Weekend        Kirkcudbright      Southern Scotland  
Our venue for the weekend was the Selkirk Arms Hotel in the middle of the Town  
On Saturday two walks were organised. "B" walk set out from Gateway of Fleet along  tracks through forests of mature pines.....  
 
 
....with lunch taken on conveniently placed felled ones!  
 
After lunch open country...  
....for miles...  
...and miles...  
.and miles  
                          Route finding prooved problematical...  
 
Thirsty work for some!!  
...but at last the end of the walk was insight...  
...and back to the hotel garden for drinks.  
     
meanwhile, three intrepid A walkers followed a "Trail" magazine route up Cairnsmore of Fleet at 2332ft a  respectable if lesser summit
   
 
 
The mountain was covered in cloud as we ascended, but as we neared the summit, the cloud lifted and the sun shone, allowing us to enjoy the views to the north towards Glen Trool and south towards the coast. A monument commemorated the 7 aircraft that have crashed here, including a Luftewaffe crew. The last plane to crash was in 1972.  
Trail mag said that the descent was steep and difficult and if we were in danger of "benightment" we should return the way we had come. As "Sir Clive" and "Sir Phil" seemed  rather remote possibilities and the walk leader was a committed republican, we decided benightment was unlikely and decided to go ahead and tackled the difficult descent. Despite a granite boulder field, nearly getting stranded in a bog and close encounters with Highland cattle, we managed to survive the experience!  
   
Early evening drinks were taken in a lounge "Mine Host" had reserved exclusively for our party....  
 
 
... followed by the meal which was excellent,...  
 ...only slightly spoilt when "Mine Host", until then a friendly helpful sort of guy, took upon himself to attack one of our parties rather innocuous looking minced beef sausage thing , ...  
...whilst shouting incomprehensively  
 Naturally we overlooked his outburst by applauding politely.     
     
 
     
Sunday was a glorious day. Only one walk , along the coast with everyone taking part.

Just look at the photos

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And so, with pockets full of seashells, the weekend came to an end