Exploring the SWC300: A Cultural and Historical Companion to the South-West Coastal 300 Route

by David M. Addison

Overview

The SWC300 Route has been described as Scotland’s Secret Corner – with some justification.

This book seeks to shed a light on the history and culture of this largely ignored part of Scotland. By delving into the colourful events that happened here in the past, the intention is to enhance and enrich your exploration of this land of contrasts as you travel through its rolling hills and along its spectacularly scenic coastline.

The Neolithic settlers, the first Christians, the medieval warlords and the reivers – all played a part in shaping this war-torn land. Sharing a common border with the Auld Enemy – the English – it was badly affected during the Wars of Independence, just as it was during the Covenanting period: what came to be called the Killing Time. Sad to say, there were more deaths from disasters down the mines, out at sea, in the air, and in what remains, to this day, the UK’s worst-ever rail disaster.

Follow in the footsteps of those who left their mark here. It’s a varied cast of characters: kings, commoners and Covenanters; saints and sinners; murderers and martyrs; monks and ministers; poets and pioneers; engineers and explorers; artists and architects; geniuses and gypsies; writers and witches – even troglodytes and cannibals.

There are ruined castles and tower houses; grand houses and gardens; abbeys and churches; standing stones and stone circles; museums and monuments; retired railway engines and planes from yesteryear.

There are legends; folktales; and tales of the supernatural – all part of the rich tapestry that forms part of the greater and enthralling story that will be revealed to you as you explore what has been a neglected part of Scotland for far too long.

It’s hard to imagine there can be another part of Scotland that has so much to offer the tourist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780995589780
Publisher:	Extremis Publishing Ltd.
Publication date:	05/31/2019
Pages:	454
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.92(d)

About the Author

A native of Banff, Scotland, David M. Addison is a graduate of Aberdeen University. As well as essays in various publications, he has written several books, mainly about his travels.

As well as a short spell teaching English as a foreign language in Poland when the Solidarity movement was at its height, he spent a year (1978-79) as an exchange teacher in Montana.

He regards his decision to apply for the exchange as one of the best things he ever did, for not only did it give him the chance to travel extensively in the US and Canada but during the course of the year he made a number of enduring friendships. His award-winning An Innocent Abroad is the first in a planned trilogy about this extraordinary year while the second, Still Innocent Abroad, was published in 2016.

Since taking early retirement (he is not as old as he looks), he has more time but less money to indulge his unquenchable thirst for travel (and his wife would say for Cabernet Sauvignon and malt whisky). He is doing his best to spend the children's inheritance by travelling as far and wide and as often as he can.

In 2015 An Innocent Abroad received an award in the Bookbzz Prize Writer Competition for Biography and Memoir. David's most recent travels took him to the Highlands of Scotland, exploring Visit Scotland's recently unveiled NC500, dubbed "Scotland's Route 66", and rated one of the top five most scenic road journeys in the world.

For more details about David and his work, please visit his website at www.davidmaddison.org.

Table of Contents

1.Dumfries (Page 1)

2.Dumfries (Page 5)

3.Dumfries (Page 11)

4.Dumfries (Page 17)

5.St Michael’s (Page 23)

6.Dumfries (Page 27)

7.The Museum and the Camera Obscura (Page 33)

8.Dumfries (Page 41)

9.Caerlaverock Castle (Page 47)

10.The Brow Well (Page 57)

11.Ruthwell (Page 61)

12.Annan and Eastriggs (Page 67)

13.Gretna Green (Page 75)

14.Ecclefechan (Page 79)

15.Hallmuir and Lockerbie (Page 87)

16.Lochmaben Castle (Page 93)

17.Lincluden Abbey and the Twelve Apostles (Page 97)

18.Ellisland (Page 103)

19.Friars’ Carse (Page 109)

20.New Abbey (Page 115)

21.Kirkbean (Page 121)

22.Carsethorn and Southerness (Page 129)

23.Dalbeattie (Page 133)

24.Castle Douglas (Page 139)

25.Castle Douglas (Page 145)

26.Palnackie and Orchardton (Page 151)

27.Auchencairn (Page 157)

28.Dundrennan Abbey (Page 161)

29.Kirkcudbright (Page 167)

30.Kirkcudbright (Page 175)

31.Twynholm and Tongland (Page 181)

32.Gatehouse of Fleet (Page 187)

33.Cardoness Castle and Anwoth Old Kirk (Page 193)

34.Cairnholy and Carsluith (Page 201)

35.Creetown (Page 207)

36.Kirroughtree to Loch Ken (Page 213)

37.Balmaclennan and Barscobe Castle (Page 219)

38.Dalry and Laurieston (Page 225)

39.Newton Stewart, Minnigaff and Torhouse (Page 229)

40.Wigtown (Page 233)

41.Whithorn (Page 241)

42.The Isle of Whithorn (Page 247)

43.From Rispain to Druchtag (Page 251)

44.St Finian’s Chapel and Glenluce Abbey (Page 259)

45.To the Mull of Galloway (Page 265)

46.The Mull of Galloway (Page 271)

47.Kirkmaiden to Dunskey (Page 277)

48.Portpatrick to Kirkcolm (Page 285)

49.Stranraer and Castle Kennedy Gardens (Page 293)

50.Cairnryan to Bennane Head (Page 299)

51.Lendalfoot to Girvan (Page 307)

52.Turnberry to Maybole (Page 315)

53.Culzean Castle (Page 323)

54.Culzean Castle (Page 327)

55.Alloway (Page 335)

56.By the Banks o’ Bonnie Doon (Page 345)

57.New Cumnock and the Afton Valley (Page 351)

58.The Crawick Multiverse (Page 355)

59.Sanquhar and Crawick (Page 359)

60.Wanlockhead (Page 369)

61.Wanlockhead (Page 377)

62.Leadhills (Page 381)

63.Drumlanrig and Morton Castles (Page 389)

64.Tibbers Castle and Thornhill (Page 399)

65.Durisdeer and the Devil’s Beef Tub (Page 403)

66.Moffat and Heathhall (Page 411)

Postscriptum (Page 421)

Image Credits (Page 423)

About the Author (Page 429)