Cockleshell Beach and The Solway Riviera

I fell in love with Kippford (also known as The Solway Riviera) years ago, mainly due to its cockle shell beaches and rock pools and I think Sal was the same. She came with me for the first time last year and she couldn't wait to return this year. It also has the feel of a place yet to be discovered by the masses so when planning our summer mini-break, it was the first place on our "to go to" list.

I think she also fell in love with the tiny village of New Abbey, home to the romantically named Sweetheart Abbey which is just a few miles out of Dumfries. The abbey, located on the banks of the River Pow, was founded by Dervorguilla of Galloway, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, in memory of her husband, Baron John De Vaux. After his death, she kept his embalmed heart, contained in a casket of ivory and silver, with her for the rest of her life, and it was buried alongside her when she died. In line with this devotion to her late husband, she named the abbey Dulce Cor (Latin for Sweet Heart).

I can't really remember exactly how I discovered Kippford but I think it was because someone recommended going to Sandyhills Bay which is just down the coast and then it all sprung from that. I think I took in Southerness, Rockcliffe, Kippford as well as Sandyhills that day and have been coming back once a year ever since.

What a great day we had; the weather was lovely albeit very hot and the tide was out just far enough for us to get some really nice photos. Walking, chatting and taking photos...what's not to like eh? The only thing that Kippford lacks is a good coffee shop but that wasn't much of an imposition because it allowed us both to have a delicious locally made ice cream instead! Anyway we had taken our coffee break earlier in the day at the delightful cafe overlooking Sweetheart Abbey.

It's always nice to discover and fall in love with places but even nicer when people very close to you do exactly the same thing. See you next year Kippford.