White Loch of Myrton walk and legend

Monreith Estate, near Port William

This pleasant walk, about 2 miles, makes an easy circuit of the White Loch of Myrton on the Monreith estate, passing through mature woodland. At the far end of the Loch stands Monreith House, this walk is muddy in parts. Like many Machars lochs there is a crannog (a small man made island that may date to as far back as neolithic times) near the eastern shore. Monreith Estate is the ancestral home of the Maxwell family.

There are plenty of legends surrounding this area and please see another page of my blog the Tale of McCulloughs of Myrton, which involves water and Beavers - a sort of elf.

Anyway

Apparently you can wash clothes in the White Loch as well with as without soap - hence it's name.

And

The White Loch of Myrton has a rather other-worldly reputation. It was said that:

'In Galloway, the Loch, called Loch-myrton, although it be common to all fresh water to freeze in Winter, yet the one halfe of this Loch doth never freeze at any time.'

From 'A Memoriall of the most rare and wonderfull things in Scotland' - published in 'Certeine Matters Concerning the Realme of Scotland, composed together' in 1603.

And

Andrew Symson disagrees in his 'Large Description of Galloway' (1684), and being a minster is rather disaproving of people's rituals involving the water:

'This loch is very famous in many writers, who report that it never freezeth in the greatest frosts. Whether it had that vertue of old, I know not; but sure I am it hath it not now; for this same year it was so hard frozen that the heaviest carriages might have been carried over it. However, I deny not but the water thereof may be medicinal, having receaved severall credible informations, that severall persons, both old and young, have been cured of continued diseases by washing therein; yet still I cannot approve of their washing three times therein, which, they say, they must do; neither the frequenting thereof the first Sunday of the quarter, viz. the first Sunday of February, May, August and November; although many foolish people affirm, that not only the water of this loch, but also many other springs and wells have more vertue on those days than any other.'

See also about Kirkmaiden Church and it's wells also said to cure ills.