On a wet and windy day 26 members of the IEEE braved the elements to visit Glenlair. After an early start from Edinburgh, they arrived at Glenlair around 1020 where they were greeted by the Fergusons and led inside Glenlair Lodge (the old servants quarters) where they were delighted to be offered tea, coffee and delicious freshly baked scones! Duncan then split the group in two and gave each in turn a tour of Glenlair House and the Visitors Centre, although sadly because of the weather conditions, a more extended tour of the gardens and farmyard was not possible. They departed just after midday to take lunch at Threave Gardens, a National Trust property near Castle Douglas. The remaining 24 members of the tour were due to arrive at Glenlair at 3 pm, but force majeure prevailed and they were forced to abandon the visit because the main road from New Lanark was blocked with fallen trees.
May 23