Island 243 - Barlocco Isle, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Barlocco Isle

This exotic sounding island doesn't live up to its name.  It is one of the Islands of Fleet and can be accessed at low tide across a narrow 300 metre long rocky platform from the mainland a few miles to the south of Gatehouse of Fleet.  It is about 400 metres long from north to south and 250 metres wide from east to west.  The highest point on the island is only just over 10 metres above sea level.

I visited in mid September 2014.  There was a track marked on the map leading from the road down to the beach.  I found where it started and there was a convenient parking spot for my car.  It was then a pleasant 10 minute walk down to the beach. 

When I crossed it a couple of hours before low tide only a thin strip of the rocky platform was above the water level.  It is a minor scramble but once again I had reason to thank the barnacles which have colonised the rocks and which give us humans a great non-slippery surface on which to walk.

There were a few very faint paths on the island and the remains of an old stone wall, so I presume that the island was once used for grazing animals.  The island is covered in exposed rocks, rough grass, thrift, sea lavender, thistles and blackberries - I ate more than enough of them to count as one of my 5 a day.  There are no trees, just a few bushes.

This disused building is located on the edge of the beach on the mainland opposite Barlocco Isle.  I have no idea of its former purpose.

Not the world's most interesting island!

The remains of a dry stone wall and some brambles laden with delicious blackberries

More dry stone walls
 

The rocky causeway - looking towards Barlocco Isle

 

Barlocco Isle from the mainland

 

Barlocco Isle from the nearest parking spot

Barlocco Isle