ADRC Ayr to Dunure plus Carrick Hills for a few diehards. December 2011

Walkers at the gloomy start.



Honest there is someone inside all this protection.




Nice to see such a cheery face today.



Passing Greenan Castle on the shore.

Common Ink Cap Mushrooms (see text)

This is one way of crossing a stream.

Taking shelter during a squally shower.

Rough sea today.

The afternoon diehards plus me behind the camera!

Not a Russian astronaut but our leader.

Todays "A" walk to Ben Lomond was cancelled due to high winds at height and the threat of snow showers. So I joined what was billed as a "C" walk from Ayr to Dunure one most of us have done at some time or another. 21 of us left the Greenan car park on a cool windy showery day to pass Greenan Castle towards the Heads of Ayr cliffs. A heavy shower approached us and the leader took us into a sheltered corner in the rocks where we had a coffeee break to allow the rain to pass. On now to the Bracken Bay caravan park along a very exposed part of the shore where the wind was now starting to blow even harder causing the waves to cascade over the rocks. This is where a good photographer with a quality camera can catch the spectacular conditions as a blogger colleague of mine did at Luce Bay the other day. To view this please click the link to see a true professional set of photos worthy of publication to all readers Also at this point it is worthwhile mentioning the rather strange mushrooms we saw on the grass beside the shore when our rambling mycologist told us they were called Common Ink Caps. Enthusiasts can check this at the funny mushroom site.Anyway as usual I digress a wee bit back to todays ramblings. Passing the caravans we walk along the old light railway line towards Dunure before descending down a very slippery slope back to the shore to make our way to the village. A lunch stop was taken near to the Kibble School (after I had explained yet again the significance of this historical site). At this point the walkers were given a choice by the leader if you wished to carry onto the village you could catch a bus back to Ayr or alternatively join me on a hill walk back to Doonfoot. 4 people opted for my route so we waved goodbye to the main group and went  off up the hills. Soft going underfoot with strong winds at the top made the afternoon part great fun and a very pleasant way to end a 12 mile hike on a winters day out. Thanks to all today who braved the elements in particular our leader who was extremely glad to see Dunure where his official duties ended with no mishaps occurring to any of the group.