Galloway Coast & Castle Kennedy

**cessna152towser** · 24th June 07, 11:08 AM

Today my co-pilot Mike took me to Castle Kennedy, on the outskirts of Stranraer, where we had lunch at the Plantings Inn.

We flew along the Solway Coast past Criffel Hill, which is near Dumfries.

Past Kippford, (foreground) and Rockcliffe (beyond)

Kirkcudbright

Another view of Kirkcudbright

Gatehouse-of-Fleet

The four star Cally Palace Hotel at Gatehouse-of-Fleet

Wigtown

The airfield at Castle Kennedy - my father was based here for a time during World War II.
Above the airfield you can just make out the castle between the two fresh water lochs.
In top of picture is Loch Ryan, a sea water inlet from where you can get a ferry to Ireland.

**McClef** · 24th June 07, 11:11 AM

Wonderful piccies of the Solway towns Alex!

**cessna152towser** · 24th June 07, 11:17 AM

Mike took my photo standing beside the 'plane, which is owned by our mutual friend, John Linford.

Then we hiked about half a mile along to the Plantings Inn for Sunday lunch.

A feature of the gardens of the Plantings Inn is this old church bell tower. The bell was cast by Wilsons foundry in Glasgow.

It was very poignant standing on the old airfield where my father had served.
The RAF buildings are now used for agriculture.
It was raining so we decided not to visit the castle and its gardens.
My turn to fly home and we were nearly home when a big black thunderstorm blocked the way ahead and the rain came on real heavy.

So I put the 'plane down safely on the old World War II airfield at Kirkbride, a few miles west of Carlisle.

There is a lot of RAF infrastructure still here, now used for industry and warehousing and in centre background we see the old boiler house chimney. The modern 'plane looked rather out of place among the wartime buildings.
By now the thunderstorm had passed and I flew a short ten minute flight back to the home airport at Carlisle.