9 Comments

great post! Dumfries and Galloway is one of my favourite places!

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A good read thanks and after a few visits I know there's still so much more to see!

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A lovely ode to Galloway. You reminded me of our magnificent holiday near Stranraer last year (yes, it was wet!) and this Twitter thread that sounds like an advert for the Galloway tourist board. I also finally climbed my near-namesake 'Merrick' after eyeing it up for many years from my parent's house across the Solway.

https://x.com/MarekBidwell/status/1682698702039703552?t=mXWEYpADXidKdS2WDGbFqg&s=19

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Apparently Gaelic A'Mhearag means 'the Confusion'. It's a grand hill, and a descent to Loch Enoch and the wild granite country makes it even better. (Redstone Rig, my top picture above)

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Nice quiet part of the UK but never stayed long enough except to climb on scattered sea cliffs. Must get back there before it becomes popular, to walk the hills and river valleys.

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Well it won't be officially designated for a year or two, even if it gets through - there are some hostile farmers opposing it vigorously. And I don't think it'll get that much busier even then: people aren't that deeply stirred by designations! The hills are worthwhile and there are some short climbs on granite to be had.

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I'm always impressed there is so much open, undeveloped land in Scotland, such an old country compared to the US. My main recreation is walking. Maybe I should check it out. Sounds like you are rather fond of the landscapes, Ronald.

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It's my home country and yes, I love it. Plenty of wild country in Scotland, more especially the Highlands. Rains quite a lot but from Washington State you're probably used to that!

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Sort of used to rain, but Washington is not quite home. I moved here from Maine about 8 years ago to be close to grandchildren. I was raised in Connecticut, not a place I loved. Of ten children among myself and my three siblings, seven have moved west. One to Berlin. I'm envious of people who have a place they want to stay.

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