Pup Obi Travels

Our fourth day in Dumfries and Galloway and the weather was not as bright as yesterday. Gloomy grey sky for us today. Well that’s not going to stop us getting out exploring so we are going to visit Kirkcudbright. Place not visited since my parents took me, 20 odd years ago more than likely.

Our focus was MacLellan’s Tower House in the town of Kirkcudbright. The L shaped castle was built in the 16th century by the MacLellan family. The site originally was a monastery. Only the chapel of which remains. It’s an impressive structure standing in the town of Kirkcudbright. We managed to visit and explore the castle and again all the photos are in the photo gallery at the top of the post.

Next on our visit was Dundrennan Abbey. Down the coastline from Kirkcudbright going towards Dumfries, but along the A711, the Abbey is another impressive historical site of the area. The abbey dates back to 1142 by Fergus of Galloway, King David I of Scotland and monks from Rievaulx Abbey.

As we explored the remains of the abbey, like Glenluce the other day, sometimes it odd to feel your walking around a place that was once occupied and has a religious significance to the people of this area. A piece of history lost, but the remains of the abbey allows us that glimpse into the past.

We continued along the A117 to our next place for visit which is Orchardton Tower. Unlike most tower houses around Scotland and Northern England, this tower is round, not square or rectangle in shape.

Our final stop on today’s explore was Rockcliffe, a small village with a good few caravan parks in the area. The location of also home to the Motte of Mark. Sadly not named after my fella, but like the idea. It’s actually a 6th century hillfort rather than a motte and apparently is named after Mark, King of Dumnonia, the aggrieved husband in the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Iseult.

Camel island which lies just off the shoreline, is home to various seabirds that use the local waters for food and nest on the island away from predators.