It has been decided; we leave Kippford tomorrow. Our ferry to Arran is booked for 07:00 hrs on Saturday and we have two nights booked at the Lochranza caravan site. We will linger in the Galloway Forest Park until Friday and then spend Friday night somewhere close to the ferry terminal.
It occurred to me last night that until now I have failed to post a photograph of our pitch here at Kippford.
Our home for the past winter
I took this one yesterday just before we took the tent down. It shows clearly why the pod failed to act as the driveaway awning that we intended; Vince is just too tall.
It is a spacious pitch. The EHU and water point is lurking behind the pod. Immediately to the left is the path to the facilities. Beyond that is the yard from which occasional banging noises are emitted. It was far less of an annoyance than we might have expected.
The building behind our pitch houses the groundsmen’s rest room, the cleaner’s closet and the two wet rooms. We didn’t have far to trot to the shower on a morning making it all the more frustrating to have to dress twice each morning.
Behind that building is the roadside perimeter of the site. Traffic noise has not been an issue.
The site clings to the side of a steep hill and is beautifully landscaped and thoughtfully laid out. None of my photos from the top of the hill really show the nature of the slope. I always meant to document a walk up the hill but somehow it never happened.
All the staff here are lovely and so is the site owner, who generally stops to speak when seen. I would not hesitate to recommend the site but unfortunately they are ceasing the touring part of the business.
The pics from yesterday’s tootle:
One last time to the top of the hill but the air was hazy and the views not at their best
The Bellamy Butterfly Bar – the site holds a Bellamy Conservation Award
Pink camelia
White camelia? It wasn’t fragrant, so not a Gardenia I think… but what do I know.
Primroses in abundance
the largest, I think, of many white Pieris around the site. This bsh has been full of bees in the past few days and the buzz is audible from a distance
I can see this Silver Birch from my seat in the van and often st and watch it move in the breeze. There are usually a number f wood pigeons sitting n the top of this tree but when I took this a Chaffinch had the top perch. Click for bigness and you might just spot him
A remnant of 2016
We have had some frosts as this Camelia shows
I had hoped very much that the Magnolias would flower before we left. The buds are just showing colour now but I will certainly not see the blooms.
Magnolias are almost there but not quite just yet
The Azaleas and Rhododendrons haven’t made it in any number yet either. I am disappointed to be missing them but we have plans to visit Inverewe on our way home so maybe I shall see a good show when we get there.
