Glencaple

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Glencaple
Stone Cairn Glencaple.jpg
Stone cairn in Glencaple, installed in celebration of the year 2000
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Glencaple
Location within Dumfries and Galloway
OS grid reference NX996687
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town DUMFRIES
Postcode district DG1
Police Scotland
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°00′11″N3°34′22″W / 55.00306°N 3.57278°W / 55.00306; -3.57278

Glencaple is a small settlement in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. Situated on the banks of the River Nith, it once served as a port for nearby Dumfries. Glencaple is a Gaelic name meaning 'horse valley' from the words gleann 'narrow valley' and capall 'horse, mare'. [1] [2]

Contents

In the village

At the centre of the village is the old quay with The Boathouse (modern eatery and shop), public toilets (not 24-hour) and public access defibrillator (old phone box).  Across the road overlooking the quay is the historic Nith Hotel (meals and accommodation).  Turn left from the quay, cross the bridge over the burn and you come to Vintage on the Nith (antique shop).  At the very end of the village is Nith Inshore Rescue, our independent (non-RNLI) lifeboat.  A part-time Post Office operates twice a week from the Barbour Hall in Church Street.  The village has a Primary School and, opposite the school, an allotment site established in April 2020.  New housing is being built at the southern end of the village (2021).

Local Community

Caerlaverock Estate has been in the same family for 800 years. The Caerlaverock Estate website has information on places to stay, the estate farm and much more. The Caerlaverock Community Association website has a wealth of up-to-date information about history, people and events, including the monthly Scottish Women's Institute meetings in Glencaple.

The Natural World

Tidal Bore

If conditions are right, a bore can sometimes be seen sweeping up the river as high tide approaches.

Wildlife

The area’s bird life is one of the reasons people visit Glencaple. The mud exposed at low tide attracts large numbers of wildfowl and waders in autumn and winter.  The merse (saltmarsh) across the river is home to Barnacle Geese in winter and breeding waders and skylarks in summer.

Protected Areas

Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve starts just to the south of the village.  Glencaple lies within the Solway Firth SPA (Special Protection Area - designated Dec 2020), the Solway Firth SAC (Special Area of Conservation) and the Nith Estuary National Scenic Area.  The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s WWT Caerlaverock reserve is 4 miles to the south.

Walking

Tracks lead along the merse to the north and south of the village but check the tides first.  Up Church Street and on up the Quay Hill waymarked paths leave the road to left and right.

Other places of interest

Caerlaverock Castle

Opening of The Boathouse, 2012

On 7 September 2012, Princess Alexandra opened the Caerlaverock Shop and Tearoom in Glencaple, accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Jean Tulloch. The tearoom was originally operated by Lady Mary Mumford, a former lady-in-waiting to Princess Alexandra, and her sister, Baroness Herries. It is now overseen by Lady Clare Kerr, Lady Mary's niece.

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Mary Katharine Mumford, 15th Lady Herries of Terregles was a Scottish peeress and the second of the four daughters of the 16th Duke of Norfolk and The Hon. Lavinia Strutt.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lochar Water</span> Natural watercourse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK, flows into the Solway Firth

Lochar Water is a small river located in Dumfries and Galloway. It flows for about 10 miles or 16 km, mainly in a southerly direction, roughly parallel to the River Nith to the west and the River Annan to the east. It is formed by the confluence of Park Burn and Amisfield Burn, and skirts the eastern side of the town of Dumfries, and flows through an extensive low-lying area and former raised peat land known as Lochar Moss, before flowing into the Solway Firth. Bankend Bridge, part of the B725 road, crosses Lochar Water on the east side of Bankend village. The tidal limit is about 1 km below that. It shares its name with an electoral ward of the Dumfries and Galloway council

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingholm Quay</span>

Kingholm Quay, commonly called the New Quay (NX975735) in the 19th century and its associated village and warehouses is located on the River Nith, once serving the town of Dumfries and its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. The port of Dumfries lay upstream and downstream quays or harbours were located at Laghall, Kelton, Glencaple, Carsethorn and Kirkconnell Jetty. It is not clear whether Kingholm was home to a fishing fleet of any sort. Mavisgrove Merse lay opposite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laghall Quay</span> Quay in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK

Laghall Quay (NX973732) is located on the River Nith, once serving the estate of Laghall, later named Mavis Grove and now again called Laghall as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway, previously Kirkcudbrightshire. The ports of Dumfries, Kingholm Quay and Castledykes Quay lay upstream and downstream quays or harbours were located at Kelton, Glencaple, Carsethorn and Kirkconnell Jetty. It lies on the edge of the old Mavisgrove Merse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glencaple Quay</span> Architectural structure in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK

Glencaple Quay (NX994687) is located on the River Nith, it mainly served the town of Dumfries and to some degree the Glencaple area as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. The quays at Dumfries, Kingholm Quay Laghall, Kelton and Castledykes lay upstream and downstream jettys were located at Kirkconnell and Carsethorn. It lies opposite Kirkconnell Merse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelton Harbour and Village</span> Architectural structure in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK

Kelton Harbour and Village (NX988708) are located on the East side of the River Nith opposite the Kirkconnell Merse, about 3.5 miles (5.6Km) from Dumfries and 1.5 miles (2.4Km) north of Glencaple Quay. The old harbour served the immediate area as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. The quays at Dumfries, Kingholm Quay Laghall and Castledykes lay upstream and downstream jettys or quays were located at Glencaple Quay, Kirkconnell and Carsethorn.

References

  1. Grant, Alison (2010). Macleod, Iseabail (ed.). The Pocket Guide to Scottish Place-Names. Glasgow: Richard Drew Ltd. p. 50. ISBN   978-1-899471-00-3. OCLC   759569647.
  2. Johnson-Ferguson, Edward (1935). The Place-Names of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries: Courier Press. p. 7.