Day 13 New Luce to Portpatrick – about 20 miles
A bright and breezy start was followed by heavy showers and a strengthening wind. I took a pragmatic view of my route, seeing no point in wandering the trackless moors for the first couple of miles, so I devised a more direct route to Castle Kennedy where I rejoined the waymarked SUW.
Above: Castle Kennedy Below: The SUW mercifully avoids
Stranraer, though it’s a close call.
Beyond Stranraer the SUW falls and rises across minor valleys
before reaching windswept moor and pasture at Knockquhassen
Reservoir. Thereafter it twists and turns across fields at Knock
and Maize, which I found frustrating in my impatience to finish
the challenge.
I finally joined a road that led to the cliffs at Killantringan
Lighthouse on Black Head, where I felt much happier. An
attractive undulating path led along the cliff edge and down to
a couple of beaches. Spring flowers common along our western
coast brightened the upper slopes as the strong wind blew in my
face.
Finishing as I began, at the junction of land and sea, I
dropped to Portpatrick and went into a pub. I quickly realised I
was the odd man out. Nobody else looked as if they’d walked
further than the car park. Everyone seemed to be ordering drinks
at the bar, deciding on food, and looking rather smart by my
standards.
I walked outside and took a bus ride north into the lovely
Ayrshire countryside.
Above: Squill Below: Thrift or Sea Pinks
All three pictures: On the way to Portpatrick