The Machars

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Yes, there really is an area of Scotland called The Machars!

The Bruce Memorial in the Galloway Hills at Glentrool, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
The Bruce Memorial in the Galloway Hills at Glentrool, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The site of the famous cup of tea. Colin and I went here shortly after we first met. He carried a small gas stove and all the makings for a cup of tea in his backpack. I was so impressed! I decided then and there that I wanted to marry him!

The Southern Uplands Way as it runs through the Galloway Hills in Glentrool, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
The Southern Uplands Way as it runs through the Galloway Hills in Glentrool, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

We went for a walk around Loch Trool – 5.5 miles (5 miles is 8Km). It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes! Long miles, or old age?

Loch Trool and the Galloway Hills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Loch Trool and the Galloway Hills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
A busy morning in the traditional High Street of Newton Stuart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
A busy morning in the traditional High Street of Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Newton Stewart actually has a functioning, traditional High Street, with proper shops. Not just charity shops!

Bridge and weir on the River Cree at Newton Stuart, in The Machars region, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Bridge and weir on the River Cree at Newton Stuart, in The Machars region, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

And a nice bridge! You can see that we have had some reasonable weather, more already than we had on our last trip to Scotland, which I think we abandoned after 10 days.

The Scottish village of Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
The Scottish village of Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.

I took this right outside the caravan. Looks pretty, but don’t be deceived, it doesn’t last more than about an hour. The rest of the time is ugly mud flats.

The Scottish harbourside village of Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
The Scottish harbourside village of Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

You can see the caravan site in this picture.

Boats moored on a misty morning in the harbour of the fishing village of Garlieston in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Boats moored on a misty morning in the harbour of the fishing village of Garlieston in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

This is what we call a nothingness picture. Could be just about anywhere!

Isle of Whithorn in The Machars region of Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Isle of Whithorn in The Machars region of Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

This is not really an island, but apparently it used to be!

We are now at Ayr, where Colin was born.

2 thoughts on “The Machars”

  2. You can’t beat Scotland on a good day. We had good weather when we were there in 2007. Well I thought it was good weather, but the news was calling it a ‘heat wave’?

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