This chapel was built by Prisoners of War at Hallmuir near Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway.

These prisoners had been in the Wehrmacht units recruited from locals after the Germans invaded Ukraine (perhaps thinking that Ukraine would be better treated by the Nazis than the Soviets) and who subsequently surrendered to the Western Allies in 1945 in Austria.

Like the Italian Chapel on Orkney the interior is sumptuous – see Undiscovered Scotland’s website page on the chapel here.

The Ukrainian Chapel didn’t seem to be open when we dropped in on our way back home from Annan but it was worth seeing.

Near it there is a memorial cross. The stone to the bottom has, “Precious memories of a dearly loved husband always in my heart,” inscribed on it:-

Beside it there is a dedication stone, inscribed, “This cross is dedicated to those who gave their lives for freedom,” then some Cyrillic script, “Поляглим За україну,” which means, “Fallen for Ukraine,” then 27th May 1947-2007.”

For some odd reason, in the same grounds as the chapel there is a relic of Halcrow Greyhound Stadium:-

Brydekirk is a small village in Dumfries and Galloway, north of Annan.

The War Memorial is a granite cross with an embossed sword and inscribed, “Their Name Liveth for Evermore.” Below is, “1914-1918,” plus names from the Great War, “Our Heroic Dead” and, “France, Salonika, Dardanelles.”

From east. Inscribed, “They died that we might live,” names for the Great War and, “Italy, Egypt, Mesopotamia.”

From west. World War 2 names:-

Our trip back home from Dumfries and Galloway took us through Ayr. Whitletts is an area to the northeast of the town. Its War Memorial is in the form of a Celtic Cross on a square plinth.
The cross’s pillar is inscribed with the words, “A tribute of honour and gratitude to the men of this parish who gave their lives for home and freedom in the Great War 1914 – 1919.” Below that are names for The Great War. On the base of the plinth it says, “Lest we forget.”

Reverse. (Great War names):-

The other two sides bear the names for World War 2. Why there was a piece of wire entangled round the plinth I do not know.

Glenluce is a village in the parish of Old Luce in Dumfries and Galloway.

Its War Memorial is a granite trapezoidal obelisk on a square base.

I like the fact that a children’s playground is right beside the memorial.

Dedications. “Erected to the memory of the men connected with the parish of Old Luce who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1919.” And below: “And in World War 1939 – 1945” with 10 names:-

The Great War names are on the other three sides:-

Stone circles aren’t something I associated with Dumfries and Galloway. I think of them more as an up north, Western Isles and Orkney sort of thing.

But here this one was on the road between Kirkcowan and Wigtown. Torrhouse stone Circle is a Bronze Age monument.

Here are three of the stones and a local farm animal, not to mention a tree shaped like a lollipop:-

Logan Botanic Garden is in the Rhinns of Galloway Peninsula, Dumfries and Galloway. One of the reasons we were down that way was so that the good lady could visit.

The climate there is quite benign, warmed by the Gulf Stream, hence tree ferns:-

Just after the entrance there is an Australasian area which looks fairly weird in Scottish terms:-

More ferns:-

Further in we had some palm trees:-

And a pond with newts. I don’t recall ever seeing newts before:-

Tucked away in one corner of the garden was this tower, the remains of Castle Balzieland (see here):-

Yet another of those ancient monuments with which Dumfries and Galloway is so well endowed, the ruins of Chapel Finian lie on the shores of Luce Bay on the west side of the Machars Peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway. Named after St Finbar (there were several Saints of that name though and tripadvisor suggests this St Finbar may be one and the same as St Ninian) it was a Way Station – a welcome pit-stop – for monks travelling from Ireland to Whithorn in the early days of Christianity in Scotland.

Information Board:-

Central portion:-

From southwest:-

There’s another view of the chapel here with an aerial shot here.

Port William is a small port on the west shore of the Machars Peninsula, Dumfries and Galloway.

Harbour:-

Flagstaff with bird:-

War Memorial from distance:-

War Memorial close-up. A stone cross surmounting a hexagonal pillar on an octagonal plinth.

War Memorial Great War Plaque. Dedicated, “In memory of the men of Mochrum who gave their lives for King and Country 1914-1918.” Mochrum is the name of the parish which encompasses Port William:-

World War 2 Dedication, “In memory of the men of Mochrum who gave their lives for King and Country 1939-1945”:-

A stone obelisk on a mortared cairn, this is one of those memorials that lies at a road junction (here the A 746 and A 747 in the Machars peninsula, Dumfries and Galloway, near the road to St Ninian’s cave car park) and where there doesn’t seem to be much of a population about.

Inscribed, “Their name liveth for evermore,” and below, “In memory of the men from Glasserton Parish who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, 1914-1918,” followed by 17 names. At bottom, “And in World War 1939-1945.” One name.

St Ninian’s Cave lies on the shores of Glenluce Bay, Dumfries and Galloway. It is traditionally held to be the place to where St Ninian retreated from Whithorn.

It is still a place of pilgrimage today. On our (long) walk down from the car park we overtook a party of schoolchildren (young teenagers) being escorted to the cave. On our way back they were grouped together – complete with guitars – at the site where the path meets the beach. I assume they were preparing to indulge in hymn singing.

St Ninian’s Cave from beach:-

Closer view of cave:-

Information board at cave entrance:-

Cave interior:-

There are carved crosses within the cave and other crosses on the hills and cliffs surrounding it:-

I liked the veining in the rock at this smaller cave nearby:-