This time last week we were staying in a wooden lodge on the fringes of Colvend Golf Course; there was even a hint of Spring in the air.  By the end of the week the climate had gone into sudden reverse such that we only escaped the snowy clutches of Dalbeattie by driving in close proximity to a snow plough; just a very lucky piece of timing.

We had hoped to follow in the footsteps of J.D. Riso and visit Threave but had arrived too soon in the season, the ferry to the Castle only starting from 1st April – we will simply have to go back.  Instead we spent most of our time walking the Secret Coast – a slogan which seems like a contradiction for a marketing campaign .  It is also unoriginal – Argyll further to the north claims exactly the same odd anonymity.  Secret or not, it is a beautiful place. This is Balcary Bay on the day when the weather was at its kindest:

On the same afternoon we went deer stalking; well, I can dream.  Actually we came across this fine beast near the lower reaches of Loch Ken; he was penned but seemed content enough and so used to human company that he became quite inquisitive:

The next day winter returned with a vengeance – this was the lodge on the morning of our escape as the snow blew in on a bitter northeast wind, ironically from somewhere near here: