Carlisle to Newton Stewart – Coastal Road Trip

Day 10 – Carlise to Newton Stewart

Today we entered Scotland! Driving from Carlise to Newton Stewart, and had much better weather. As soon as we entered Scotland we got sunshine 🙂

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, New Abbey, Sweetheart Abbey, Lawnmower — Sweetheart Abbey at New Abbey

Carlise

Coastal Road Trip, Carlise Castle — Carlise was our last stopping point before crossing the Eden and Esk Rivers into Scotland. The impressive Norman castle and Jarno in the rain.

Coastal Road Trip, Carlise, Be Just And Fear Not — Good point!

Coastal Road Trip, Carlise Cathedral — Carlise Cathedral dating from 1133, just down the road from the castle.

Caerlaverock

Coastal Road Trip, Caerlaverock Castle — Our first stop in Scotland at the medieval Caerlaverock Castle. We also became members of Historic Scotland, as it looked like the route ahead would probably include many castles and historic sites!

Coastal Road Trip, Caerlaverock Castle Interior — A small but surprisingly elaborate Renaissance castle.

Coastal Road Trip, Caerlaverock Castle, Pit-Prison — Looking up to the sky from the pit-prison.

New Abbey

Coastal Road Trip, New Abbey, Sweetheart Abbey — Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey, named after Lady Dervorgilla, its founder who was buried with the heart of her husband.

Coastal Road Trip, New Abbey, Sweetheart Abbey, Lawnmower — Freshly cut grass at the abbey.

Coastal Road Trip, New Abbey, The New Abbey Corn Mill — A quick tour of the The New Abbey Corn Mill.

Carse Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Carse Bay — Views across Carse Bay and the Solway Firth.

Southerness

Coastal Road Trip, Southerness Lighthouse — An unusual square backed lighthouse sitting among rock pools at Southerness Point.

Rockcliffe

Coastal Road Trip, Rockcliffe, Ice cream, Julian, Jarno — Our first ice cream in Scotland, and believe it or not, the first ice cream on our coastal road trip.

Coastal Road Trip, Rockcliffe Beach — And plenty of people squeezed on to the beach enjoying the sunshine.

Orchardton Tower

Coastal Road Trip, Orchardton Tower, Jarno — The Orchardton Tower down a small lane. The only roundhouse in Scotland. And we were its only visitors.

Hazelfield

Coastal Road Trip, Hazelfield, Solway Firth view — Eco views across the Solway Firth from Hazelfield.

Coastal Road Trip, Hazelfield, Straw giant — And a straw giant in a field by the road…. no we have no idea either.

Dundrennan

Coastal Road Trip, Dundrennan Abbey — Dundrennan Abbey was closed by the time we arrived but fortunately it towered above the walls, so we could easily take a quick look around from the outside.

Kirkcudbright

Coastal Road Trip. Kirkcudbright — Kirkcudbright town viewed from across the bay, with MacLellan’s Castle under a bit of renovation. We had pie and chips for dinner as a little arrival treat in Scotland 🙂

Coastal Road Trip. Kirkcudbright, boat wreck — An old boat on the banks of Kirkcudbright Bay.

Little Ross

Coastal Road Trip, Little Ross Lighthouse — Little Ross Lighthouse in the distance.

Fixer-upper

Costal Road Trip, Fixer-upper — We came across this fixer-upper on the coastline between Ross and Anwoth, maybe we need a bit of a smaller project.

Cardoness Castle

Coastal Road Trip, Cardoness Castle — Built by the McCulloch family in the 1400s. It had already closed for the day, so just viewed from a distance.

Cairnholly Chambered Cairns

Coastal Road Trip, Cairnholly Chambered Cairns — And finally, glowing in the evening sun, an ancient burial ground and meeting place from 4-6,000 years ago! Jarno couldn’t open the gate (the gate was newer).

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