3rd March 2020
More brave exploration, a first-ever trip to the Rhins of Galloway, the bit in the South-West of Scotland that looks a bit like Italy.
Just as I was drafting this postI noticed this tweet from the Great Tand, whose family come from Drummore.
I’m always a bit grumpy when folk complain about a lack of maps showing where Doncaster or Devizes are, but I’ll go the extra mile with Drummore.
Beyond Dumfries the roads get slower, particularly off the main A75, but your reward are routes hugging the coast, just like at the end of Shawshank Redemption.
Drummore is the most southerly village in the whole of Scotland. Draw a line across the map and you end up in Durham, which is pretty much England, isn’t it ?
The tick is on a caravan park. I actually phoned the Clashwhannon, which sounds like a cross between early 1980s punk and pop bands, twice before setting off, reassured both times by a friendly north-eastern voice assuring me they awaited my visit.
And indeed it was open. Or, at least, the door opened.
No-one about in the Public, but from the Lounge I heard the unmistakeable gurgling and laughter of children. Perhaps one of them would pull me a half of Black Sheep ?
Mum turned up, apologised for the absence, ushered me back to the Public, and we chatted about her home town of Peterlee and the tourist season.
With no-one to chat to or observe, I entertained myself with Trout Fisherman monthly.
And enjoyed the child’s screech at the start of the Joe Dolce classic, criminally overshadowed by a dull Ultravox track in early 1981. “Shaddup You Face” means “Wash your face” in Scotland.
I had Drummore Harbour to myself. It’s gorgeous.
One recently shut pub up for sale,
and one rather austere hotel with locals lighting up outside.
And that’s your lot. Bet it looks different if I come back in another 50 years time.
retiredmartin 
This post prompted a quick read on Wikipedia for what goes on in town. The only comment they make regarding the economy is that things have slowly closed. You really wonder what the residents do to get by in this area. At one point the town had three bakers. Not that I will ever know, but, like you, I do wonder what it will be like in 50 years…
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Not sure I’ve seen anything as quiet on my travels, perhaps the Spanish or Greek coasts out of season.
Gives it a tranquillity I really liked.
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The pictures very much capture the tranquility. You can see the quiet.
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I’ll let you know fellers as I’m really youthful!!
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Yes, the youngest by far in Burton.
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Beautiful light at the harbour…..looks so peaceful
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Scottish light is definitely different, always gaps between the rain.
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Yeah, Scotland. I keep threatening to move there 😉 it’s so beautiful. Literally around every bend….
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I’d bet the bars in this part of the world will have been really badly hit by the current drink/drive legislation.
The economy will surely receive a huge boost when Boris builds his bridge/tunnel/international airport/refuge for abandoned mothers/fridge storage facility/Priti Patel concealment facility.
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Loads of caravan parks, though not many hotels compared to to your part of Scotland. Mind, you could fit the whole population outside of Dumfries aand Stranraer into Elgin, let alone Aberdeen.
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“Joe Dolce classic” Who are you trying to kid, Martin? More like the pile of sh*te which kept Ultravox’s real classic off the Number One spot.
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Plastic electro pop dirge V. a tuneful heartfelt tale of Italian family life. I think the charts called this one right, Paul.
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Disagree one hundred percent, although I’ve known you long enough to realise you’re being playful with this one!!
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You might very well think that, Paul.
I also reckon that Agadoo is better than Freebird. And any 8 year old will agree with me.
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“Shaddup You Face” must be about the most irritating record I’ve ever heard – although there was another one about that time, that thankfully I can’t remember, that’s just as bad.
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“There’s no-one quite like Grandma”, “Save your love my darling”, “Birdie song”, “Agadoo”, anything by Shakin’ Stevens. The list is endless.
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Oh, no, you’ve reminded me it was “Birdie song” – and how grim the 1980s were.
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How grim the 80s were, indeed.
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Oh, the 1980s had their odd laugh-out-loud moments, like Mark Thatcher getting lost in Africa and the Gibbs trying to sue the Hee Bee Gee Bees. It wasn’t all gloom and despondency, was it?
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Yep
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Actually, now that you mention it…
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Hi, all the time i used to check website posts here in the early hours in the morning, since i love to learn more and more.
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Loving this little series of boozers….kind of how you’d imagine picturesque Scotland to be..
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