Staycation, staycation, staycation (Part 3)...

This year saw August hosting the third part of our Staycations as we ventured to the literally new pastures of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. We'd been around the area before and knew Dumfries and Galloway had lots to offer, but with Scotland crawling out of lockdown we weren't really sure what to expect.

Our journey down took us through the wonderful scenery of the Galloway Forest Park. And wonderful it was for three of us at least. Scenic twisty roads and our poor little Niomi aren't always happy bedfellows, and this trip was no exception. Still, minor vomiting incidents aside, we arrived to our idyllic little cottage for the week which literally stood on the banks for the River Cree. I've never stayed with the sound of a river permanently in the background before and I have to say it comes highly recommended - very soothing...although some torrential rain did make for a spectacular increase in velocity and turbulence.

So the week was overall a great success. Now, I say 'overall' as there were some other minor - ahem - incidents as well. The weather was somewhat mixed with the sun appearing intermittently in between some fairly hefty showers. But that wasn't the main issue, as we're fairly used to rain - it was more our attempts at a family mountain biking experience. Grading 'Green' routes into being suitable for families, beginners, novices, all types of bikes etc - led me to believe that they were suitable for families, beginners, novices, all types of bikes etc. Day 1 - Kirroughtree - Green trail seemed to be aptly graded. Day 2 - Glentress - Green trail less than aptly graded, requiring invention of new vocabularly to cope.

Crycle: verb; meaning - to cycle through beautiful countryside whilst howling your lungs out with displeasure.

Poor Niomi. And I think Emily only just avoided a good crycle too. And I'm also not sure Mummy was that far behind but that was probably more a reacto-crycle - like when someone yawns and it sets you off yawning. Only much louder and more miserable....Game abandoned.

But the rest of the week was much more successful...there were beaches (although some Covid-closures), the Gem museum and Smokehouse to avoid the rain, Wigtown - Book Town and Castle Kennedy (old favourite) in the rain, Threave Gardens, Cream of Galloway for adventure, and a few meet-ups with old friends. So if the sun wasn't always shining, we managed some sunshine anyway. But all in all I have to say it was just really great to be away in the land of the new normal.

Walking the tightrope

A room with a view

Bridge over the Cree

Boo!

Behold! The River Cree

A fine collection of Red Penguins in Wigtown

Day 1 Cycling - A good day

The beach to ourselves

Swimming lessons Mummy style

Van life

My family and other animals

A monkey on Monkey Puzzle Avenue

Videoclip: Newton Stewart 2020

Sunset on Newton Stewart