Wigtownshire Ramblers. Maidens to Dunure. July 2013

Starting out on the Maidens shore.

Climbing up into Culzean estate.

"John Wayne" joined us today.

Someone always gets a stone in their boot!!

Lunch stop at Croy shore.

A really cheery group today.

Our two leaders.

I always save the best for last!!!!!

As I am involved in assisting with the press report for yesterday's walk I will use it as the text for this blog,

On Saturday July 20^th 20 ramblers headed off to the quaint fishing village of MaSouth Ayrshire to do a 9 mile walk to Dunure along parts of the Ayrshire Coastal path. Once cars had been organised at both ends of this linear walk the group first walked along the sundrenched shore to a path that was to take them up onto a cliff walkway with it’s panoramic views across the Firth Of Clyde to the island of Arran and beyond. We now entered the grounds of Culzean Castle estate passing the swan pond with all its wildlife enjoying basking in the good weather. Arriving at the castle the leader gave us a brief history of its construction dating back to 1759 and the various members of the Kennedy family who had lived there,it was also pointed out that the ex American presidet Eisenhower also had an apartment gifted to him at the end of the second World War.Culzean also had it’s own gas facility manufacturing fuel for the castle and also some of the surrounding area. Now we had the most pleasant 3 mile walk along the shore to Croy where lots of families were enjoying the fine weather sunbathing and paddling in the sea.Stopping here for a very welcome lunch stop everyone enjoyed the scenery with the leader pointing out various local landmarks notably the “Electric Brae” which is an optical illusion best viewed from a distance to appreciate this very unusual phenomenon. The last part of our walk took us up a small hillside to paths around farm fields which have been left fallow to allow walkers to pass safely through without damaging the crops. Arriving at Dunure Castle time was spent exploring this 13^th century ruin before adjourning to the local tearoom for fresh scones and tea. The group expressed their appreciation to the leader for an excellent walk on a very pleasant warm summers day.