Biggar Ramblers took on the weather as well as the walk on Wednesday 2 nd November. The
Douglas Estate circular is usually associated with lovely views across the Douglas Water, the lakes and the fields, interesting historical landmarks and gentle gradients. Indeed the group peacefully passed the memorial to James Gavin, Covenanter who lost his ears, the 16 th
Century working clock in the tower of St Brides Church donated by Mary Queen of Scots, and the Memorial to the exiled Polish Troops who carried out sterling defence work on the East Coast of Scotland from 1940. They were just passing the first lake in the estate and had the 1968 memorial to the Cameronian regiment disbandment in sight when the rain came on. They reached the ruined
tower of Castle Dangerous for a quick photo and a bit of shelter and then headed on across the red bridge up to the forrest. On the way there is a landscaped area in development that will offer a
sunken rhododendron garden and a newly planted orchard with walkways when it opens in the
spring of 2023. The next part of the walk along he ridge was relatively sheltered from both rain
and wind, which was by then strengthening. As the group came down through the trees they
stopped for lunch beside a fascinating fallen beech tree that had been colonised by fir trees, ferns,
bracket fungi and puff balls. Then the group bent into the strong wind and heavy rain to cross the
valley over the blue iron bridge and up to the monument to the raising of the Cameronian regiment
in 1688. Doulgas has a lot to offer the visitor. www.biggarramblers.org
