Recce for ADRC and Stranraer groups Ballantrae to Big Fell circular

Climbing up to "Big Fell"(316M)

First outing for my shorts this year.

This lamb thought she had found her "father"!!

Farmer showing off.

They were waiting to be fed.

Some of todays many gates did not open.

Obviously a cat lover stays here.

Crailoch House .

Hyacinths blooming in the gardens of the house.

Lunch at my favourite tree lined avenue.

Sorry . Many blog readers will have seen this before.

In days of old
when Knights were bold
and girls were not invented
men had put their arms around a tree
and had to be contented.

Todays walkers .

Today Saturday April 9th the "route marchers" or should I just say we made that name up today as we walk at a very brisk pace for such a mature group.(In actual fact I am the youngest member ha ha !!) We set off from the new cemetry at Ballantrae and crossed over the A77 and started up the road passed Auchairne which is also the track to New Luce 19 miles away but as they only have a bus once a week we decided not go that far.(only kidding) We left the track at the hut circlesas described on the map what ever they are we could not find them. We could see the summit of Big Fell and really just took a fix on it and made our way to the top. At the peak it was blowing a gale which we estimated to be in excess of 70mph so we did not hang about to look at the views which were partially blocked by the heat haze.Yes we do get  a heat haze occasionally in Scotland last one recorded was back in August of last year.Onto Balkissock Hill we then made our way down on  to a track which would take us along to Braeburn Cottage where we turned right up passed Crailoch House with its magnificent gardens and views over the Firth of Clyde.Lunch was taken at the start of South Ayrshire's finest tree lined avenue but as I have mentioned it many times before I am not going to dwell on it any further.Thank goodness I hear you say.As we crossed the Crailoch Burn a sheep had literally just given birth to a lamb and was in the process of cleaning it up this was better than Lambing Live which has just finished its series on the television.We gave it a wide berth and made our way back over the A77 down to the Glenapp Castle Estate. The walk through the grounds today were wonderful and sheltered in the Spring sunshine. One red squirrel was spotted but long gone before I could get my camera out. At the lodge gates it was just a short walk back to the car to end an 11 mile grade "B" walk which hopefully will be included in both groups winter programme.Thanks again to the route marchers for accompaning me on such a nice sunny windy day for another of my recces.