Hawker Hurricane crash site Loch Doon

30^th July 2015

Eighteenth of March 1944 an aircraft took of from a war time airfield in Ayr, Scotland. The flight was a navigational exercise over the local countryside. Mystery surrounds this flight, as no one knows exactly what happened. Witness statements say “that the aircraft came out off the clouds in a steep dive and never recovered, hit the side of a hill in deep woodland, killing the pilot”.

This story has interested me for many years, partly because I live near the old airfield and I have walked and cycled these hills all my adult life. So I decided to investigate the incident in more detail. The internet is a great tool, I got more information about the type of aircraft which was a Hawker Hurricane mk 1V based at Ayr Heathfield. The pilot was PO Roswell Murray MacTavish, a twenty four year old Canadian attached to 439 Tiger Squadron RCAF. MacTavish is now buried in Ayr cemetery.

I also managed to get the map co-ordinates for the crash site which would save me a lot of time searching the area. I loaded the co-ordinates into my GPS grabbed the map, compass and loaded up the bike.

I parked the car at the Dalmellington end of Loch Doon as I wanted to make a day of the ride and there was ample parking and a large grassy area with picnic tables.

From here I cycled out of the car park and turned left up the tarred road through the hills. As you travel along this tarred road you get your first sight of Loch Doon, then you cross a narrow bridge. It was at this point that I could smell the coffee, bacon and sausages being cooked. The smell was coming from a carry – out shop called the Roundhouse. As I passed the Roundhouse the smell of the coffee was so enticing it took all my inner strength not to stop, but I made a mental note to stop on my return trip.

                                               The tarred road towards Loch Doon

                                                   The first sight of Loch Doon

Carry on along this road and you come to the second narrow bridge which you cross over. After a few kilometres you arrive at Loch Doon Castle. The castle is worth a short visit to take some photo’s and you also get great views of the Loch itself. (you could also park here if you were walking to the crash site).

                                                 Views along the side of Loch Doon

                                                              Loch Doon Castle

                                                              Inside the Castle

From the castle you continue on the tarred road till you come to a junction. If you turn right the forest road will take you over to Loch Finlas, straight on is the forest drive road over to Loch Bradan, however you take the forest road to the left and you skirt round the bottom edge of Loch Doon. You get fantastic views up Loch Doon at this point. Follow the forest road and you pass a small cottage called Starr. This has been unoccupied for many years and the windows are bricked up. From here continue along the road and pass the junction on your right, take the next junction to the left. After a short time stop. If you go too far along this road you end up at a small farm. This is where your route planning skills are tested. If you have planned the trip right you should be next to a fire break, this is where you start to hike-a-bike up through the trees or so I thought!!!

                                          Looking up the Glen towards Loch Riecawr

                                                                Starr Cottage

My plan was to get to these co-ordinates and hike myself and the bike to the crash site. After about 50 meters up the fire break, sweat and sore legs later, I decided to dump the bike. The grass was long, wet and very boggy, every second step I took my legs sank up to the knees in gore. I marked the position on my GPS, grabbed the camera and the water bottle and set off up the hill.

After about 1 km – 1.5 km I came across a new forest road that is not marked on my maps. (I will have to find out where this goes to some day) From the road I crossed straight over and back in to the trees, I took five minutes here to catch my breath, it was a hard climb as there is a lot of trees blown down and you have to make a lot of detours which takes time and agility. From the new forest road you are only a few hundred meters from the crash site.

Continuing up through the trees you eventually come to the crash site. There is still wreckage spread over a fairly wide area. Most of the wreckage is the alloy frame work, but there is also an engine and what appears to be gears. The crater from the impact is still visible even after all these years.

                                                         The Hurricane Engine

                                                Some of the debris from the crash  

                                                  The crater made by the impact

I spent some time here thinking how lucky this country was to have such young men and women prepared to put their life’s on the line to defend it from the Germans. After a while I started back down the hill and located my bike. (great things these GPS’s) I then headed back the way I came as there is no trail up this side of the Loch that you can ride.

On my way back the bike mysteriously stopped at the Roundhouse, so I just had to go in and get a bacon roll. I carried on back to the car park and had my bacon roll and coffee from my flask at the picnic tables, BRILLIANT.

The ride was very interesting because of the history involved. I would certainly do it again, probably looking to use the new forest road that I found. Maybe I could talk my son Duncan into a wild camp come cycle ride here at some point.

Wild camping at the Linn of Dee

18^th July 2015

WELL…..my son Duncan. I can only describe him as a “Man of the Woods”, his mum’s description. I just call him a “Tree Hugger”. He works in the Aberdeen area and his interests include hill walking, wild camping, trees, fungi and wildlife. It was our interest in the outdoors that prompted him to plan this cycling / wild camp outing to the Linn of Dee near Braemar and Duncan had just purchased a new Basha and wanted to try it out.

We were dropped of by the wife at the Linn of Dee car park around 6.30 pm. There was a slight breeze which kept the dreaded midge’s at bay, the sun was out and we were looking forward to a short bike ride, up to Derry Lodge.

                                                  Bike loaded with kit ready to start

From the car park we headed North West up through the trees on a wide path which was easy riding. Continuing on this trail you eventually come to a bridge which you cross and turn left onto a forest road. It is worth while stopping at the bridge as you get a fantastic view up Glen Lui.

                                              Lui Water as you pass through the forest

                                                            Duncan at the bridge

                                            View from the bridge looking up Glen Lui

As we headed up Glen Lui with the river on our left, I was amazed at the scenery, I do most of my cycling in the Galloway Forest which I think is amazing, but this scenery, WOW !!!!  I’m lost for words. After a short ride you pass Luibeg, which is a small house that a group of adults were using for the weekend. Just past Luibeg there is an area with trees where we decided to camp for the night.

                                     View from the forest road as you head up Glen Lui

                                                                      Luibeg

We walked round the area and Duncan picked the spot where he wanted to set up the Basha, so we set up camp. There was still a slight breeze which kept the midge’s away while we got organised. Duncan was in his element with the new Basha, I just watched as he worked away in his own little world smiling and talking to himself, about how awesome the Basha was, each to his own.

                                                    Checking out the camping area

                                                     Duncan setting up his Basha

                                                   Tent set up with bike and poncho

                                                       Duncan trying out the water

Once we had set up our tents, we decided to go for a walk round and see if there was anyone else in the area. There were two tents set up over by the Mountain Rescue Centre behind Derry Lodge, but they were far enough away, which was excellent as they would not hear Duncan snoring. He’s like an old tractor when he starts.

                                                                  Derry Lodge

                                                         Mountain Rescue Station

                                                         Looking up Glen Luiberg 

At around 8 pm Duncan started the dinner, inside the new Basha, which consisted of boil in a bag Beans and Bacon with broken oatcakes through it to give it some substance, YUM YUM. While the dinner was cooking I made some strong coffee. After dinner we sat inside the Basha and caught up with each others news as it has been a few months since we last met up.

                                          Duncan cooking dinner inside his new Basha

                                                       Our campsite for the night

 The set up that we used was Snugpak one man tents. This worked very well especially with the Basha for sitting and cooking under and a poncho set up that I had with my bike. I went to bed about 10.30 pm and was asleep in 20 min, I never heard Duncan snoring all night. I woke up around 3 am with the rain bouncing of the tent. I dozed on and off till around 6.15 am when I decided to get up. Big mistake, no breeze, rain and the dreaded midge’s, by the time I managed to get all my gear packed away the little shits had breakfast, lunch and dinner from my face and were coming back for seconds. Duncan got up about 7 am, we decided to give breakfast a miss and get on our way as soon as possible. The rain had stopped while we were getting organised, we took one last look around to check the area and leave it as we found it and we were on our way.

                                            The next morning looking down to Luibeg

                                         On our way back to the Linn of Dee car park

As there was no phone signal in this area we had made an arrangement to meet the wife in the car park at 10 am. As we cycled back down through Glen Lui I was thinking to myself that as we are early, we could not sit and wait at the car park because the midge’s were hungry for our blood, we could cycle down the tarred road towards Braemar. What a surprise I got when we arrived at the car park to see the wife sitting waiting for us. She got up early because of the weather. (I knew I married her for some good reason).

This was a fabulous overnight wild camp and cycle which I will certainly do again for the scenery alone.  

Glentrool Big Country Route

14th July 2015

This is one of those cycling bucket list rides that you think about but never do. So here we go full of enthusiasm. Glentrool Visitor Centre acts as the starting point for this 58 km ride.  

From the visitor centre you should take the tarred road towards Bruce’s Stone. But as I know the area I decided to follow the foot path up behind the visitor centre and make my way over to a waterfall that sits above the tarred road and brings you out at  Culdons which is an old campsite from years ago.

                                                      

                                                                 Waterfall 

Follow the road towards the campsite, go over a bridge and stop at the notice board. At this point you could make a small detour to the  Martyr’s Grave,  which is a grave of a  Covenantor. From the notice board you follow the road up to a junction where you keep right, this takes you up into the hills towards  Ferrach Burn. Follow the forest road up over the hills and you eventually come to the  Wood of Cree road. At this point you can turn right and go to the bridge where if the water is high you can get spectacular photo’s.

                                   View from the highest point overlooking Glentrool

                                          View from the bridge on the Cree road

At the Wood of Cree road turn left and continue on the road for a few miles. You pass a picnic area on the right called the Wood of Cree car park where there is a raised platform, from it you might catch a glimpse of some Otters. The next car park you come to on the left is called Barclye. There is a few forest walks here which you could enjoy if you have time.

                                             Wood of Cree car park / picnic area

                                Poster on the raised platform at the Otter viewing point

                                                   View from the Otter platform 

Eventually you come to a church which is in Minnigaff. Follow the road round the right of the church and down hill to the junction where you turn left. Continue on this section of road till you come to “ Glenhoise Cottage “, watch at this point as there are no signs or waymarkers to inform you of the direction to take. The only sign is a “ No Through Road “. Take the “ No Through Road “ and follow it to the next junction where there is a house called Auckinleck. Turn right at this point onto a forest road. From here right over to Loch Dee the hills get tough as they are long and steep and zap the strength from the legs.

                                                       Church at Minnigaff

At the next junction keep straight then at the waymarker number thirty turn left on to the Old Edinburgh Road. That’s you half way round. WHOOPEE !!!!! the legs are knackered.

                                                         The half way marker

                                                  The Old Edinburgh Road sign

The next section is quite boring with lots of hills and some nice views, as you cycle parallel to the New Galloway Road  ( A712 ). You pass a track that takes you over to Kirroughtree 7 Stanes Black Route and you also pass Murray’s Monument. Eventually as you rise up over one of the many hills you get your first view of Black Loch. As you descend the hill you come to an open area. At this point if you look over to your right you will see some old sheep pens where if you look closely there are stone sculpted heads. (the sheep pens are marked The Quorum on the map)

                                     

                                                  View from the Old Edinburgh Road

                                    

                                             Another view from the Old Edinburgh Road

                                      

                                                      The first sighting of Black Loch

I first heard about the stone heads from my son. He was out hill walking and wild camping in the area and came across them be accident. The information he gave me was that the stones were part of a wall next to the forest road. WELL he tends to exaggerate a bit, as the stones were in fact down a path next to a burn inside the sheep pens. I think he takes that from his mum. Anyway, the stones are worth a visit as they are very interesting. 

                                                             The stone heads

From the Quorum continue down hill to Black Loch which has a sculpture called the Eye. It looks more like an upside down cone than anything else.

                                                              Black Loch

                                                              Black Loch

                                                                 The Eye

After you have taken the obligatory photo’s continue uphill following the side of the loch past Poultrybuie Hill and Munwhul where again there are fantastic views. Don’t turn off this forest road and you will end up at Loch Dee. As you pass Loch Dee there is a Bothy called White Laggan which is basic but alright for a night out in the wild. As you ascend the forest road away from Loch Dee towards Loch Trool you pass one of the 7 Stanes sculptures which is called the Axe Head.

                                                Lunch break where I fell asleep 

                                                    First sighting of Loch Dee

                                                         White Laggan Bothy

                                         View of Loch Dee from the Glentrool side

                            The Axe Head sculpture with Loch Dee in the back ground

From here you follow the waymarkers up through the Glen till you get to Buchan Bridge which is named after the famous writer John Buchan. It’s uphill from here to Bruce’s Stone where you get a good view over Loch Trool. This is where Robert the Bruce fought the English army in 1307.

                                           View of the Glen towards Loch Trool

                                          View of Loch Trool from Bruce's Stone

There are two routes to get back to the visitor centre, one is straight down the tarred road and the other is down the tarred road till you reach a waymarker for a forest walk on your left. Follow this track and you end up back at the notice board next to Culdons campsite. From here head towards the Martyr’s Tomb and the along the river’s edge back to the visitor centre car park.

This route is a full day’s cycling but very enjoyable. If I ever do it again, I will do it in reverse so that I don’t have to go up the hill at Bruce’s Stone.