I set off from Port Rodie, the main terminal point in Stranraer, on the 416 bus towards Port William. Located on the west coast of The Machars at the east of Luce Bay, the bus operates along the very edge of the beach for some distance. The Isle of Man clearly visible across the sea. 

At Port William the connecting 415 bus was waiting for us so onward travel through The Isle of Whithorn, Whithorn and Garlieston to Wigtown.

The old county town of Wigtownshire it is now known as Scotland's Book Town and there certainly were plenty around the town to browse through. My favourite is The Open Book, but for once I leave empty handed before stopping for a coffee at Cafe Rendezvous.

From there it was a short bus trip on the 415 again into Newton Stewart. Another walk takes me down Victoria Street to Brigend Pantry for an ice cream where I sit and watch the River Cree flowing by.

From Newton Stewart I'm finally leaving the Galloway coast behind as I board service 359 to Girvan, on the Ayrshire Coast. Between the two we climb high into the hills, bordering on to the Galloway Forest Park, before dropping down again to the coast. In Girvan the walk along the beach offers me great views of Ailsa Craig, the granite island in that provides the stone for curling stones. 

Boarding my final bus of the day the 358/360 heads south along the coast as far as Ballantrae before climbing high over to Glenapp and down to Cairnryan before the run down the loch side to Stranraer.