DAY 122
WEDNESDAY 16 MAY, 2017
CORSEWALL LIGHTHOUSE TO PORTPATRICK
15 MILES 7 HOURS
MORRIS, BILLY, STEWART, GEORGE, STUART, JOHN AND PHIL
DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 1586 MILES
The weather forecast for today was much better than yesterday with some showers expected but sunshine forecast for later in the day. Our three night stay in Stranraer is over and today we move to Portpatrick where we will stay for the remainder of the week. Our accommodation at the Lakeside Guest House in Stranraer has been excellent and we have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone.
After breakfast we loaded the minibus, said our farewells to the guys in the team who were heading home to go back to work, and travelled back to Corsewall lighthouse. It was dull and dreary when we set off walking south on the grass area above the rocks near the sea edge. We were able follow tracks (presumably made by sheep or the wild goats) passed Dounan Bay, Castle Butt, Portobello Bay and the impressive Juniper Rock. Visibility was very poor with an eerie mist obscuring much of the craggy coast line but we continued on tracks at the edge of the fields passed Port Beg where we had our first sighting of the many wild goats in this area. We were entertained watching them skipping confidently over the rocks. Walking on we decided to take tea break at Salt Pan Bay where there is a most unusual wooden building resembling a kids play house. On moving on we made our way back up to the flat area above the rocks where walking conditions were much easier. On reaching Broadsea Bay the mist had lifted somewhat and we made our way down onto the beach and enjoyed walking in the sand close to the sea. At the end of Broadsea Bay we again returned to the high ground following a track to Knock Bay where we again dropped down to the lovely sands and walked on across Killantrigan Bay before climbing the hillside at Black Head to the lighthouse. From here we followed the route of the Southern Upland Way passed the picturesque Port Kale and Port Mora into Portpatrick and the end of the days walk. A much enjoyed ‘pint’ was had before we checked into our accommodation at the Waterfront Hotel.
Summary; A really enjoyable walk. In general underfoot conditions were good. One or two testing parts over rocks or up steep hillsides.
Highs; Seeing so many wild goats. Some nice beaches. The walk from Black Head into Portpatrick was particularly nice.
Lows; The mist obscured what would have been lovely views.
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- THE TEAM UNDERWAY AGAIN
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- WE FOLLOWED A GOOD TRACK ABOVE THE ROCKS
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- WE NAMED THIS ELEPHANT ROCK
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- JUNIPER ROCK
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- FIRST SIGHTING OF WILD GOATS
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- JOHN ,STUART AND GEORGE ON THE BEACH NEAR PORT BEG
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- SALT PANS BAY
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- MAKING OUR WAY IN THE MIST NEAR CRANBERRY POINT
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- ON THE SAND AT BROADSEA BAY
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- LOOKING SOUTH DOWN BROADSEA BAY
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- LOOKING BACK NORTH ALONG BROADSEA BAY
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- JOHN, GEORGE AND MORRIS TAKING A REST ON THE HILLSIDE ABOVE BROADSEA BAY
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- LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS BLACK HEAD AND KILLANTRINGAN LIGHTHOUSE FROM NEAR BROADSEA BAY
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- BILLY IN THE BLUEBELLS TOWARDS KNOCK BAY
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- LOOKING AHEAD TO KNOCK AND KILLANTRINGAN BAYS
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- MAKING OUR WAY ALONG THE LOVELY SANDS OF KNOCK BAY
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- LOOKING BACK NORTH OVER KILLANTRINGAN BAY TOWARDS KNOCK BAY
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- LOOKING BACK NORTH FROM BLACK HEAD
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- SOUTHERN UPLAND WAY SIGNPOST AT BLACK HEAD
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- KILLANTRINGAN LIGHTHOUSE AT BLACK HEAD
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- JOHN LOOKING BACK NORTH FROM NEAR BLACK HEAD
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- ON THE PATH TOWARDS PORT KALE
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- LOOKING DOWN ON PORT KALE
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- LOOKING BACK OVER PORT KALE AND PORT MORA
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- LOOKING OVER THE GOLF COURSE TO PORTPATRICK
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- THE END OF A GOOD DAY AT PORTPATRICK
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- ENJOYING A PINT IN THE SUN AT PORTPATRICK
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DAY 122 ROUTE MAP