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Borgue Hotel |
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More About Borgue...Borgue is mainly a farming community. It is also famous for its honey which is second to none and a must to try. This page describes some of the local attractions and holiday activities in this area and its coast. Its most unusual feature is that none of the roads have names - a relic of its rural past needing modern solutions. The main road is the B727 from Kirkcudbright through Borgue - the photo looks south along the road - with the Village Hall at the south end, the Borgue Hotel in the centre and the School at the north end. The minor road at the junction beside the Village Hall leads past the Church westwards towards the hamlet of Chapelton, the village of Kirkandrews and the Carrick beaches. |
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The hedgerows on the roads between Kirkcudbright, Twynholm, Gatehouse-of-Fleet and Borgue, are particularly rich in wildflowers. From April to August, one can usually be sure to find something worth looking at. All we ask is that you respect the Country Code and do not pick or trample wild flowers - Take only photographs, Keep only memories. The birds of Dumfries and Galloway are rich and varied; the seabirds include Oyster-Catchers, Terns, Cormorants, four species of Gull, many over-wintering Geese and an assortment of smaller birds. The inland species of Robin, Chaffinch, Starling, Blackbird, Heron, three kinds of Owl, Buzzard, three kinds of Crow, Swallows, House-Martins and Crossbills, are also well represented. |
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Good Sandy Beaches...For sea beaches, with variable qualities of sand choose from Doon Bay, Brighouse Bay and Carrick Bay, these are all within a four mile radius of the village. If you would like to venture further, Southerness, Sandyhills, Rockcliffe, Sandgreen, Mossyard, are well worth a visit also. If you like peace and privacy, which is still possible, look for the smaller and less accessible beaches. Many of these beaches are ideal for escapist beachcombing for stones and pebbles, which may include waste from old mines and debris washed up from wrecks, such as the green pebbles washed up on the shore from Abbey Burnfoot and Barlocco to Auchencairn from the 'Clynder' which had a cargo of Chilean phosphates. Those with an eye for these matters may spot Coral and Shell fossils on the Carsethorn to Arbigland shore and other fossil fragments at Balmae Ha'en on Kirkcudbright Bay. General collectors can assemble Limpets and Barnacles, Cockle and Mussel and Whelk Shells, Scallop and Tellin and Long Razor Shells, all sorts of Periwinkles, the Auger or Tower Shell, and best of all the splendid Pelican's Foot Shells and a few Hungarian Cap or Bonnet Limpet Shells (they look just like Disneyland Dwarf hats), and perhaps Oyster Shells from Loch Ryan round to Corsewall. The Flotsam and Jetsam items might include Mermaid's Purses, i.e. egg capsules usually attaches to seaweed by twisted tendrils. There is a neat reply here to the hotel bore - 'And what have you been doing today?' 'Oh-mm-collecting Hungarian caps and Mermaid's Purses - jolly good actually!' For those who enjoy collecting islands and would like to puzzle a few native Gallovidians, try out the following list, which does not include sand bars or tidal offshore banks. Rough Island near Rockliffe. Hestan Island near Auchancairn. Inch, a tidal island at the south end of St. Mary's Isle which is not an island. Little Ross near Brighouse Bay. Barlocco Isle, west of Borgue. Ardwall and Murray's Isle at Carrick. Tide Tables are published weekly in the Galloway News. These are essential for island goers, swimmers and any of the sailing enthusiasts who visit this area. A little care in checking the times of the high and low tides will keep your holiday safe and enjoyable. |
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Sailing to Galloway... |
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For yachtsmen, getting to Galloway can be a tricky exercise, with the races off the Mull of Galloway and Burrowhead, the Scares reefs in Luce Bay, the RAF and Army Danger Areas, and the Craig Roan rocks off Rough Firth all to be avoided. Kippford and Isle of Whithorn with Loch Ryan (especially for dingy sailing) are probably the most popular, with other stopping-off points and centres at Drummore, Port William, Garlieston, Creetown and Kirkcudbright. Owners of sailing dinghies operating out of the Wigtownshire centres inparticular should check locally about weather and tide before returning into more open water. The nearest berths to Borgue are at Kirkcudbright, others being available at the Kippford Yacht Club, the Isle of Whithorn, Port William, Drummore, Portpatrick and Stranraer. |
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Sea Angling in the Solway Firth...Perhaps the most exciting outdoor activity in the area is the inshore and deep sea angling, for which the Galloway waters, going out from Kipford, Kirkcudbright, Garlieston, Isle of Whithorn, Port William etc. are truly splendid. Over the years from May or June to September have produced many British or Scottish records for weight, and an extraordinary range and variety of species in both colder, deeper and warmer inshore waters. More exotic occasional visitors include the Leatherback Turtle, Octopus (recorded off Hestan Island). Porpoises, Grey Atlantic Seals, schools of Squid, Swordfish and Tunny, Sea Lamprey (on the Cree), Seahorses and probably the highest proportion recorded of Sharks caught off the Scottish coast. The colder deeper water in the Outer Solway and off the Mull of Galloway and the west coast of the Rhins is the place for weight and size and the best sport. You may find excellent Skate, Ling, Plaice, Flounders, Coalfish and Pollock, Congar Eels, Cod, Turbot, Dogfish, Painted Ray, Thresher Shark, Blue Shark and Basking Shark. |
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Hill Walking... |
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For those who like hill walking Galloway boasts 23 summits over 2000 feet. But before you explore the mountain heartlands there is a lot to be saif for trying out some of the more easily accessible climbs. Criffell is quite marvellous. Perhaps because of the sea in front of it, it feels higher than it is at 1868 feet, and it certainly has the best views of the Solway Firth and vistas over to the Cumberland Hills. Watch the tide racing in over the mudflats. Bengairn is only 1280 feet, but it is a real hill, quite steep and with fine views over Auchencairn Bay and Heston Island to the south east and to Gelston and Carlingwark Loch to the north. Screel Hill has, at 1126 feet, almost as good a view but it does appear to be unapproachably encompassed by plantations. However, there are tracks you can follow through up the hill from the Gelston Road just before Potterland Bridge. Cairnsmore of Fleet is a 'must do'. From a distance it looks large and dull, but at 2329 feet it is a good climb, although it is difficult not to keep stopping to look across the stupendous view over the Cree Estaury and Wigtown Bay area. |
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Hazards, Real and Unreal... |
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The Adder (Viper berus) is the only poisonous snake in Britain. The dull brown or green back has a diamond-like zigzag black marking along the body, with a 'spearhead' pattern on the head. Adders are very shy, living hidden and generally seen only when sunning themselves on dry rocks, sand or soil warmed by the sun. If disturbed, they may hiss furiously, but only bite for self-preservation if trodden on or attacked - like most sensible animals, their instinct is to avoid any confrontation. Most times, adders will feel the vibration of approaching walkers and will slide away to hide. The bite can cause sickness and shock, may need medical attention but is dangerous only to dogs, those allergic to insect and snake bites and to very small children. Please keep clear of them and do not casually kill adders - they are a protected species. Keep dogs on the lead, stay on open paths and keep an eye on children playing. |
And Lastly...The Borg...Borgue is Borgue, NOT The Borg, a species of malevolent semi-robotic drones in the famous Star Trek series and its spin-offs. However, the village is perhaps the best-named place in the world for Star Trek enthusiasts - Trekkers - to hold a small convention to discuss the Borg, the Breen, the Jem Hadar and other notorious and unforgiving foes of the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Scotty (Commander Scott) of the original starship 'Enterprise' would no doubt appreciate the King of Scottish liquors at the Borgue Hotel, whilst Commander Worf might find it a change from his favourite Klingon drink of Bloodwine. |
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