That's Caerlaverock castle. A stronghold of the Balliols as you can see from the twin towers protecting the main gate (also a drawbridge and portcullis and moat.)
A Dumfries birl
- Thread starter Posh Pete
- Start date
I mentioned the competition between the Balliols and Bruces for the throne. This was occasioned by the accidental death of Alexander III and then his granddaughter. Edward I was invited to judge between the Balliol and Bruce claims and plumped for Balliol.
A few years later Longshanks deposed Balliol and in 1300 invaded after his army was defeated by Wallace at Stirling Bridge. So far ... So Brave heart!
Anyway, there's a very full account of the siege he mounted in a chronicle of the time. Theres a video presentation there in which Tony Robinson re-telks the tale in his own inimitable style.
Apparently, the garrison eventually surrendered but were spared by Edward. Very unlikely given his reputation! However, it's possible he did so to encourage other castles further north to surrender quickly.
There's a trebuchet used in the video still at the site ...
A few years later Longshanks deposed Balliol and in 1300 invaded after his army was defeated by Wallace at Stirling Bridge. So far ... So Brave heart!
Anyway, there's a very full account of the siege he mounted in a chronicle of the time. Theres a video presentation there in which Tony Robinson re-telks the tale in his own inimitable style.
Apparently, the garrison eventually surrendered but were spared by Edward. Very unlikely given his reputation! However, it's possible he did so to encourage other castles further north to surrender quickly.
There's a trebuchet used in the video still at the site ...
Brilliant stuff Pete. I’ve been to D&G loads of times mainly to lead rides through the forest (with permission) but never seemed to find the time for a proper mooch about - just finding good roads to link forestry sections. I did go down to the Hotel at Balcary once. At one time I’d heard it was full on swingers place.
Anyway good stuff.
Anyway good stuff.
"Well I'm the King of the swingers!"
I was asking the person in charge about accommodation etc and an nice auld biddie came over a few minutes later as I was eating lunch...
Are you the gentleman (!) asking about the hotel?
Y-e-e-e-s?
The staff are very helpful indeed and cannot do enough for you!
I thought she was just being kind. Now you've got me wondering ...
After Caerlaverock, I headed back to the BnB. A quick change of breeks and I headed for the Station pub/restaurant in Kirkpatrick Fleming. My landlady had called them and booked me a table. I got a 10% discount also which helped cover the tip. The service was excellent.
I thought the food (home made chicken and stuffing pie) was very good and judging by the number of other diners, I was not alone in that opinion. A mandatory Ukgser grub pic ...
I thought the food (home made chicken and stuffing pie) was very good and judging by the number of other diners, I was not alone in that opinion. A mandatory Ukgser grub pic ...
Back to the digs a bit of a read (or re-read of The Big Show - Pierre Clostermann
) and a decent night's sleep.
Next morning, the usual ablutions and I exited the room to sort the bike and luggage. As I did so, a chap left the adjacent room and I wished him a good morning. A few minutes later, as I was fixing the tail pack, he returns and hands me a small can of chain lube. "I'm the Silkolene rep and here's a freebie." What a nice guy!
The digs had been chosen with a view to a visit I've been intending for a long time: The Devil's Porridge Museum near Annan but only after a fry up at the 'Fechan Grill. It's at the truckers' stop in Eccefechan. (No pics this time.)
) and a decent night's sleep.Next morning, the usual ablutions and I exited the room to sort the bike and luggage. As I did so, a chap left the adjacent room and I wished him a good morning. A few minutes later, as I was fixing the tail pack, he returns and hands me a small can of chain lube. "I'm the Silkolene rep and here's a freebie." What a nice guy!
The digs had been chosen with a view to a visit I've been intending for a long time: The Devil's Porridge Museum near Annan but only after a fry up at the 'Fechan Grill. It's at the truckers' stop in Eccefechan. (No pics this time.)
En route to the museum I encountered another relic of our former industrial/technological might - Chapel Cross nuclear power station. One of the first in the world (Calder Hall at Winscale was first iirc.) They've demolished the cooling towers now and removed the nuclear debris but it still makes an impressive sight planked in the middle of nowhere. (One of the reasons that location was selected!)
As some on here know, I've a particular interest in WW1 and have done battlefield trips to the western front.
The Home Front was equally important however and this museum focuses on that and in particular on the vast munitions complex which was built from 1915 on, in the Annan/Gretna area. I knew about it but I had not fully appreciated the vast scale of the project.
The Devils Porridge museum does it full justice with displays which show the industrial processes, the extent of the construction work and the infrastructure provided for the thousands of the mainly female and ex domestic service, labour imported to do the work.
Outside, there's a unique steam locomotive. You can imagine that a normal steam loco with a firebox was not a great idea in a location crammed with thousands of tons of explosive material! This loco has no firebox but was charged up with compressed steam at various charging stations in safe locations around the site. Who knew?
The Home Front was equally important however and this museum focuses on that and in particular on the vast munitions complex which was built from 1915 on, in the Annan/Gretna area. I knew about it but I had not fully appreciated the vast scale of the project.
The Devils Porridge museum does it full justice with displays which show the industrial processes, the extent of the construction work and the infrastructure provided for the thousands of the mainly female and ex domestic service, labour imported to do the work.
Outside, there's a unique steam locomotive. You can imagine that a normal steam loco with a firebox was not a great idea in a location crammed with thousands of tons of explosive material! This loco has no firebox but was charged up with compressed steam at various charging stations in safe locations around the site. Who knew?
There's a nice memorial at the blacksmiths shop, Gretna, commemorating the lost lives when several trains crashed nearby carrying soldiers of the first world war, it is also covered at the devils porridge museum, fantastic museum by the way.
The museum also features a display on the UKs worst rail accident. It took place 110 years ago almost to the day of my visit. It had a dreadful impact on the Edinburgh and Leith area as one of the trains contained a pals battalion which had been recruited locally and particularly in Leith. More about the disaster here ...
You beat me to it by a couple of minutes!
The museum is indeed excellent and well worth a visit.
The upper story contains exhibits on WW2 which contains interesting stuff on children's homes which were evacuated to the area. Also the RAF training base at Annan.
There's also a small section on the Cold War which features Chapel Cross and its use as a provider of nuclear materials for the UKs nuclear deterrent.
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It's a funny old thing, I've been driving past the devils porridge sign for years, and travelling that road for the past 40yrs since meeting my good lady, and only visited the museum earlier this year.
Another interesting place to visit, not quite Dumfries and Galloway, but not far away , is Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire.
Free to visit apart from house tours, which to be fair are very good.
Now owned by a trust headed by King Charles, it has been restored to how it was hundreds of years ago, including g the grounds and gardens, they also run apprentaship courses from there covering all the old trades, timber work, decorative plasterwork etc.
Another interesting place to visit, not quite Dumfries and Galloway, but not far away , is Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire.
Free to visit apart from house tours, which to be fair are very good.
Now owned by a trust headed by King Charles, it has been restored to how it was hundreds of years ago, including g the grounds and gardens, they also run apprentaship courses from there covering all the old trades, timber work, decorative plasterwork etc.
Anybody looking to stay in this area, stop here. Terry and Lynne are bikers too and fantastic hosts.
www.thehillhotel.co.uk
TD
The Hill Hotel | Accommodation in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
www.thehillhotel.co.uk
TD
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