Sandhead Autumn Meet 2022

Tony & Mary Sutton's picture
Submitted by Tony & Mary Sutton on Tue, 15/11/2022 - 11:19

Cathie and Jim welcomed us back to the beautifully situated Sands of Luce campsite on October 30.  We all had fun comparing the routes we had taken to Sandhead. New two and four legged members were warmly welcomed!

We celebrated Halloween with scones and coffee in the site restaurant. There were not a lot of ghosts, witches or fireworks that night!

Jim led a walk along the beach to Sandhead telling us about local flora fauna and history along the way.  There had been a military association in the area since World War 1 when airships were stationed on the Bay of Luce. They were used to patrol the waters around for enemy submarines.   Later the site was redeveloped as RAF West Freugh and used during WW 2 for armament and ordnance training   Targets remain in the Bay. The MOD relinquished control in 2001 when QinetiQ took over.

November 2 was our day of WEATHER!  Wild winds and rain rocked the vans and even the dogs didn’t want to go out.   By late afternoon calm had been restored. We went to the village for our group meal at Tigh na Mara hotel.Really special food including local specialities delighted everyone. We were relieved to have local bus service from our vans to and fro the restaurant! A real treat.

Of course…the following day was perfect! Sunshine and a blue sky encouraged many to take their vans out….to Stranraer, Portpatrick, Port Logan, the Mull of Galloway and the lighthouse. Others chose to walk east along the shore as far as the military range. A bracing walk following beautiful coastline.

Results of the ‘Pot Luck’ quiz were given at our final informal gathering in the site restaurant.   Pete and Pauline had the most correct answers.

We were all so grateful to the Cowans and all the staff at the site and in the village shop and restaurant.  Everyone was so kind, friendly and helpful.   

We headed home on Friday.  A footnote……Neville and I stayed at Clumber Park for one night!  The refurbishment is top notch.  The site is not as it was in 2006 when the first IHOC meet was held there…..but phone signal is still unavailable!

Lyn Pither.