Mystery Tour 4th March 2016

Our mystery trip began at Castle Douglas, at Irving's Factory shop. Having successfully stocked up on their yummy biscuits we set off to take the scenic route back home. See if you can fathom out where we went...

 

 

Seen outside a house being renovated! It didn't take long to feel as if we were right out in the countryside - we saw buzzards overhead and lots of little birds flitting in and out of the hedgerows. Then there suddenly was a red Kite just in front of the car - hovering in the breeze.No matter when we come to the area around Castle Douglas we are always lucky enough to see at least one Red Kite. They are such beautiful birds, especially in flight with their forked tails twisting as they change direction.

 

 

It may still be winter but there was plenty to see as we drove along.

 

 

The fields near houses and farms look quite green but as we gained height the countryside was still very brown.

 

 

We stopped a couple of times to watch the flocks of birds that we met along the way. There were chaffinches, greenfinches and goldfinches flocking together, moving along from tree to tree as we approached. Then later it was starlings and fieldfares, landing in the fields just far enough away to make them almost invisible against the brown grass.

By now the sun had come out and blue sky appeared... making it feel more like spring even if it was bitterly cold.

 

 

Continuing on....

 

 

Know where we are now?

We are coming up to what used to be the Glenkiln Sculpture Park, about 7 miles West of Dumfries. There used to be six sculptures, placed in moorland settings around Glenkiln Reservoir, until one of them was stolen. Most of the remainder were then removed, on the advice of the police.

Between 1951 and 1976, local landowner Sir William Keswick had assembled a collection of works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, and Jacob Epstein.  The sculptures were:-

Saint John the Baptist (1878) by Auguste Rodin

Visitation (1926) by Jacob Epstein

Standing Figure (1950) by Henry Moore

King and Queen (1952-1953) by Henry Moore

Glenkiln Cross (1955-1956) by Henry Moore

Two Piece Reclining Figure No1 (1959) by Henry Moore

What a shame that someone couldn't just leave them there for everyone to enjoy.

We continued on our way, noting the Cross up on the hilltop, but feeling disappointed that we wouldn't be seeing the rest.

 

 

 

 

 Home again, after a lovely afternoon out. What beautiful countryside within just a short ride.