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All my books have a very firm geographical foundation. I write about places I know and I have usually explored the background for them with my dogs. For example, when writing The Canine Cavalier, Moff walked me all over Newmarket Heath.
I know the background for Ghost Dog of the Solway even better as I have a holiday chalet on the Solway coast. Ghost Dog of the Solway is about real places which have been fictionalised and given fictional names. Below is a selection of photographs of places which gave me my inspiration for Ghost Dog.
The Solway coast is still providing me with inspiration. I have included some photographs of places I hope to incorporate into Solway Sleuth-hounds.
This is also a region with a fascinating history -- which also gives me ideas for my stories. John Paul Jones, the founder of the American navy was born in the area and Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns spent the last five years of his life in Dumfries working as an exciseman.
The Solway coast with its vast sands and fast flowing tides and backdrop of the low hills of south west Scotland is a beautiful part of the country and I wanted to share it with others.
Click on the lines to see the photographs. There are lots of photographs so please be patient.
There are two extensive beaches at Southerness.
Southerness Lighthouse is the second oldest in Scotland
John Paul,(he added the Jones to his name later) the founder of the American navy, was born in a cottage overlooking the Solway. This beach and natural arch is just down from his cottage. A short distance away is a cave which may have been uised by smugglersd and is called after him.
The largest hill on the western side of the Scottish side of the Solway. The name is of Viking origin. It means Crows' Hill. It features prominently in my Ghost Dog of the Solway.
A small village and yachting centre on the estuary of the River Urr. Kippford is the inspiration for Kettleby in Ghost Dog of the Solway.
A small village on Rough Firth a mile from Kippford.
A tidal island in Rough Firth -- which is where the River Urr joins the Solway. Rough Island was the inspiration for the island in chapters 2 and 3 of Ghost Dog of the Solway.
The county town.
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