MartinK wrote:

It's a remote beach, about 1km long, in SW Scotland. Only access track is 4x4 accessible only (not even sure a less capable 4x4 would make it especially in bad weather).

There's a 1:1 (45 degree) hairpin bend which the Defender manages easily in low box.

Cottages are nice and comfortable.

The sea has been really wild and spectacular this weekend. The Defender is covered in salt spray, so it'll be getting a thorough wash after this,

http://morroch-bay.com/index.htm

See the cliff drive video. Not much of a challenge for a Defender, but good fun nontheless.

Home tomorrow!

CFB wrote:

I've toyed with the idea of staying there too for the remoteness and isolation, no phone or internet (bliss!), interested to hear what the cottages and surroundings are like.

Portpatrick is lovely - one of the nicest seaside towns in the area. As Small Clanger says, there's some nice pubs and a castle in Portpatrick- and 2 very overpriced small shops for daily essentials - and Stranrear is only an extra 10 mins drive for a larger shop (Tesco & Morrisons both there).

Knockinaam Lodge is very close (under a mile walk) by cliff-top path, but it was closed for kitchen refurbishment - place looked lovely tho http://www.knockinaamlodge.com/. Because of this (and the dark nights) we stayed in with home-cooked food and good wine both nights. There was wood & coal supplied for a cosy night with the fire going

Portpatrick is about 2 miles walk along the cliff-top path.

Have to admit that I did a bit of mountain-biking, but other than that we mostly enjoyed the solitude, apart from a drive to Mull of Galloway (Scotlands most Southerly point) and Isle of Whithorn. The weather did not lend itself to long walks on a clifftop, as it was Force 8 winds (and spectacular seas which came within 4 metres of the cottage...noisy at night because of the Force 8!).

Great place. The Southern Croft (1 bed) is a bit nicer appointed that the much larger cottage. The cottage would be great for a larger group, with barbies in summer...because it was dark by 4:30pm we were usually finishing our outdoors life very early in the day...summer would be much better!

I see the Cottage is free for New Year...now that would be a treat! There was a note in the visitor book that some residents had been cut-off (Discovery2 I think they said) for 3 days because of snow and ice on the tracks to the bay last winter!!!

Lots of wildlife. Deer in the bay most mornings, fox, loads of birds. No seals or dolphins, it was too rough to see them. Would be great for kayaking in calmer conditions. At night we could see the lighthouses on the coast of Ireland, and fantastic clear starry skies with no light pollution

Cottages claim 4*, but I would say more like 3*. Comfortable though. Recommended!

BTW...there is complimentary wifi (which is how I did the post at the top of the thread)...But the mobile phone doesn't get reception (Vodafone). Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

Small Clanger wrote:

I was thinking about taking a bicycle up there next time and visiting the 7 stanes. Any good?

I have ridden a couple of the 7stanes, and they are excellent if that's your MTB bag. Graded blue (beginners), red (intermediate & slightly committing), Black...full-on.

Glentress, Fort William (Aonach Mor, Witches Trail) and Laggan Wolftrax are all excellent... I'll be doing "10 under the Ben" endurance race at Fort William again in 2012

Not done the 3 in Dumfries (Mabie, Dalbeattie, Ae) though, but heard very good things. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

Small Clanger wrote:

I'll have to give them a try next Spring, good excuse to get a new MTB! Current rides are a Specialized Langster fixie, a Wilier Triestina road bike and a...................Pashley Guv'nor.

twopoint6khz wrote:

don't get me wrong, the black section was really good, but the 12 miles or so of red route to get there was a tad tedious and didn't really ever get going. The thing that gets me with trail centres is you never seem to go properly up or downhill, just wiggle along for ages and keep having to put your seat up and down.

I've also ridden Ae, Mabie and Dalbeattie, and of those the only one I'd go back to is Ae. And then not in winter, cos the mud is like trying to ride through treacle.

You may have guessed I'm not much of a fan of trail centres.... but of the 7Stanes Innerleithen is definitely the best. Proper big hill with a proper descent. I seem to remember Glentress being good too, but I haven't been there for a good 7 years. There's also Drumlanrig near Dumfries, which is a shorter ride and not a 7Stanes trail, but has lots of nice roots to get sideways over

Glentress is good in winter, the upper section (spooky wood) of the red route is pretty new, and drains well. Some great singletrack descents and land-rover track ascents. It's getting very popular. My favourite time is late night in winter with a decent headlight... Glentress used to open the shop and cafe in winter on Wednesdays for night riders, you could also rent headlamps (but not bothered since I bought my own, but it was this that got me into night riding.

Laggan Wolf trax is much quieter, and well worth a go...a bit short though.

Ben Nevis (Aonach Mor, Witches Trail) is awesome. Only ever done it in crap weather, but the tracks drain well (generally). Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)