One advantage of autumn holidays in this part of Scotland is that like as not you can have places to yourself. I particularily appreciated it here. The farm track remains driveable since Broch's visit, with stone bases to the wheel ruts. Drive slowly, mindful of the ridge between, and you'll be fine. It was certainly worth it.. a glorious sunny day, empty car park, and Ardwell Bay is superb. You have two choices of route to the broch, the walk round the point from the bay, or taking the track that leads to the cottage a little bit beyond the car park, and then a path, vertiginous in places, leading from the cottage round the point, when the broch comes into view.. or you can treat the walk as a circular one, as I did., taking Broch's route. As you approach the broch, the path runs along a very narrow ridge with drops either side. This would have been the original path used during occupancy as there is no other feasiible approach, and it is worth looking at the block stonework underneath your feet, very probably original. The two entrances to the broch renained sufficiently intact to get the gist of the place, and somebody has tried to rebuild a little bit of the walls to create more substance, but weather should make short work of this. The rest of the site was substantially degraded, but nonetheless this remains a place well worth visiting and spending time. Next to Stairhaven it's the best preserved broch in these parts. I recommend climbing a way up the adjacent slope and looking down, seeing how it fits into the land and seascape and why the site was chosen. It is surrounded by drops to the sea on three sides, with one sheltered cleft with could have been used for boat haulage. A site high on ambiece. It was low tide, and I walked along Ardwell Bay's footprint free sand after completing my circular walk, munching on the edible seaweed, while a pair of divers and their young fished as they traversed the bay parallel to me, no more than a hundred feet away. If the weather's on your side a fine place to chill. For those visiting with family in tow this place is a must.
Follow the farm track from West Ardwell farm, sign-posted Ardwell bay, the track is passable by car (just) and leads to a small car park close to the beach. From here follow the coastal footpath southward around the point, a 5-minute walk, and the broch is un-mistakable and quite dramatic on its promontory. The site is accessible across a built causeway and the remains, although much reduced, are impressive with unusually two openings one to landward and the other to seaward both with checks. There is a mural chamber in the eastern side but we couldn't find any evidence of stairways. Unfortunately we didn't linger due the fact it was raining cats and dogs but this place will stand another visit in better weather as there is much to explore including some outwork.
Doon Castle Broch is my favourite local site to visit. The name may be confusing to some people because there is a Doon Castle in Ayrshire on Loch Doon. Doon Castle Broch is on Ardwell Point in Dumfries and Galloway.
A site of this quality deserves more visitors however the isolated location discourages people. There is the problem of the rocky road after West Ardwell Farm however it just requires careful driving on a short stretch to reach the Ardwell Bay car park. There is a sandy beach for non-antiquarians to amuse themselves while TMAers visit Doon Castle.
Directions: From Stranraer head towards Sandhead on the A716. Drive past Sandhead and take the 1st R signposted for Kirkmadrine. (Incidentally, Kirkmadrine is a short signposted detour and well worth a visit). Keep straight on this road for 1.5 miles until you reach a crossroads. Continue straight onto a dead-end road for Ardwell Bay. Follow this single track for 1 mile until you reach a sharp bend at West Ardwell Farm. Continue straight on the rough farm road for around 0.5 miles until you reach Ardwell Bay car park. Walk round the rough road until it stops. Take the Public Path over a style. Follow this path round the coast for around 500 yards to find Doon Castle.
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