Lost villages at Dunaskin . May 2012

Known as "The Managers House"

Unusual way to cross the burn.

Going through Dunaskin Glen

That is the Kilmarnock Rocket already up on the summit.

This is the Crosbie Glen.

She was very inqisitive!!

Looking at the remains of Burnhead Farm.

All that remains of the Corbie Craigs miners row.

Taken from the front entrances.

Coffee stop .

1st World War memorial.

The old schoolhouse at Benquhat.

Contrasting colours today.

Open cast coal mining leaves a mess on the landscape.

Reference to the village of Lethamhill.

Today's walkers.

Plus little old me.

Yesterday Tuesday May 29th the Elite walkers plus three guests met at Dunaskin Colliery between Patna and Dalmellington to visit the old mining communities sometimes referred to as "the lost villages". This walk has been extremely well blogged by my friend and blog mentor and is certainly well worth reading to learn more about this fascinating area. 10 of us left the cars at the colliery on a very warm cloudy morning and made our way up the Dunaskin Glen past the ruins of Laight Castle taking us  to the derilict farm of Burnhead where we had a wee coffee stop. It is worth mentioning here two of our guests today were actually born in the lost villages and one of them  went to school at Benquhat. Our other guest who hails from Patna also had a wealth of local information and lots of wee storys of what life was like in and around this area.At Benquhat we visited the remains of the school where our guest was able to point out the various buildings and showed us his old classroom photo of 1948. From here we crossed on the old dis- used railway lines to Lethamhill before a steep descent back down to the start. A wonderful day out and on behalf of the Elite walking group may I take this opportunity of thanking our guests for giving us all an insight to life in "The Lost Villages"

Wigtownshire ramblers. Portpatrick to Stranraer on the S.U.W. May 2012

Portpatrick Harbour.

First comfort stop.

This bay was absolutely idyllic

Admiring the scenery.

Killintringan Lighthouse.

Complete with foghorn.

Climbing away from the coast.

Leisurely lunch in the warm sunshine.

Occasionally someone does listen to me!!

Stranraer's water supply at Knockquhasson

"Shortie"is well named.

The leader.

Today's group.

Yesterday Saturday May 26th I travelled courtesy of the trusty bus pass to Stranaer to meet my mother group, Wigtownshire Ramblers who were going to take another bus to Portpatrick and return on The Southern Upland Way (S.U.W.). Once we arrived in Portpatrick on a lovely hot summers morning our leader briefed us on the route and 10 walkers set off  up a long steep flight of steps to take us onto the sea cliffs which dominate this part of the coastline. Several stops were taken over the next stretch to admire the scenery before arriving at Killantringan Lighthouse where our walk now goes inland onto the moors which were take us back to Stranraer. Lunch was a very leisurely affair as there was no rush today as it was so hot. Our leader kept reminding us to consume plenty of fluids and apply our suncrems as the wind was making us feel quite cool but the strength of the sun could be quite misleading.Once back at the start our leader was thanked for his efforts today along with his back marker she helped to keep  everyone together. Tea and scones were taken in one of the towns many tearooms whilst I made my way back to the bus terminus for the journey back to Ayr to end a super day out with the ramblers and hope to see you all next Saturday when I am the leader in the Galloway Hills for some good old fashioned hill climbs. Be warned!!

Cunninghame Ramblers mid week walk to Knock Hill,Largs.May 2012

Walkers waiting on those that have gone to inspect the loos. 

Kissing gates have been erected to assist us.

From the top of Knock Hill looking down on Largs.

Todays group in the summer sunshine.

Todays leader.

Today Wednesday May 23rd Cunninghame Ramblers met at the Pencil monument in Largs for a 10 mile walk up to Knock Hill (217M). After my exertions of yesterday this was a comparitively easy walk which was  very welcome as it was a very hot day. Nineteen of us set off along the promenade until we reached the Brisbane Glen road to take us up a track to Knock Hill with its fort on top.Once on the summit we had a very leisurely lunch stop to admire the hills and lochs glimmering away in the warm sun. Our resident rambling meteorologist informed us the mercury had now hit 23 degrees C. even at this height with a very gentle breeze blowing from the South West made it difficult for the leader to get us all up and on the go again , one or two were having a wee nap in sunshine!! Once we were down on a country road the route took us by Knock Castle and back down into Largs which by now was very busy with lots of people enjoying a stroll along the shore or queuing at the ice cream shops. Back at the cars the leader was thanked for his efforts today, they were very much appreciated by everyone, the pace he set was just right considering the heat we all had to endure . Honest sir there were no complaints, well done.

Marathon Ayr to Girvan. May 2012

Started in the centre of Ayr

Finished in the centre of Girvan.

Today Tuesday May 22nd I decided as the weather was so good and most of my walking colleagues are away on holiday I would do a full marathon walk. Previously with Ayr and District Ramblers we have done a 23 mile one back in March but I have always fancied trying the full monty of 26.2 miles. At 6.30AM I set off from Millbrae car park in Ayr where I followed the river down to the shore before setting off along the beach to the Bracken Bay. To increase my mileage instead of going on the old railway line I went off up and over the Carrick Hills to Fisherton and then back onto the shore at Dunure. Then it was the usual path down through Culzean Estate passed Maidens and onto Girvan .According to my GPS todays route covered 29 miles so allowing for any errors I definitely walked a marathon at least. It was the perfect day to do such a strenuous walk taking me 10 hours in total ,wall to wall sunshine with a temperature of 21 degrees C. and a light sea breeze this part of Scotland is truly amazing when we get this type of weather. This may be a future walk for ADRC one I will submit to the committee for them to decide if we would gather enough support or not.

South Ayrshire Ramblers. Windy Standard circular. May 2012

Leaders briefing.

Afton Resevoir.

Making our way through the wind farm.

Windy Standard.(698M)

Todays group at the trig point.

Our leader.

 Today Sunday May 21st I met up with South Ayrshire Ramblers for a 11 mile walk from Afton Resevoir to the Windy Standard wind farm. On a lovely warm clear morning 11 of us made our way up Lamt Hill onto Weddar(597M) to Milaneoch(607M) and finally Windy Standard. We were rewarded with wonderful views of the surrounding hills which generated a full discussion amongst the group trying to identify the various ones.Once we had our lunch break we headed off back down through a forest until we were back at the resevoir to end one of those days which was a pure pleasure to be out and about on the Glen Afton hills. Thanks to the leader a for giving  the group  such a fantastic walk in the glorious sunshine which made a very welcome change from some of our recent rambles.

ADRC Ness Glen and Craigengillan Estate. May2012

Preparing for the start.

Now in Ness Glen .

There was a good flow of water today.

Elevenses at the newly opened tearoom.

Ladies enjoying the break.

Loch Doon with the Rhinns of Kells in the background.

Fort Carrick

The dark sky observatory under construction.

Passing the estate's gas house.

Recently renovated cottage with a thatched roof.

From a different angle.

Stonemason had a sense of humour.

Walkers admiring the Dalcairney Falls.

One of the older members being helped over the stanedyke.

The burns proved to be no problem today.

Would WC Fields approve of this I wonder?

Today's group.

Our leader.

Today Saturday 19th May Ayr and District Ramblers met at the Gaw Glen near Loch Doon to walk up Ness Glen and round part of Craigengillan Estate.As a lot of our members are away at present to Ulapool for a weeks walking it was  very commendable 19 ramblers who turned up today. Our leader was a retired polisman who had a wealth of knowledge of the local area.On a clear cool morning we first of all went up Ness Glen to the dam at Loch Doon where we had a our first stop at the newly opened tearoom. The proprietor had a telescope mounted on his counter to enable him to view what he is quite sure is an ospreys nest in the distance. 2 males have been seen but as yet no female has been spotted. According to one of our rambling twitchers the breeding of the birds is approximately one month later this year due to the cold weather we and the rest of Europe have been experiencing of late.Passing Fort Carrick which is used for outward bound courses we arrived at the Craigengillan Dark Sky Observatory  which is currently under construction  to be ready for visitors later on this year. Once back in the estate the leader took us past the estate's old gas house and a recently renovated cottage complete with a very well constructed thatch roof. Lunch was taken at an old farm near to the Dalcairney Falls before we followed a track back to the cars to end this 7 mile walk . Thanks to the leader who had done his homework on the area relating lots of history some of it as far back as World War 1. Another great day out and home in plenty of time to see Heart of Midlothian beat Hibs 5-1.