29 July 2017

Kirkcudbright

It's nice to have achievable dreams. For a few weeks now I have been thinking about jumping in Clint and heading for south western Scotland. Specifically, my goal is the little town of Kirkcudbright that was once the county town of the now defunct county of Kirkcudbrightshire.

It's somewhere I have never been before - a somewhat overlooked corner of the British Isles. When there, I plan to mooch around, learn things, meet people, do some walking and take some photographs. I have already identified a few lodging possibilities.

I would have been there right now but I held back on the trip because of the unsettled weather we have been experiencing. It would not be much fun sheltering in my B&B watching rain trickling down the window panes. When I go I want to go with confidence that the weather will be kind for me.

Some of you will recall that most of this year I have been experiencing knee pain in my right knee. Back in March and April every step I made was a limp. Naturally this curtailed my country walks. Now at the end of July my knee is feeling a lot better. I have been exercising it regularly following advice from Rohini, my physiotherapist. I had my second appointment with her on Tuesday afternoon. She gave me good advice about how to look after it, "listening" to the discomfort  and now I feel a lot more confident about hiking along bumpy paths near Kirkcudbright.

Earlier this week a detailed Ordnance Survey map of the area landed on our doormat and I have been travelling over it like a drone - seeing the ruined castles, the ancient sites, the farms, the bays and the beaches. For me it's all exciting virgin territory, far away from The Peak District which I now know like the back of my hand.

All I need now is the window of opportunity. A fair weather forecast and a vacant room. Then I'll be off. I am on the threshold of a dream but I know it is one that can so easily come true.

48 comments:

  1. By the looks of it, Kirk could brighten up any one's day ...blue skies or grey.

    It's good to learn your knee is on the mend; and I, like the rest of us, I'm sure, look forward to reading about your visit to Kirkcudbright...and the photos you take when there.

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    1. Kirk could brighten up any one's day . Ha-ha! That's very clever Lee! No wooden spoon for you today!

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  2. My eldest son lives in Ayr and is very rarely without at least 3 layers of clothes. Make sure the weather is going to be kind and you should have a lovely time. That part of the country is beautiful. Glad the knee is better.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Not completely better Briony. I wonder why your son was exiled to Scotland. He must have done something very bad.

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    2. He is an air traffic controller at Prestwich and exiled is about right, he cannot wait to retire and move down south again.
      Luckily (in some ways)because the job is so stressful he will retire quite soon.
      Whenever he rings it is inevitably raining, he hates it.

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    3. Poor bloke! He shouldn't have worked so hard at school and university then he could have just been a deckchair attendant on Brighton beach.

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  3. Sometimes fair weather can be a long time coming However, when outdoor a titles are your game you want good weather

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    1. "A titles"? Is that Inuit for activities?

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    2. Where was I when I came up with titles? I meant activities. I wasn't even close!

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  4. Kirkcudbright sure is a mouthful. There seem to be a lot of names like that in your part of the world. I suppose we have a few doozies, too. Saskatchewan. Shubenacadie. Miramichi. Etc. Okay, I take back what I said.

    I'm glad to hear your knee has improved. I understand the relief from pain while walking and how it puts the spring back in one's step. Wishing you good weather soon, and happy rambles. Looking forward to your photos.

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  5. P. S. I only mention this because I believe you like to be precise, and feel free to delete this after correcting it - your title is misspelled.

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    1. Or the sign is! One or the other :)

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    2. You are right! Thank you for spotting this Jenny. A wooden spoon for silly me!

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  6. Kirkudbright is a great place for I have visited many times in the last few years and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the residents there and the unspoiled coastline and beaches are a joy to visit.
    So congratulations in making a wise choice.

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    1. You are the first person I have encountered who has actually been to Kirkcudbright Heron! But I know plenty of people who have been to Australia and New York.

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    2. The name is pronounced as Kirkcubree just in case you did not know.
      And I am nothing to do with Heron Foods

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    3. We often have frozen heron in our freezer. Delicious but rather gamey.

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  7. See my blog https://aheronsview.blogspot.ie/2011/05/trip-to-scotland.html
    for nearby places.

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  8. You remind me of Bill Bryson with your travels.

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  9. I hope your good weather window arrives sooner than later! Good work on the knee, too

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    1. From now on I think I am always going to live with a degree of knee pain/discomfort. It's all about managing it.

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  10. Given your interest in remote Scotland, you might enjoy BBC1 at 7.00 on Monday, all about the people who live and work on Orkney

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  11. I'll be visiting Scotland on a concert tour with a choir in 2018 but sadly Kirkudbright isn't on the itinerary. But I do know how to pronounce it as I had a boyfriend from there once. many moons ago.

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    1. I also know how to pronounce it. Rather different from how it is spelt. Thanks for calling by Sham.

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  12. I only know Kirkcudbright through Dorothy Sawyer's book Five red herrings, but I am sure much has changed since then (fewer dead artists?)

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    1. When I order a meal in Kirkcudbright I shall ask for five red herrings with chips.

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  13. I'm glad to hear that your knee pain is manageable now. When are you planning on going to Kirkcudbright? Is Shirley going with you?

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    1. I will probably go on my own as Shirley works three days a week. I just need a good weather forecast.

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  14. Enjoy your trip. You are right to wait. Limping in the rain would not be enjoyable.

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    1. It's a nice thing about being retired. I can wait till the time is right.

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  15. I've never heard of the place. I've heard of Scotland. Not Kirkcudbright.

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  16. I wonder if I will ever make it to Scotland? Maybe when I retire, which could be in about 17 years.
    Anyway, I am glad to know your knee is better and you know what to do. Most of all, I am glad you are going to make this dream of yours come true!

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    1. Perhaps you and OK could fly to Edinburgh for a long weekend. I think you would both enjoy that city.

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  17. Yes I must say YP that it is a fairly achieveable dream - not as thought you were planning to visit Mongolia.

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    1. I think that you went there Mrs Weaver! Mongolia I mean - not Kirkcudbright!

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  18. Did the Rev Kilvert get to Kirkcudbright I idly wonder? Just be sure to fill your boots with clootie dumpling and single malt.

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    1. Is "clootie dumpling" a slang name for a woman?

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    2. A clootie dumpling is a rich fruity steamed in a cloth pudding. Best not eat too much and put a strain on your newly fit knee YP.

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    3. I think I shall stick to Lettuce on Ryvita instead.

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  19. Don't know if this would help you or if you would even consider it. Years ago, I was fitted for a strong metal brace that goes from mid thigh to mid calf with a big hole over the knee and strong movable "joints", so to speak, on each side of the knee itself. I was told to wear it only when on really uneven ground so that the knee would not twist around so much. I do wear it in our woods where I must walk over downed trees and around big boulders. It does help.

    You will be off in a few days, I imagine. Have a wonderful time and talk to lots of interesting people. Ta, ta!

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    1. Good heavens Donna! That contraption sounds like a torture device... However, I did buy a sports knee support during the worst of the limping and it seemed to help. I shall take it to Kirkcudbright. At the moment, I hope to go there on Thursday - just for two nights. The forecast is promising but of course that could change.

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  20. kirkcudbright is lovely. If we moved to scotland it is where I would like to live. (my inlaw family live in Moffat)

    There are a few galleries on the main drag. We visited a nice antique shop right in front of the Dee. And another big one that is at the top by the Arts Centre. The art centre is free entry upstairs and downstairs. (I also have a bad knee and for me the stair steps were a weird height and hurt me, there is a lift though). And also there is Maclellan tower on the green.

    The fish and chips were nice there. The high school kids swarm the street getting food at lunch time. so if you are getting your lunch in one of the many bakeries maybe get it before the lunch time rush.

    The parking is mostly on road and is free.

    I hope you have a fab time there.

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    1. Thanks for your helpful input Sol. All I need is fair weather along with a vacant room. Getting both might prove slightly tricky.

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    2. There are some lovely places to stay in Kirkcudbright. I did previously see an air bnb on the internet and it was for room and breakfast in a house, in walking distance to the town. Once you get into Kirkcudbright it is mostly on the flat.

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