I saw the flyer for the Barr ‘wee’ Gallery displayed on the noticeboard when we paying for lunch at the Whitings Restaurant @ Maidens. We decided to visit on the weekend driving through the beautiful valley of the Stinchar and the winding scenic Carrick hills. 

Rising in the Galloway Forest, the Stinchar river flows through the villages of Barr, Pincherry and Colonel, reaching the sea at Ballantrae. There are many oak woodlands and a huge variety of wildlife, including badgers, otters, greater spotted woodpeckers, owls. Hadyard Hill wind farm provides an eery and dramatic backdrop of “technology of the new age” on the hillsides, with sheep in the foreground as they have lain for many a century. 

We got to the Barr wee Gallery and saw the gorgeous works produced by Merlin and Angus Currie (he received a wee grant from the Prince’s trust and has been developing his business with his mother as a result) – fused glass art works and plates in every imaginable colour to suit your taste, portraits, paintings, and cards. See Angus’ work @ http://ayeglass.com/ 

Angus recommend we also visit Peinn Mor Pottery on our way through to the coast. A slight diversion inland and we arrived at Peinn Mor pottery – to be greeted by Keith and Beryl Dawdry, the makers of contemporary Scottish studio ceramics. They showcase work by themselves along with ceramics by Simon and Clare Dawdry of We Make Pots. Jacqui and Jack got tempted by one of the celtic inspired flagons displayed (more purply hues than the one pictured) and decided to buy it. Keith was also a whiz in being a local tour guide and suggested we visit Glenapp House, just south of Ballantrae. He told us we should ring beforehand and make a booking, which we did, as the estate was private and ‘hidden’ down a side road (no sign posts).

 

Ballatrae is a coastal village situated on one of the most scenic stretches of coast road in Scotland (reminded me a bit of Great Ocean Rd). Dominated by the ruins of Ardstinchar Castle, once home to the Kennedys of Bargany. We took a right turn directly after the bridge, wended our way down a single lane roadway and found ourselves at a security gate, which opened when I provided the secret password “Lidia”.

Wow, Glenapp!!  We were taken on a private tour of the public areas of the Castle.

It was built in 1870, a strilingly beautiful example of Scottish baronial style of architecture. Designed by the celebrated architect David Bryce for the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, Mr James Hunter, the castle’s mellow sandstone battlements are topped by soaring turrets and towers,earning Glenapp rightful place as one of the most romantic castles in Scotland. 

From 1902, world renowned gardner Getrude Jekyll and Sir Robert Lotimer, a prolific architect, were commissioned to design the Italian garden from scratch.  (Gertrude had created around 400 gardens in Europe, UK and America). 

The Walled Garden predates the castle, with some of its fruit trees planted in the early Victorian period.   Local hoteliers, the McMillan Family, purchased the castle in 1994, by which time parts of the castle and grounds had fallen into a poor state of repair. Family members embarked on a 6 year period of restoration of castle, gardens and grounds retaining original character and atmosphere. Now part of the exclusive Relais chain of hotels. 

Check out the view of the castle from the ornamental pond!!!! Stunning!!!