Hill walk routes to climb in SW Scotland - also coastal paths and National Scenic Areas with maps, pictures and other useful information based on extensive local knowledge
Portling to Castlehill Point - A Coastal Walk
Introduction to East Stewartry National Scenic Area - Map of walking routes in the area
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Beside the monument to Captain Samuel Wilson of Palnackie. Beside the monument to Captain Samuel Wilson of Palnackie. Beside the monument to Captain Samuel Wilson of Palnackie.

09 Beyond the monument our route is not so high above the sea but the rocky shore offers little sympathy to schooners in storms. This area ahead of us is shown on the map as Gutcher's Isle.

As you can see in the picture below the inscription on the monument reads, "The Schooner Elbe Captain Samuel Wilson of Palnackie after providentially landing her crew here backed off the rocks and sank off Rascarrel 6th December 1866" I have always taken this to mean that the captain backed off with his ship and must have gone down with it. However it would appear that what it actually means is that the Elbe itself backed off the rocks with nobody aboard. There was a lengthy and detailed account of the incident published in the illustrated magazine called the Gallovidian in the spring of 1902. In this account however the inscription is mis-represented as saying the incident took place on 7th December 1867 which as you can see from the picture below is erroneous.

Details on the monument to Captain Samuel Wilson of Palnackie.
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