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2000 Acres of Sky
 On a perfect,
cloudless, moonlight night in magical Portpatrick, Dumfries &
Galloway, the sky is a mass of stars - a great unbelievable sweep of
twinkling wonder. There's
nothing particularly unusual in that, in this unspoiled part of the
world, yet the power of the moment captures the heart of the former
'Eastenders' star,
actress Michelle Collins, as she strolls on a silver-sand beach gazing
in awe at the canopy
above, after filming in this most special corner of Scotland.
The region is promoted by the Tourist Board, as Scotland's Best Kept Holiday Secret.
But now the hit BBC drama 'Two
Thousand Acres of Sky' is introducing viewers,
captivated by the richness.
The series is set on the fictional island of
Ronansay but most of the filming, in reality, took
place in and around the peaceful coastal town of Portpatrick on the far South-Western
shores of Dumfries and Galloway. The locals here will tell you that the
very air they breathe is better than anywhere
else in Scotland.
Michelle Collins, popularly regarded as a typical cockney, is quick to concede that
the clean, fresh west Galloway air did wonders
for her. "I have been lucky to work in many different countries but making Two Thousand
Acres of Sky took me to the most
beautiful places I have ever filmed," she
commented. "I
have never seen such skies and such
extraordinary countryside."
So what are the
ingredients that cause such interest in 'Ronansay'? Mostly, it's the wide open
spaces in which to escape, the anachronistic
towns and villages, each steeped in history and
rich folklore - and the warmth of the locals themselves.
Cheerful, healthy people, who will stop and pass the time of day with
visitors making you feel welcome in a
good old-fashioned way. Their rural
pride and enthusiasm keeps the
region's many public gardens and nurseries looking their best during the mild summer
months. In the high season there are many
thriving attractions
to overjoy the keen garden visitor, including the well-known Threave
Estate (open periannually) at Castle Douglas, run by The National Trust
For Scotland, where apart from the magnificent lawns, heathers and
woodland setting, the restaurant does an excellent value lunch menu.
At Port Logan, visitors are
often amazed at the wonderful display of exotic plant life
to be found in the famous botanic gardens here. Recognised as one of
the best of its kind to be found in the
whole of Scotland, this Four-Star
attraction draws enthusiasts from all over to see specimens usually
found in sub-tropical environments. Just fourteen miles south of
Stranraer, the gardens owe their unique environment to the
mild Gulf Stream climate, allowing the most fragile species to thrive
outdoors. |
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