Before they had cars

On my second whole day in Galloway, I found that I had no idea what I wanted to do. I did, however, really want to go horseriding, because the last time I'd been on one was more than a year ago and I was kinda itching to go on horseback again.

The activity centre where I was staying recommended heading to Barstobrick, so that's exactly what I did. I took a bus from Castle Douglas to Ringford and walked for a good half hour for 1.5 miles until I got to Barstobrick Farm, which is right at the end of a pretty long road.

Thankfully the weather was beautiful and sunny and nearly cloudless, so I had a pretty good time just walking slowly up the road!

Finally I got to this:

Barstobrick
Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway
DG7 2AT

Tel: 01557 820112

The visitor centre at Barstobrick is nicely done up, with a wee shop at the back and a restaurant that serves nice food at nice prices. They've also got some meats for sale - chops of lamb and beef from their own farm and slaughtered by their own farm butcher!

Personally, I don't think I could stomach seeing my food alive and kicking, knowing that it's going to end up on a plate... (But I can't go vegetarian, I love my beef steak and lamb too much!)

I booked a horse to go riding at 3.30PM, but I had so much time to kill that I went on a couple of walks around the wetlands of the massive 650 acre farm. Of course I didn't walk all 650 acres of it - but it really is a massive farm!!!!

Hahaha it looks like I'm doing some sort of yoga pose doesn't it?!

I love how the water is so still it's just like a mirror and the branches reflect in it.

People even go fishing in the ponds!

There was just one little downside - there were a few bees and dragonflies around, so I kept flinching every time I got too near one. The butterflies were the worst, though. I'm terrified of butterflies.

I also saw horses out in the paddocks!

I made friends with a lovely horse named Idaho who was extremely friendly and tried to eat my hat. She tried eating my hat after she'd tried eating my bag.

I also saw a really pretty little flower, which I then gave to Idaho to eat.

Idaho's friend Kelpie wasn't as friendly, though - it took me about 15 minutes before Kelpie was willing to have me pet him.

I rode a cob gelding named Red, who was the sweetest and gentlest thing you could ever imagine!

Here is a picture of the girl who was my hack (lingo for pleasure riding on horseback) guide, as taken from the world on Red's back.

Feeling like a pro riding with one hand on the reins ;) Actually it's only cos I had to use the other hand to take photos with LOL.

We rode around the farm and even up to near the top of Barstobrick Hill where Neilson's Monument is located! I don't know much about this Neilson guy, but his fame had something to do with iron on railway tracks. The view from up on the hill is spectacular!

Even the horses like taking in the scenery. Wide, vast open plains, filled with tasty munchy grass for horse stomachs!

It was actually quite funny because Red kept nibbling on the grass - everything we slowed down a bit or stopped, Red would bend his neck down and eat whatever was within reach haha! I had to pull the reins back and kick in the sides a few times if I wanted him to get moving again.

This is me on horseback!

And this is my guide.

I have to say though, riding HURTS if you're not used to it. It hurts a lot. I woke up the next day with a terrible backache and my butt feeling bruised from riding. :x Oh what I wouldn't give for a good Swedish massage right now... (I guess that means I've got to travel to Sweden sometime soon! Haha)

Here is a picture of two elderly people riding horses which looks quite nice.

After I'd rode for about an hour I made my way back to the centre, courtesy of motorists who are kind enough to stop along expressways for hitchhikers. Haha!

On my third night, because I hadn't planned it, I got shifted to a different part of the centre for my third night's stay. It was a very pretty nice little loch-side cabin!