Loch Trool
On our second day in Newton Stewart last December we drove to Loch Trool, about 8 miles away, to take the 5 mile walk around its shores. We parked near Bruce’s Stone and started by climbing the small mound to view this huge boulder. It commemorates the battle of Glen Trool which took place on the other side of the loch in 1307. Leading a mere 300 Scots, King Robert Bruce enticed an English force of 1500 into an ambush. The Scots rolled boulders down the steep slopes knocking men and soldiers into the water with archers picking off the survivors as they fled. Today it looks much more peaceful.
Retracing our steps to the road, we looked for the path down to the loch, and followed it across several burns to Glenhead Farm.
The words at the farm are by Galloway novelist SR Crockett (1859-1914) and read “Glenhead I saw for the first time in the broad glare of a mid-noon sun. All the valley swam in a hazy blue mist…” A little different from the day we were there!
As the name suggests, at Glenhead we had reached the top of the loch and were now walking in the opposite direction (westwards) along the other side. The path, now part of the Southern Upland Way, meandered up and down from the lochside to the forest above it. Sometimes there was even a chance to rest for a few minutes.
Before turning eastwards again we took a short detour to visit the Martyrs’ Tomb in Caldons Wood. The walled enclosure commemorates the death of six Covenanters put to death in 1685.
Walking back to the car along the last section of the walk we were treated to some beautiful reflections.
Then it was time to go back to our hotel, and the following morning we packed up and left for home. We weren’t expecting this to be the last break we would have for some time, but so it turned out.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
A beautiful unspoiled part of the country. At least there wouldn’t have been any midges in December!
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No, definitely not! Thankful for small mercies.
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Loch Trool…great name, great photos. I would love to do that walk!
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It was a very pretty walk. Nice memories!
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Lovely photo of you by the burn, Anabel! Looks like a very picturesque walk!
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Thank you! It’s funny to look at myself with a haircut 😀.
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Loch Trool looks wonderful and so much history to explore and learn on your visit too. We love places with plaques and memorials, the Robert the Bruce stone looks fascinating. Who knew it would be your last trip out? Soon be back discovering more of Scotlands secrets hopefully.
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We’ve had a few days beyond the city boundaries now and a week I. Perthshire next month is on (barring flare ups) so fingers crossed we will!
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A week up in Perthshire will be great, hope the weathers okay.
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Even if it isn’t, it will just be nice to be in a different place!
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It’s a lovely area that. The most scenic part of the uplands there.
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It is very beautiful. Some day we’ll be back!
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Not a bad stroll for December! How nice there is a path to go all the way around.
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It was nice, looking forward to doing things like that again soon.
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Anabel – The whole time I read this charming walk, I kept saying ‘Loch Trool’ to myself. What a great name! Cheers- Susan
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Thanks, Susan, it was a charming walk. As long as you don’t mix up Trool with Drool it will stay charming😉!
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Good old Robert the Bruce! 😀
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He obviously had a good strategic brain!
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I’m sorry it was you last trip before all this virus mess, but it looks like a good one! Your country is very beautiful.
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Thanks, it is! We are starting to get out a bit further afield now.
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Wonderful post, looks fabulous even in the grey!
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Thanks – our last proper country walk until last week.
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Ooh you got out last week, how fabulous
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Yes, John took a week off and we drove out of the city to walk. Proper grass and fields and everything!
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Fabulous 🙂
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I like the Glen Trool Tree and the view over the lake from the bench!
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I liked the symmetry of the tree, poor thing.
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So pretty, Anabel. Old Robert was a clever guy and he sure did show those Englishmen a thing or two.
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He certainly outwitted them here!
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I remember learning about him at primary school, about how he hid in a cave and watched a spider spinning a web.
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Yes, from which he (allegedly) learned “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again”. I’ve been to the (alleged) cave in Arran – though I think there are several other (alleged) contenders!
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I was eight years old when I first heard that story. It sounds good to me. 😊
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Lovely walk Annabel. The weather mightn’t have been ideal for holiday ing, but the light was great for photos 😀
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We didn’t get soaked or blown into the Loch so I was happy with that!
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Hehe.
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I guess we all did quite a few “last ofs” before the lockdown. Who knew how much things would change in such a short time. At least you were able to get an interesting adventure in before your choices would become limited. Looks like you were social distancing before it was fashionable 🙂
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Just as well we didn’t know all the “last” things we were doing. We hardly saw anyone so, you’re right, social distancing was not a problem!
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Seems like a lovely place to have been your last trip! I can’t even remember ours any more!
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I think we had some other days out, but this was our last stay away. At least I now know we have one coming up in August to look forward to! (Usual caveats about pandemic permitting).
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A shame the weather wasn’t brighter but it still looks like a nice walk. I love the second reflections shot, it looks very pretty 🙂
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Yes, very pretty reflections. The weather wasn’t bright, but it was dry and we could stand upright – unlike the day before! I call that a win.
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What a stunning walk. 🙂
Have you planned a day trip out for when you can venture further than five miles? X
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We actually ventured a little further over the weekend, to a series of trails in East Dunbartonshire. First time I’d been in proper countryside for months!
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It was beautiful there in December. Amber and shades of brown. That type of scenery is good for contemplation. Hi, Anabel. Enjoy the new week.
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Thanks – you too! It was certainly very peaceful there, good for contemplation. We hardly saw another soul.
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The Glen Trool tree is amazing. I wonder if it is alive?
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I suspect not – it looked to me as if a lightning strike had done for it.
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This looks like a lovely place. I particularly like the two last pictures with the reflection in the water. (Suzanne)
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The reflections were very pretty, I love that time of day as dusk approaches.
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Hi Anabel – what an interesting walk … I love the informative plaques – be they of stone or built into walls … but a pity your day wasn’t so bright and shiny – but still looks to have been a great stroll out … take care – Hilary
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Thanks Hilary. The day was not bright and shiny, but given the gales we’d put up with the day before, it was very good weather!
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What a beautiful walk and a mystical one at that. I,love the small bridge and the old plaques stating what it is all about. The blue mist sounds like he entered the Fairy realm
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Thanks Birgit. No fairies about when we were there unfortunately!
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