Events for the Mull of Galloway Experience during June 2016, opening times for the Lighthouse and Exhibition can also be found by visiting our website. As the bank holiday weekend approaches the lighthouse will be open to climb on Saturday 28th May then every day up to and including Sunday 5th June. We have a craft market on Sunday 29th May from 10am until 4pm with hand crafted items ranging from knitted hats, tie dyed bags and T shirts, cards, quilting and bunting to plant sales.
Kirkmaiden Scarecrow Festival
The Lighthouse Keeper Scarecrow is now in place at the lighthouse for the Kirkmaiden Scarecrow Festival. He was created by the children of Drummore School and is named Reg! He looks forward to welcoming visitors to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse and Exhibition. Local businesses and residents of the Kirkmaiden area are joining in with the festival and many scarecrows can be seen around the local area.
Smugglers’ Weekend
Bookings are now being taken for the talks and tours that will be taking place during our Smugglers’ Weekend with Frances Wilkins on 9th and 10th July.. Details of how to book and more about the event can be found on the events page of our website.
Saturday 9th July
10am to 12.30pm – A Lecture: The Mull of Galloway Smugglers’ Homecoming
2 to 5pm – A Tour: The Bay of Luce Smugglers’ Route: The East
Sunday 10th July
10am to 12.30pm- A Lecture: The Bay of Luce’s Smuggling Story
2 to 5pm – A Tour: The Bay of Luce Smugglers’ Route: The West
5pm Grand Finale: African Drummers outside the Gallie Craig Coffee House, Mull of Galloway.
There will be a smugglers’ craft market both days between 10am and 4pm.
International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend (ILHW)
The date for your diary is 20th and 21st August. ILHW intends to raise the profile of lighthouses, light vessels and other navigational aids, promoting our maritime heritage. Many lighthouses and places of associated interest will be open to the public, and there will be special events at lighthouses and light vessels both at home and abroad. There will be a special event at the Mull of Galloway with talks by Northern Lighthouse Board Commissioner, John Ross and the photographic journey around Scottish and Manx Lighthouses by Ian Cowe. Two former Lighthouse Keepers will be joining us to chat about their life and times at various lighthouses during their career. Curly Tale Books have something for the children with ‘Treasure Island’ story time by Robert Louis Stevenson. Full details will be released very soon.
RSPB update by Robert Conn, Information Officer, RSPB Mull of Galloway
Wildflowers such as thrift, sea campion and spring squill are spreading their carpet of colour, blanketing the Mull with a diverse palette. This has been met with an increase in butterflies, bumblebees and other insects, which are an invaluable source of food for meadow pipits and stonechats, which are feeding young at the moment. Shags are now rearing young on the cliffs and the number of guillemots and razorbills incubating eggs is on the increase. Kittiwake are working hard developing their nests and we expect to see eggs from them by the end of the month/early June. Whitethroats are displaying loudly and both swallow and house martin have been seen gathering beak loads of mud from around puddles to build their nests. Roe deer continue to graze around the reserve early in the morning and late evening and sightings of grey seals and porpoise are reported frequently. And finally, the star of the show, everyone’s favourite, the puffin, has now returned. One sighted briefly Sunday morning. Guided walks continue every Tuesday and Thursday at 1pm.
Lightkeepers’ Garden Project
The Lightkeepers’ Garden project continues and the first ‘Snug Bug’ Hotel is now in place. This was created by Drummore Primary School Children and RSPB. The living willow structure is flourishing in the garden and there are lots of new shoots and leaves, this is an interactive 6ft boat in which children can play inside once the garden is officially open. Raised vegetable plots, a decking area, plants to encourage wildlife and more bug hotels are all included in the plans for the garden. Meadow Pipits are now nesting in the bottom half of the garden so work will continue in that area once the chicks are fledged. You can follow our progress on the Grow Wild Website and if you would like to join us volunteers are always welcome.
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