Pilgrimage

Saturday, June 19

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Wicker Man. We fully contribute to its cult status by hosting a festive showing every May first. The film would require several articles on its own, but to connect to this trip, we three travelers visited several locations where shooting happened in 1972.

In Lou’s rented car, we drove through Dumfries and New Galloway to a gorgeous preserved forest, where we stopped at a lake known as Bruce’s Stone.

We then doubled back a bit and took our lunch in Douglas Castle, a town that was holding a little art festival.

Onward westward around Wigtown Bay, we cruised south towards Burrow Head. Along this segment, Lou was getting tired, so I took a turn at driving in the UK: left side of the road, shifting with my left hand, all of it. I did pretty well. It was important training for me, given my plans for later.

Stopping just beyond Whithorn, we took a hike through a towering wood to a sacred crevice overlooking the Irish Sea.

According to legend, Saint Ninian was the first known Christian missionary to Scotland in the 8th century. He would meditate here, and we found many crosses, candles, and other evidence of devotion.

Then two Ls took a dip in a cove while I captured close-ups of lichen and rugged rocks.

 I perceived the tide visibly rolling in, as well. Across the water we could see the Isle of Man, which peaks attain more than 2,000 feet.

Back up the trail and up the road, our next stop was in Creetown, where we took pints in the pub used for the Green Man in the movie.

On the wall are images from the film and those of a visit many years later by Edward Woodward.

Only a few minutes later, we came to the most evocative location in the story.

 Haunting imagery . . .

The former schoolhouse, now a private residence, sits directly opposite.

Our last pause was in Gatehouse of Fleet to behold the Green Man’s exterior.

Back in Gatelawbridge, Clare treated us to lamb roast, new potatoes, and Asian mustard greens. Sleep now and dream of bonfires.