Balcary Bay

Bay in Kirkcudbrightshire

Scotland

Balcary Bay

Path to Loch Mackie Rampant bracken has taken hold following the felling of adjacent forestry, but isolated rowans have good colour with abundant berries. — Path to Loch Mackie Credit: Jonathan Wilkins

Balcary Bay is a picturesque bay located in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Situated on the Solway Firth, it offers stunning views of the coastline and surrounding countryside.

The bay is known for its natural beauty, with its sandy beach and rocky cliffs providing a haven for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. The area is home to a wide variety of bird species, including oystercatchers, gannets, and terns, making it a popular spot for birdwatching.

Balcary Bay is also renowned for its tranquil atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for those seeking peace and relaxation. The calm waters and gentle waves make it a perfect spot for swimming, kayaking, and other water activities.

The bay is surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery, offering numerous walking and hiking trails for visitors to explore. These trails provide breathtaking views of the bay and the surrounding landscape, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

In addition to its natural beauty, Balcary Bay is steeped in history. The area was once home to ancient settlements and was an important trading port during the medieval period. There are also several historical sites nearby, including Balcary Tower, a 16th-century tower house that offers a glimpse into the region's rich past.

Overall, Balcary Bay is a hidden gem in Kirkcudbrightshire, offering a mix of natural beauty, tranquility, and historical significance. Whether you are a nature lover, history buff, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Balcary Bay has something to offer everyone.

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Balcary Bay Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.828521/-3.8326635 or Grid Reference NX8249. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Path to Loch Mackie

Rampant bracken has taken hold following the felling of adjacent forestry, but isolated rowans have good colour with abundant berries.

Jonathan Wilkins

Rock outcrops

Low rock outcrops on the edge of the raised beach comprise dipping beds of sandstone belonging to the Rascarrel Member of the Fell Sandstone Formation. In the background is the steep, seaward face of Airds Heugh.

Jonathan Wilkins

Boulder shore

The shore here comprises an extraordinary carpet of equal-sized boulders of glacial origin which are the residua of former deposits of till, or boulder clay. It is part of the discontinuous raised beach which is particularly prominent through the west of the southern Scottish coast. See also, for example NX1239 : Bouldery beach.

Jonathan Wilkins

Balcary Bay Hotel

'The Balcary Bay Country House Hotel which takes its name from the stunningly beautiful bay that overlooks the Solway with the Cumbrian mountains in the distance. Each day brings a different colour spectrum to this wonderful vista. Each night brings forth a romantic moon shimmering across the waters.' Link

Viewed from the top of Balcary Hill.

Russel Wills

Newly cut grass fields

Some grass has been baled. Airds Farm under Big Airds Hill in the background.

Russel Wills

No they are not sheep!

The grass in the foreground has been cut and put into bales covered with white plastic. In the background, looking like a grass maze, the grass has been cut and the machine to gather it and blow it into trailers waits for a trailer.

Russel Wills

Rocks on the foreshore of Auchencairn Bay

The various post on the beach are the remnants of salmon fishing nets. How it might have looked. Link and Link Hestan Island in the bay.

Russel Wills

Balcary Tower

'Balcary Tower was built around 1860 by Colonel Johnstone, the Laird of Auchencairn House, it is believed for his French governess and mistress. The Tower was extended in the 1960s and again in the 1970s and mostly recently was entirely professionally refurbished in 2012.' Link

Link

Russel Wills

View from the carpark

Over the white plastic wrapped bales of grass.

Russel Wills

Agricultural traffic hazard

This is one of the large tractors with a trailer load of freshly cut grass. They were moving in a convoy of four down to the fields to collect the loads and then back up the narrow road with few passing places.

Russel Wills