|
The Bizarre Trail
of The Wickerman > Day One
The first sites on our tour start in Kircudbright (pronounced
Kirk-COO-brie), a town in the Galloway Heartland, which was
the setting for an artists' colony at the turn of the last
century. Many famous names were drawn to the place, including
the illustrator Jessie M King, E A Taylor, Charles Oppenheimer,
S J Peploe and E A Hornel.
For further information on Kirkcudbright, see www.kirkcudbright.co.uk,
which gives some background information on the old artists’ colony,
plus showing what is happening in contemporary Kirkcudbright.
It’s a charming fishing town with 17th century buildings
and narrow old closes, reflecting the town’s medieval
layout.
#1. MAY MORRISON’S POST OFFICE:
a shop in the main street of Kirkcudbright
SCENE: The trap is set and Howie goes to search for
clues on the trail of the missing Rowan. The shop window
displays a large and strange confectionery doll.
DESCRIPTION: The Post Office is now Maureen Briggs’ Art
Gallery, situated on the High Street of Kirkcudbright.
If you look at the map showing the old high street, it’s
number 14: http://www.kirkcudbright.co.uk/oldhighst/index.html
#2. THE LANE SCENE: Police Close
and Tolbooth Arts Centre, High St, Kirkcudbright (right
next door to Maureen Briggs’ Art Gallery)
 SCENE:
Just before the Mayday parade there were a number of
scenes in this lane, the most outstanding being when
the man dressed as the horse runs down it.
A few doors down from Police Close is
the Tolbooth Arts Centre, which is used as the exterior
for the scene where Howie follows the horse-man and spies
on the islanders getting ready for their procession.
DESCRIPTION: This is a real find, one of those little
interesting places you only stumble across, usually by
accident, once in a while. Just take a walk down Police
Close and have a look at the still life around you.
#3. RUINED CHURCH/SCHOOLHOUSE/MAYPOLE
COMPLEX: Anwoth Old Kirk and the cottage opposite
 Near
Gatehouse of Fleet, 4 miles northwest of Kirkcudbright, Anwoth
Old Kirk can be reached on foot through some fantastic
scenery over Boreland Hill. To find the footpath, turn
left out of the visitors’ car park in Gatehouse and
cross the bridge. Follow the National Trust for Scotland
sign, and keep Rutherford’s monument (dedicated to
the 17th century scholar and minister of Anwoth, Samuel
Rutherford) on your left. This is part of a circular walk
that takes 2 hours, but you can make it there and back
in an hour. Ask at the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre
for more details.
By car, leave Kirkcudbright on the A755, and then go left
when you reach the A75. You can get to Gatehouse either
by turning right onto the B724 or the B796. The right turn
for Anwoth is half a mile past the junction for the B796
and the magnificent Cardoness Castle, a 15th century four-storey
tower house on a rocky platform overlooking the Water of
Fleet.
SCENE: Schoolboys sing and dance around the maypole
and the top is crowned with flowers. Meanwhile Inside
the schoolhouse the schoolgirls learn about the significance
of the phallus in the rites and rituals of Mayday. Howie
finds Rowan’s grave in the ruined church. On a
tree nearby is hanging the girl’s umbilical cord.
In the church, a gravestone reads, “Here lieth
Beech Buchanan, protected by the ejaculation of serpents”.
A woman inside the church sits on a gravestone breastfeeding
a newborn baby.
DESCRIPTION: This has to one of the most tranquil and
ethereal spots on earth. A ruined 17th century church
lies within an old graveyard. Step inside the church,
and another graveyard lies inside. Across the road is
the old Anwoth schoolhouse, now a private residence.
The traditional bed and breakfast Clachan Cottage is
right next door. This really is an insanely beautiful
and quiet place – just watch out for the sheep!
You can take a brief detour here to visit Gatehouse
of Fleet. Just carry on up the high street, heading for
the clock tower. Turn right and take a look at the building
on the end of the street on the right hand side.
#4. GREEN MAN EXTERIOR: Cally Estate
Office, Gatehouse of Fleet
There is a shot of Howie walking to the door of the pub,
which sounds very noisy.
Continue along the A75 heading west for Creetown:
#4. GREEN MAN (INTERIORS): Ellangowan
Hotel, St John’s Street, Creetown
SCENE: There are three famous scenes which take place
in The Green Man: The first burst of song in the film,
the lewd “The Landlord’s Daughter” takes
place here in the bar, as does the infamous rhythmic,
writhing dance by Britt Ekland. Also the burning wax
hand scene in Howie’s room
DESCRIPTION: Amazingly, walking into the bar in the
Ellangowan Hotel, one does have a brief flash of how
poor Howie felt. Yes, a silence descends as the locals
give you the once over. After that though, it’s
all plain sailing as once the ice is broken words are
soon spilling from tongues. More than friendly and a
great beer garden too.
The Ellangowan Hotel has its own website: www.ellangowan.co.uk and
is very proud of its links with The Wicker Man, holding
various events throughout the year. Latest information
about this is on its website.
Continue to Day Two >>
SWSSC > The
Wickerman Trail [day
one | day two | further
information] |
