Crocketford Village

Crocketford or Nine Mile Bar as the village is also known, as it is mid way between Dumfries and Castle Douglas, boasts a first class hotel, The Galloway Arms, a shop/post office, an antiques and upholstery business, Brass Tacks, a plumbing and heating business, W. Johnstone and Sons, as well as the village hall.

The history of the village goes back many years but it did not really exist as a village before the arrival of the strange sect known as the Buchanites in 1787. It was simply a meeting of drove roads some coming down from Ayr and Girvan and some from Portpatrick and beyond. In these early days the only roads were tracks created and used by cattle, pigs and sheep being driven to market, or by the occasional rider on horse back and sometimes smugglers looking for a quick and easy way to their hideouts in the hills safe from the excise men such as Robbie Burns. More pictures

A few short Walks

There are lots of excellent walks around the Crocketford area, we hope to bring a few to this site as time goes by.........more

Ruralympics 2012!

On Saturday 4th February, Castle Douglas Town Hall hosted the Stewartry Federation's Annual Ruralympics and it is fitting that in this Olympic year, more teams than ever competed  in the eight events. 31 teams, each with 4 "athletes", battled away at such sports as skittles, magnetic darts,  throwing beanbags into a bucket, dribbling (as in hockey) a ball through an obstacle course, to name just half of them!

The action was fast and furious, each event lasting only three minutes. Shouts of encouragement and success (and some groans of disappointment) filled the hall as teams struggled to gain as many points as possible (and to keep out of the way of the opposition!). The refreshment break enjoyed by the teams in turn was more than welcome!

With all the events completed, the ladies working out the scores began their task. Much checking and rechecking was required, due to the closeness of the scores, and competitors and supporters alike were on tenterhooks for some time. Finally the Federation President ( Rita Riddick, Crocketford WRI) was able to announce the  winner, a very youthful quartet  from Rhonehouse, who were clearly thrilled with their victory and will go forward to the national final in Edinburgh later in the year.

We cannot yet reveal the result for the Crocketford team of Ann Botel, Sally Findlay, Muriel Johnstone and Annie Wilson, but watch this space!

The Crocketford Calendar

The Crocketford Calendar is now on sale at £5.00, why not buy one or two to send to your friends for Christmas. Please order yours via the contact page on this site.

Well Done!

Thursday the 1st September at the Stewartry Celebration of Acheivment Award ceremony held at Threave Visitor Centre the Crocketford Community Initiative won the Community Group of the Year Award. The group was presented with a Galloway Glass bowl and a certificate for being a finalist. Marie Jackson of the SCVS presented the award which was very appropriate considering how helpful she has been.  It was for all the hard work involved with refurbishing the Hall, the fact we are currently involved in a gardening project and we are one of the five communities in Stewartry who are involved with the Day of the Region

Joan Rutherford, Kathy Hamilton, Ann Botel and Christine Waugh pictured at the ceromony with the award

Site produced by Richard Hopkins