Dumfries and Galloway – A further inspection of changes to data sampling points and the associated ramifications.

The above example of Met Office daily extremes is a very good indicator of the differential between temperatures recorded at coastal and inland locations. Both Logan Botanical Garden and the venerable Eskdalemuir (the birthplace of modern scientific weather forecasting) are in the county of Dumfries and Galloway. They reflect opposite ends of the scale with Logan enjoying (as Oldbrew once posted,)

“the best of Galloway’ climate, right next to Gulf Stream waters on the west-facing coast near the southernmost point in Scotland.”

Conversely at the opposite end of the county Eskdalemuir is 240 metres amsl, almost 30 miles from the open sea and a notably very chilly location.

This report was prompted by a question Oldbrew raised following my review of Castlemartin in Pembokeshire (south west Wales) and the changing distribution of data sample points from which “Climate Averages” are drawn. Oldbrew felt Dumfriess and Galloway would be a good comparison for Scotland in being set to the south and west as Pembrokeshire is relative to Wales and subsequently England. My investigation has proved remarkably illuminating and initially led to my review of the quite appalling (yet historic) Glenlee site.

Firstly, a map of Dumfries and Galloway shows its lengthy coastline with the Solway firth to the south, North Channel to the west and Irish Sea to its north coast. It is noted for its extensive bays entrapping Gulf Stream warmed waters in Loch Ryan, Luce Bay, Wigtown Bay , Kirkcudbright Bay and Auchencairn Bay.

Set against this coastline is a surprisingly high elevation interior with the highest village in Scotland (Wanlockhead at 467 metres/1531 feet) set to the north of the county. With high rainfall this topography lends itself to hydro electricity generation and there are many such schemes in the area. Almost all rivers flow south easterly creating a topography of valleys largely at right angles to the prevailing winds. Dumfries and Galloway is a heavily wooded county with the Galloway forest being the largest in the UK. The topography and river systems are shown below.

All of these factors lead to a considerable climatic variation from the soft, almost sub tropical, gardens exploited by theRoyal botanic Gardens Edinburgh to grow exotic plants to the harsh, almost sub arctic, often experienced at Eskdalemuir. However, as the headline image indicates this area all goes into the one homogenised “melting pot” to create a “Region” together with Lothian and Borders. This is neither a climatic nor geographic common area and probably bears more relevance to local government administration than any meteorological association.

My assertion is that varying sample points over time has had more effect in amending climate records than any actual significant change in the climate. For example if solely coastal stations (which will be heavily affected by Gulf Stream warming) are used, one set of “averages” will indicate a mild climate. Conversely If solely inland sites (far away from marine warming effects AND at higher elevation) are chosen the average will be much cooler. It is easy to see how if the “blend” of sites (inland versus coastal) is altered over the passage of time then the somewhat reified “average” can be be readily altered either inadvertently……or by design.

The Met Office has Location Specific Long Term Averages for sites throughout the UK. In Dumfries and Galloway their quoted representative sites are the aforementioned and truly appallingly maintained Glenlee together with Dumfries, Dundrennan, West Freugh and Eskdalemuir. The data to compile these “averages” is drawn from what are claimed to be “Well Correlated” neighbouring stations. When any given site does not produce readings, observations from other stations are averaged and input in their stead. All area readings are “mashed” together, all manner of “adjustements” made and this homogenised output is what passes for “data”.

So to put my assertion to the test, I analysed every Met Office weather station recording temperature in the area by operational dates……..all 36 of them as indicated on this Centre for Environmental Data Archives map below.

The Met Office climate published climate averages run from 1961 to 2020. So I opted to map out only those sites operating in 1961 as a starting point from which real world and factual data could be used. {Please note these are my own representations to the best of my ability. I may be slightly out in location but hopefully not significantly so to cause problems.}

1961 Met Office Operation Stations Recording Daily Temperature.

1. Logan Botanic Gardens 1907 – current
2. Corsewall Point 1817 – 1992
3. Mull of Galloway 1957 – 1988
4. West Freugh 1943 – current
5. Bargrennan 1958 – 1998
6. Palnure no 2 1958 – 1985
7. Clatteringshaws 1960 – 2004
8. Glenlee 1887 – 2013
9. Dundeugh 1958 – 1984
10. Threave 1930 – current
11. Castle Douglas 1953 – 1971
12. Dalmacallan 1958 – 1969
13. Glenlochar Barrage 1954 – 1998
14. Penwhirn 1957 – 1997
15. Eskdalemuir 1908 – current
16. Dumfries 1858 – 1998

What the above map and listing very clearly indicates is a significant number of inland sites. I will leave it to reader’s discretion as to which they would define exactly as inland as opposed to coastal, however for my part, of the 16 sites, potentially 12 (75%) would be defined as inland. At the very lowest I would say there were two thirds/one third dominance of inland over maritime influenced sites. So that was the start of the 60 year period – what did the end look like? Bear in mind some sites came and went in the intervening period which I shall detail later.

2020 Met Office Operation Stations Recording Daily Temperature.

1. Logan Botanic Gardens (as above)
2. Portpatrick 2000 – current.
3. West Freugh (as above)
4. Dundrennan 1983 – current.
5. Threave (as above)
6. Barwhillanty House 1973 – current
7. Dumfriess Royal Crighton 1997 – current
8. Eskdalemuir.

Again it is blatantly obvious this is not a like for like comparison. In common with the rest of the UK, the total number of recording sites has very much reduced. In the case of Dumfries and Galloway virtually all the cooler recording inland, rural and higher altitude sites have disappeared leaving 2020 with just 8 sites of which 4 (50%) are definitely coastal influenced. The preponderance of the westerly Gulf Stream influenced sites dominating homogenisation processes cannot possibly be disputed by anyone. What has happened is the “blend” of contributing data points has swivelled through 360 degrees from heavily inland and cooler dominated to much fewer points dominated by warmer coastal stations.

The changing mix of sample points has skewed averages upwards even more so than I noted in south west Wales and Kent. This selection process (be it inadvertent or by design) will be responsible for rising “average” temperatures over time – however, it is difficult to accept that those eleven weather stations in that tiny segment of West London are accidentally located in such concentration.

Readers observations, comments or corrections most welcome.

For completion here are all the other Dumfries and Galloway stations of interim lifespans/subsequent to those above.

1. Forest Lodge Burnhead. 2021 – current
2. Brigton. 2024 -current
3. Moffatt. 1994 – 1998
4. Auchen Castle 1970 – 1994
5. Drumlanrig Castle 1980 – 1982
6. Dumfriess Drungans 1970 – 2004
7. Girdstingwood 1970 – 1989
8. Kirkcudbright 1972 – 1974
9. St Mary’s Isle 1964 – 1971
10. Auchenflower 2001 – 2014
11. Whithorn 1980 – 1994
12. Newton Stewart 1963 – 1982
13. Creebridge 1985 – 2005
14. Troqueer Sewage Works 1969 – 1975.

Source: https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2025/12/11/dumfries-and-galloway-a-further-inspection-of-changes-to-data-sampling-points-and-the-associated-ramifications/