Carlingwark Loch

Today's the day ........................ to feed the swans

These are a few of the swans on Carlingwark Loch, near Castle Douglas - waiting patiently to be fed by someone who obviously comes with bread every day, at the same time.

Carlingwark Loch has always been important in the life of the town.  The Town Common or Common Marsh lay at the north end of the loch.  In the 1820s and 1830s, each year in May, the women of the town brought their blankets to be thoroughly washed or 'scoored'  here and left to dry on the grass - an event called 'the blanket faire'.

In very cold winters, the surface of the loch has frozen over completely to allow curling matches to be played - including competition for the Queenshill Cup, one of the major curling events in Galloway .............