Wigtown

Since I was unfamiliar with this section of Scotland, the Dumfries part of Dumfries- Galloway ( I went to the Rhins of Galloway and the Mull a few years ago.  Brilliant BTW) I decided to stop in Wigtown before heading to Dumfries.  Let me first say that the area between the two towns is as close to the appearance of eastern Connecticut as any where I’ve been.  Rolling hills, open farm lands, cattle, I could have been on CT Rt 101 as far as the look out the window except of course for the buildings which are decidedly British. Lots of stone. And the narrow roads.  On the shore of the Solway Firth it was a mild, sunny day with great views.

 

This boardwalk leads to the the point where, in 1685, two women were tied to stakes and left to drown in the rising tide.  Not because they were witches, but because they were “Covenanters” That is they had signed a Covenant as many Presbyterians had done proclaiming Jesus Christ the head of the church. The  Stuart monarchs had declared that the King, under the guise of “Divine Right of Kings” was the head of the church.  These women were killed for their faith and the marker is dedicated to all those who suffer for conscience sake.

I am always amazed by the different low tides as I’ve traveled the country.  The red of Peterhead, the gravel in the Highlands and here in the Solway Firth, muck. I was told that if you fell into it with no one around you would not be able to extract yourself and would suffer the fate of the martyrs. The stone I dropped in supported the premise. This was at one time a working harbor but I can’t see how that could be now  with these deposits.

The village of Wigtown is a wee one with this being the ‘high’ street

And the city hall, social center, library are housed in this, the largest building in town by far.

 

Unlike many places I’ve visited in Scotland, Wigtown is fairly flat.  I spotted this monument and headed up the minor hill knowing that when a monument is placed on a high point, that’s where one can expect the best vistas. This is the Martyr’s Monument and my theory held up.

Wigtown with city hall on the right.

And inland views

But I think that the main reason people travel to Wigtown is it’s nickname “Booktown”.  There is a book festival here each year and a couple of real nice bookstores.  Unfortunately I was not in a position to buy any books as I have no desire to lug them around on my wanders and therefore have 40-50 on my iPad. I also was not interest in shipping them back to the States as the fee is about £14/$18.50 per kilo or about two good books plus the cost of the books, so I noted a couple of interest and searched later for them in my favorite on-line book store www.Abebooks.com or www.Abebooks.uk.co I picked two and sent them to my bibliophile pal, Ali G. in Plockton to keep safe until my next visit when I can pick them up. Since Abebooks usually ships for free the cost to deliver these two, one nearly a kilo by itself, was only £7.35

The first I know Ali doesn’t need but the second should provide a laugh.

Here is my initial walkthrough.  Sorry if it’s not as smooth as I had hoped. It was a bit of overload taking it all in, but I think as you wander through you’ll get the drift.

 

 

Dumfries is next. Bus to Newton Stewart then transfer.

 

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