the local walking and general feel of the place was not great. I don't think I'd hurry back unless there was something in that area that I was attending.
I left the site around 1000 for the 2hr drive south to New England Bay. I've been here before in my campervan, but the freedom of the caravan makes it a whole new experience. It's located on the Rhins of Galloway, the 'hammerhead' looking area of land at the furthest south west of Scotland. The journey is fine but passes through the dismal towns of Maybole (grim), and Stranraer (grimmer), but also a few really nice wee places such as Lendalfoot.
I arrived and was given a nice welcome by the wardens. I was told that the site was quiet, and I could choose from around 120 different pitches! It is a large site, but the pitches are arranged in little hedged off groups, and there are 2 toilet blocks. I was told that a chip van visits on a Tuesday, and they do a good fish supper for £5, and a fish van visits on a Wednesday selling fresh fish and shellfish.
It is a great site. Right on a shingle and sand beach and has a nice stretch of coastal walk running past the site. It's got fairly good wifi and a good TV signal.
The weather was improving as we arrived. Took the dogs for a run around the beach.
The site feels virtually empty, which is right up my street! Most of the caravans pitched up were empty 'seasonal' vans, and the entire waterfront line of around 20 pitches was empty due to last nights gales.
After setting up, I loaded up the dogs for a drive to the most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway lighthouse. I've never visited here before, as the final stretch on single track roads through a cattle field wasn't suitable for my campervan. It's about 10miles from the site.
On the way, I stopped at the 'most southerly shop in Scotland' in Drummore. A good wee shop and Post Office which was pretty well stocked.
Continued along the road, finally arriving at the lighthouse carpark.
I've visited a lot of lighthouses, and this one really was very well kept.
It was blowing an absolute hoolie. Must have been gusting around 50mph, and it made walking a bit of a grind. This former store is now a RSPB visitor centre, as the land here is surrounded by steep cliffs.
Interesting, I was reading an information board commemorating a plane crash here in 1944. A warplane, in the fog, misjudged the land, clipped a dyke, bounced of the ground, then clipped this building, and crashed into the sea in front of the cliffs. Must have been horrendous.
It is a nice place for a lighthouse.
I would not like to be on the Irish Ferries today, which sail from just round the coast. The seas looked huge.
The road passes through a large herd of cattle as you leave the lighthouse. This is big Galloway Cheese country, I passed the signs on farms on the way here.
Stopped again at Drummore on the return to the site to allow the dogs to have a run around on another beach. A touch grey, but thankfully it was dry.
There is a coffee shop and gift shop near the Lighthouse and they had a good selection of local honey. Got this one which is from a beekeeper in Whithorn. Not bad, a big jar for £6.
Again, good to see you supporting the local tourism industries with the honey purchase. Watch for place names that resonate with Drumchapel, Iain, as Drummore was the road on which Pinewood Primary was situated next to the "Drummore Road Special School". Now there's a name you wouldn't read these days. Seriously, though, watch for references that might explain what the original town planners were thinking. Tallant? Summerhill? Ledmore? Other thing to watch for is a game that Jane, Helen and I always played - to be the first to spot a Beltie, the beautiful eponymous cattle. Safe travels.
ReplyDelete