Log No 162. Thu 17th Oct 2013 - Gatehouse of Fleet to Kirkcudbright, 19 miles (2512 miles walked)

Yesterday's rain had cleared away and it looked like being a fine day again.

There were no main roads to walk on today and because I would not be on any bus routes I was going to have to walk to Kirkcudbright.

From Gatehouse of Fleet I took the cycleway through Cally Park and under the A75.

The cycleway turned to go on a minor road but I continued on past Cally Mains to the chalet park at Sandgreen.

A small road followed the coast through Carrick and joined the minor road and cycleway at Knockbrex.

At Kirkandrews I had a decision to make: to stay on the road as it cut across inland or to try to walk along the coast to Brighouse (there was no path shown on the map but I knew of one person having walked it 10 years ago).

If it had been raining I would have stayed on the road but it was sunny so I opted for the coastline walk, I didn't really have a choice if someone else has done it! I had brought my boots with me for this eventuality.

From the end of the road at Kirkandrews I went into the field and walked along the unfenced edge near the shore. A sign on the gate said "Beware of the Bull" but I saw no sign of any cattle other than the grass being short.

I climbed over a wall/fence into the next field, which had fresh cow pats, and at the next wall found a kissing gate with footpath indicators. This was on the outside of this next field and it did look as though it had been walked.

I tried to stick to the path but where it was too overgrown I went inside the field.

At one gate the indicator seemed to be directing the walker away from the coast but I carried on and climbed over the fences of the next few fields and eventually came back onto the path outside the wall round the golf course.

Coming into Brighouse Bay the path went through the wood between the shore and the chalet park to come out onto the minor road at the car park.

Back on the road I thankfully swapped my boots for shoes for the last 5 miles to Kirkcudbright.

Another enjoyable day of 19 miles.