Newton Stewart walking festival. Barony Hill near Dailly. May 2014

Starting out on a cloudy morning

through Lindayston woods

with a couple of burns to cross.

Morning coffee at the ruined chapel

One of many styles to be crossed

Our Dutch visitor enjoying a rest at the limekilns.

Our numbers increase as a local dog joins us

Now we had a lovely sunny woodland walk

followed by a pleasant riverside trail

and another style to be crossed

Dalquharron castle

Group on summit of Barony hill.

Today Sunday May 11th the teacher and I were leaders for a group from the Newton Stewart walking festival who had travelled by coach to Dailly . 10 walkers joined us at the village square for an 8 mile walk to the Barony hill a walk we have done with various other rambling groups over the years. Todays party included a visitor from Holland another from North Wales and the rest made up of English and Scots.It was cloudy overhead at first but at least it was dry as we made our way through Lindayston woods before beginning the climb to the summit of Barony hill. It was not long before the sun broke through the clouds giving us the most pleasant weather in which to enjoy the surrounding countryside that this area has to offer. Coming off the summit our next stop was an old quarry complete with limekilns last worked in the 1800's also a vista that included Ben Lomond some 70 miles away. Once we had our lunch stop we came down through a beautiful wood with all sorts of wild flowers blooming in the warm sun. A 2 mile walk along a path beside the River Girvan brought us to the remains of Dalquharron castle where our leader gave us a brief description of its history and the plans a developer has for the future. The walk finished back in the village with coach already there to take the group back to Newton Stewart. We both enjoyed your company today and it was an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to show you all round the area that has so much to offer and we hope you all gained something from the walk. Thanks.