This year I have been lucky enough to have had a fair old pile of stays down in Galloway and lots of time to visit and re-visit sites there.
My favourites were many! I think actually finding the beautiful posy of three fine stemmed blossoms at Torrs 2 was my year highlight. I had water and the sun broke through the clouds just in time for a nice phoatie. A friendly, helpful farmer sweetened the visit even more.
I also found myself on the Doon of Carsluith in the very early morning one day in July looking across the Solway to the Isle of Man as it sat hovering on a haze of fog fifty miles away in the grey morning light. Very beautiful and haunting.
Over the course of a few visits I got the chance to explore the Barharrow sites. I even found a new panel. I tried many times to get a decent photo of Barharrow 8 and failed. There was a herd of very frisky black Galloway Bullocks in the Barharrow 8 field and I had to try and sneak in without them seeing me, frame a couple of shots in plain view of the frisky beasts then leg it outta the field as they charged. Each time I got back to our holiday digs I'd check my photos and find them blurred or rubbishly framed. I'd then return and try again. On the last attempt I fled the field after getting a few shots and looked back only to find the bullocks gathered round the rock outcrop staring at it as if to say "Why's that weird guy so interested in this bit of rock".
In October we were back in Galloway and staying in a beautiful cottage a few hundred yards from Trusty's Hillfort. Beautiful Pictish carvings. I found a large "new" cup marked panel. The Townhead rock art was a fabulous muddy October walk, again assisted by a helpful farmer on his quad. Followed by a gourmet fish supper from the fish and chip shop by the harbour in Kirkudbright. Oh yes!
My summer week in Arran was the usual seven days in heaven, ancient stones and sites at every turn, some "new" ancient sites were explored at Allt Cul Corrieham beyond the exotically named Teanga Burrican. Stronach Wood is still an evolving marvel... there's a stag now... don't get me started!
Roll on 2012!