Nearby - Borgue, Gatehouse of Fleet; Tongland; Twynholm; Dunderran; Auchencairn; Palnackie
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Undiscovered Scotland Wikipedia www.kirkcudbright.town/ www.kirkcudbright.com/ Kirkcudbright was built at the lowest fording point of the River Dee - and for many years this and the ferry were the only way across the river in the town. Tongland Old Bridge was built in 1737, and the newer Tongland Bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1808 .Tongland is about 2 miles north of the town and close to the confluence with the Tarff Water - so to get to the opposite bank of the Dee, you still needed to cross the Tarff .In the early to mid 18th century the Old Bridge of Tarff was built a few miles upstream (replaced in 1832 by the High Bridge of Tarff); the Low Bridge of Tarff is dated to the later 18th century, but even with the later bridge that would be nearly six miles to get across the river, so a direct bridge was needed. The first bridge was opened on 8th July 1868 - an iron swing bridge, replaced by the current 5 arch bridge in 1926. Kirkcudbright was used for locations in the 1973 film The Wicker Man. A Wickerman music festival was held at East Kirkcarswell near Dundrennan, 6 miles from Kirkcudbright from 2001 to 2015. Old Maps: 1754 map showing the Tongland Old Bridge but nothing on the Tarff; 1797 showing the bridges on the Tarff; Dated 1850 but must be later as it includes the Railway. 1854 showing the Ferry and Ford before the Kirkcudbright Bridge was built - but it does show the railway which wasn't built until 1864, so there's something wrong with the dating of the maps. 1893 with the Bridge. Kirkcudbright & WhiskyBladnoch Distillery (32 miles) is the nearest distillery.
Nearest specialist whisky shop: TB Watson, Dumfries (26 miles). NearbyBorgue, five miles SW of Kirkcudbright on NCN 7, comes from "borg" - Old Norse, nothing to do with 7 of 9, meaning "stronghold".
Castle Haven is an iron age fort near Kirkandrews, two miles from Borgue The Kirkcudbright site has a detailed description of a 'Ramble in Galloway' from Kirkudbright to Borgue and Kirkandrews. Kirkandrews Kirk is a castellated church built by James Brown of Knockbrex, who liked the embellishments of castellation, including on a nearby 'Coo Palace'. A detailed description of the Kirk is provided by Mary Smith. Borgue Hotel Borgue 01557 870636 Gatehouse of Fleet was initially simply a staging post on the route to Ireland via Portpatrick - the Gait House. In 1765 James Murray - developed the town after building a house nearby - the Cally, now the Cally Palace Hotel. At one point it was a centre for the cotton industry and had four mills, the Fleet was canalised, and Port Macadam established. The Mill of the Fleet remains and houses an exhibition, bookshop and café. The town also has a memorial to Samuel Rutherford, a puritan fanatic of the 17th century. The most obvious landmark is the 15th century Cardoness Castle. Until 1986 the A75 took a big d-tour into Gatehouse (see 1920s map) before the by-pass was built through the Cally Deer Park. Gatehouse of Fleet had a station on the Portpatrick Railway, but because of the railway's circuitous route it was 6.5 miles from the town. The Water of Fleet has two principal tributaries, imaginatively named the Little Water of Fleet and the Big Water of Fleet, both of which were crossed by viaducts. The latter, which has 20 arches, is still intact and is now owned by Sustrans, so hopefully will become part of a cycle route soon. Gatehouse of Fleet website Gatehouse Folk Undiscovered Scotland Bank of Fleet Hotel High Street 01557 814302 The Ship Inn 1 Fleet Street 01557 814217 (Secure facilities for bikes) 100 RA Bobin GH 36 High Street 01557 814229 Kirk House B&B Girthon 01557 814547 Murray Arms Hotel High Street 01557 814207 Masonic Arms 10 Ann Street 01557 814335 MW RA Tongland, earlier, Tungland or Tongueland, probably reflecting the tongue of land between the Tarff and the Dee - this shape is emphasised by the A762 and A711 running along the rivers - the tip of the tongue can be seen on the map above.The bridges over these rivers have already been mentioned, but it also hosts a power station, part of the Galloway hydro-electric scheme built between 1932-1936. Earlier, Tongland was briefly (1922-26) the site for the manufacture of Galloway cars largely run and staffed by women - "a car made by ladies for others of their sex". The factory, which used hydro-electric power, was later taken over by Scottish Artifical SIlks, makers of Rayon. Google Street View of the remains of the factory in 2009. Canmore pages for the Sulhpidizing House and the original Car Factory. Twynholm (possibly meaning "between the river banks") is a small village, by-passed by the A75 in 1973. David Coulthard was born in Twynholm, and there is a museum devoted to his Motor Racing career just outside the village, next door to the CocoaBean Company - café and chocolate factory. Undiscovered Scotland Visit Southern Scotland Star Hotel Main Street, Twynholm 01557 860279 Dundrennan ("dùn draighneanan" - "hill of the thorn bushes") is a small settlement 5 miles from Kirkcudbright - it has a ruined Abbey, an ancient bridge and its own website. The ruins of the abbey, which dates from 1142, are in the care of Historic Scotland (closed November to March). Its ruins are not as extensive as daughter abbey, Sweetheart Abbey near Dumfries, having been harvested for stone many times after its suppression. Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night in Scotland at the Abbey in 1568. Undiscovered Scotland The village website says the bridge to the north east of the village "is believed to be the oldest bridge in Scotland" on one page, but suggests more likely late 18th century on another. Scotland's Oldest Bridges site, doesn't mention it, though British Listed Buildings says "probably of medieval origin". Canmore Crown & Anchor Tearooms and B&B Dundrennan 01557 500579 The Old School B&B Dundrennan 01557 500292 Hazlefield House B&B Between Dundrennan & Auchencairn 01556 640597 Auchencairn ("achadh-na-cairn" - "field of the cairn") is a larger village than Dundrennan, but without quite as long a history. That having been said, it too has a website (though it doesn't appear to have been updated for a while), and a website on the village's history. The Old Smugglers Inn has closed down. Balcary Bay is a small inlet in Auchencairn Bay near its entrance to the Solway Firth between Balcary Point and Hestan Island (a small tidal island accessible from Almorness Point on the eastern side of Auchencairn Bay - it has a lighthouse, a rock that looks like an elephant, and its own website). Auchencairn House and Balcary Tower are private residences but there is an hotel. Bluehill Farm B&B Auchencairn 01556 640228/07833 734011 Balcary Bay Hotel Auchencairn 01556 640217/640311 (dress code in Restaurant) Farhills Farm B&B Auchencairn 01556 640246/07748 994366 Palnackie is a small village 2 miles downstream from Dalbeattie on the west bank of the Urr Water. The harbour and that at nearby Garden Creek were useful for ships that couldn't reach Dalbeattie, sailing ships couldn't easily navigate the meanders of the river. Palnackie is the home of the World Flounder Tramping Championships, they didn't take place in 2010 due to local council regulations, but appear to have been revived for 2015, not sure about subsequent years. Orchardton Tower a mile south of Palnackie is unusual for the tower houses in this area in that it is round, reminiscent of the northerly brochs. Undiscovered Scotland The Glenisle Inn Palnackie 01556 600429 NRA |
Kirkcudbright was a religious centre in the early years of the last millennium - with a monastery, a priory, a nunnery and a friary all being established here, together with a royal castle - no traces remain of any of them apart from some earthworks where the castle was. The town became a Royal Burgh in 1453, and had town walls built in the 1540s after the town had to be rebuilt following a raid by pirates from the Isle of Man in 1507. The raiders also destroyed the old castle.
MacLennan's Castle, the ruins of which remain, was built in around 1570. It was the county town of Kirkcudbrightshire until 1975 when the shire counties were abolished. Kirkcudbrightshire was also known as the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright - in 1372 the Lord of Galloway appointed a steward to run the area and collect taxes. The Stewartry name continues as a committee area in Dumfries & Galloway. The Kirkcudbright Railway opened in 1864 and ran to Caste Douglas, where it connected with the Portpatrick Line (Dumfries to Stranraer and Portpatrick). It closed in 1965. The main station building has been re-purposed as a cafe, some other buildings may remain. The final part ran alongside St Mary St and has been replaced by some particularly hideous housing. Arriving & DepartingOpen Cycle Map Bing Map
Kirkcudbright is on National Cycle Route 7. Local cycle routes. Nearest station - Dumfries (DMF) (26 miles) Live train times {Bing suggests Flimby as nearest station - which it is if you're a crow - however, without flying or a boat it's about 87 miles away in Cumbria}! Bikes are carried on Stagecoach bus 500 from Dumfries to Stranraer, which passes through Twynholm (3 miles) SleepingI stayed at Rosevale B&B, St Mary Street, but it does not appear to be a B&B any more.
Selkirk Arms Hotel High Street 01557 330402 Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel 25 St Cuthbert Street 01557 339554 For other accommodation - see www.kirkcudbright.town/ and kikcudbright.com/ EatingSelkirk Arms Hotel High Street 01557 330402
Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel 25 St Cuthbert Street 01557 339554 The Castle Restaurant 5 Castle Street 01557 330569 I ate here on my visit to Kirkcudbright in May 2005 - though it was then known as the Auld Alliance, and has changed hands since - hopefully the standard is still as good. More Restaurants - kirkcudbright.town/ or kirkcudbright.com DrinkingSelkirk Arms Hotel High Street 01557 330402 RA
Masonic Hotel 19 Castle Street 01557 330517 MW RA Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel 25 St Cuthbert Street 01557 339554 MW NRA For other Kirkcudbright bars - kirkcudbright.town/ and kikcudbright.com/ CyclingWilliam Laws 17 Saint Cuthbert Street, DG6 4DJ 01557 330579
Castle Douglas - 9 miles Castle Douglas Cycles Church Street 01556 504542 Studio Velo 26-30 St Andrews Street 01556 503069 Dalbeattie - 13 miles MPG Cycles 1 Milo Place Garage, High Street 01556 610659
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Photos on this page were taken by me. Click on photo to enlarge. Full size versions and my other pictures of Kirkcudbright are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/sets/72157628778498017