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Galloway Glens supported a Glenkens Men’s Shed project to make a replica of the famous Balmaclellan Mirror. The event on the 22nd August 2021, took place in the Smiddy car park in Balmaclellan and the casting was carried out by the Mobile Foundry.
The ‘Can You Dig It’ Community Archaeology Programme was a four year Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership project, providing engaging and educational archaeology activities.
The Building Biographies project recruited volunteers to undertake research into some of the large country houses within Galloway.
Six booklets created during the Galloway Glens Scheme, supporting some of the different projects and initiatives undertaken.
A conservation report on the restoration of the Old Mortality sculpture in Balmaclellan.
In early 2022, Grave Encounters - a volunteer research project run by the Can You Dig It community archaeology group, part of the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership - revealed the fascinating histories behind the names on some of the gravestones in Kells kirkyard.
A report on the work of Dr John Burns who has been investigating the changing language, voices and words of Galloway since 2019.
Grave Encounters: A 2022 volunteer research project into the people memorialised at Kells, New Galloway.
These Data Structure Reports describes works carried out for at several sites as part of the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP) community archaeology project Can You Dig It? The Reports presents the results from surveys and test pitting works undertaken at the sites.
In the days before indoor plumbing, wells were obviously essential to the everyday needs of the people, but many held importance which surpassed merely keeping hydrated.
MyGalloway was an exciting project to improve our national historical records and you didn’t even have to leave the house!
In 2021, the ‘Dig It!’ project commissioned Mae Diansangu to write a poem inspired by the investigation of a deserted farmstead called Upper Gairloch on the Raiders Road.
Milestones have been around since Roman times, but their heyday really began in the 1700s. They were designed not only to inform travellers of directions and distances, but to help coaches keep to schedule. At the height of their era, there were 20,000 miles of roads with milestones across Britain.
Prepared as part of the Galloway Glens Can You Dig It scheme, these notes summarise some of the historic archaeological excavations to have taken place in the Galloway Glens area.
President, Irene McCreath welcomed everyone to the meeting on February 19th 2026 and introduced Ben Ade from Carsphairn Heritage Initiative to talk about last year’s dig at Stroanfreggan.
For the last few months I’ve been working with Jo from the CatStrand and Andy Kaye, of the YouTube channel Stravaiging with Andy, on some exciting Cultural Glenkens projects.
Carsphairn Heritage Initiative, in conjunction with the Glenkens Story are delighted to announce the launch of a new project investigating the ancient sites of Stroanfreggan fort and the nearby Smittons Bridge kerbed cairn!
Calling everyone in years S4, S5 and S6 for a summer holiday project which offers a prize of £250 for the winner!
If you missed the chance to attend The Glenkens Story’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations on March 23rd (or would like to see them again) they now appear on the CatStrand’s You Tube platform.
The next Glenkens Story event will be on Saturday 30th November when we will be welcoming back David Bartholomew, a regular contributor to our programme over the years.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a new initiative looking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them across the region. With support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a whole range of partners, the Summer Programme of Events sets out to look at trees in many different ways, celebrating what we know and don’t know about our woodlands.
What does Outlander's Sam Heughan, a witch and Old Mortality have in common? They have all got links to Balmaclellan; not bad for somewhere with a population of around 130 people! When I heard about the witch I had to find out more...
A review by Andrew Mellor of the book The Covenanters of the Glenkens by David S Bartholomew.
Just over forty years ago, a helicopter crashed on Mid Standard Hill near Balmaclellan.
A review by Mike Brown of the book Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots by Ted Cowan.
There is much to discover about the history of music-making in the Glenkens which is being explored in an afternoon of expert talks, presented by The Glenkens Story History Group.
Local military historian Paul Goodwin highlights the importance of war memorials in a recent excerpt from Border Life on ITV News.
The ‘Can You Dig It’ community archaeology project – part of the Galloway Glens Scheme – has worked with hundreds of volunteers over the last 4 years to inspire and understand the archaeology and history of the Ken/Dee valley in Galloway – showcasing archaeological processes and approaches.
Saturday 16th September is a special day for anyone interested in the local heritage and history of Galloway, with five heritage offerings in the Ken/Dee valley coming together to celebrate a community-led approach to local history and records.
This event on 18th September, delivered in partnership between the Galloway Glens Scheme and Dumfries Archival Mapping Project (DAMP), explores what pre-ordnance survey maps can tell us about what habitats used to be where and when, using four expert speakers to consider ‘Woodlands’, ‘Bogs’, Moths’ and ‘Meadows’ in Galloway in the 1700s.
The Glenkens Rectified Estate Mapping and Land Information Network (‘GREMLIN’) project has interpreted 44 estate maps from the 1800s, using the contents to measure and classify land use in the Glenkens 200 years ago.
On 7th July, twenty guests got a guided tour of Glenlair House, the home of James Clerk Maxwell, and heard from volunteers that have been leading the ‘Building Biographies’ research project, investigating the history of stately homes across Galloway.
The ‘Can You Dig It’ community archaeology project – part of the Galloway Glens Scheme – has worked with hundreds of volunteers over the last 4 years to inspire and understand the archaeology and history of the Ken/Dee valley in Galloway – showcasing archaeological processes and approaches. From digs to field walks, from self-led covid friendly study work to the phenomenally popular series of online events, the project has been wide ranging.
Kenmure Castle, the most famous of the Glenkens castles, stands just south of New Galloway and has been touched by much of Scottish history. It was a Balliol stronghold in the wars of independence and was a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots on her flight from Scotland and was sacked by her enemies. It was sacked again by Cromwell for supporting the Royal cause and after the Jacobite uprising the 6th Viscount Kenmure was beheaded in the Tower of London for backing the rebels. Robert Burns predictably was a guest on his way to Kirkcudbright.
Regular readers of the Gazette will know that I wrote a series of articles on Air Crashes in the Glenkens (issues 89, 95, 100 and 112). As these were well received, I thought that you might like to read about a few nearby air crashes, mostly in the Stewartry.
In commemoration of the near completion of John Paterson’s splendid new house at Barskeoch, I intend to look at some placenames recorded on the Plan of the Enclosures of Earlstoun and Barskeoch belonging to John Newal Esq. This map was drawn by James Gregg in 1779 and is available on the National Library of Scotland website.
Watch
New monthly podcast available on YouTube or audio only.
Angela Miller and Andy Kaye will be discussing all things Galloway with guests who have a deep connections to our region.
Join them for conversations about the history, geography and life of Galloway in Talking Galloway.
Filmed in the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, with music arranged by Anne Chaurand.
Contact them via Facebook or by email at: talkinggallowaypodcast@protonmail.com
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Stravaiging with Andy
Join Andy for walks and exploration in the Galloway Hills.
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Galloway Retold
Storytelling videos based on old tales from the Galloway region of Scotland.
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WestWind Drone Surveys
Drone footage of local landmarks.
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Galloway Then & Now
A journey through old (and new) Galloway via old photos.
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Galloway Glens
144 videos produced during the Galloway Glens Scheme over a wide range of heritage, history and natural environment topics.
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Can You Dig It live talks playlist
16 videos of live Can You Dig It events covering many of the fascinating topics worked on during the project.
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The Covenanters
10 short videos from Can You Dig It on Facebook Watch.
Join Tom as he takes you on a tour following the trail of the Covenanters through Galloway Glens.
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Big Tam's tour of the ROC posts
8 short videos from Can You Dig It on Facebook Watch.
Get involved!
Join a heritage & history group in the Glenkens.
Whether you’ve lived here forever or you’re just curious about the place, come along for a morning of memories, old photos, and plenty of “Do you remember when…?” moments.
Crossmichael has a long and fascinating history: Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, Romans, Vikings, even Templar Knights - we have seen them all!
The purpose of the Glenkens Story: Sharing our History is to promote and expand interest and knowledge in the history of the people, places, and life of the Glenkens among all who live in the area and are associated with it.
We’re always keen to hear from volunteers to help steward in the Heritage Centre and you can find our more about becoming a member or a trustee on our web-page or email us.