Tuesday 27 August 2013

Cunninghame ramblers. Glasgow and The Necropolis. August 2013.

The lovely ornate gate at the entrance to the Necropolis.

Wee Willie Winkie was really a Glaswegian

The largest mausoleum

He is not the inventor of lager!! (see text)

Glasgow Cathedral.

Lunch under the arches.

Sheltering from a rain shower.

Today's large group


We were the walk leaders again today.

Today Tuesday August 27th Cunninghame Ramblers went to Glasgow for a wee ramble with a difference.26 of us met at Buchanan Street bus station where we split into two groups with one lot going with the teacher on a tour of the East end of Glasgow to visit the Tolbooth at Glasgow Cross,Duke Street jail complete with bullet holes on it's walls and the Panopticon music hall where the late famous Stan Laurel first performed. I took my group on a guided tour of the Necropolis which is one of the most famous cemetries in the UK. Many a famous name is commemorated in large sandstone monuments including the Barcle Curles of the Shipyard fame ,Alexander Stephen the famous engineers from Linthouse and one named Charles Tennant which two of our group decided he must be of the lager fame except it is spelt differently than that of the local brewery where they brew TENNENTS . Charles Tennant of St Rollox  was originally from Ayrshire and built up an empire from weaving. (Sorry to disappoint the lager louts amongst us). The two groups met at Glasgow Cathedral for lunch where the teacher then took my group on his walk and I took his into the Necropolis. Mid afternoon we reconvened at the bus station for our journey home except a few us discovered a local Weatherspoons watering hole so we were delayed for a wee while. Great day out with a difference and one that other walking groups may wish to consider for their members. Thanks to the teacher once again for all his help and assistance today.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Wigtownshire Ramblers. Maxwellston Hill circular. August 2014

A quick prayer??

Leader's jovial welcome speech.

First of many styles.

Making our way up Hadyard Hill.

Even the cattle were enjoying the fine weather.

Going through the wind farm.

Well kept cottage near Dailly

complete with dogs.

Group at summit of Maxwellston Hill.

Leader with his back marker!!
As I was involved in organizing yesterday's walk I will use the blog to assist the leader in his report for the local press.May I also mention that the Newton Stewart Blogger was absent due a prior engagement, his blog composition and jovial banter were sorely missed by all of the group (well nearly all)!!
On Saturday August 24th Wigtownshire ramblers travelled to the pretty South Ayrshire village of Dailly for a circular walk up Maxwellston Hill (314M) and over to Hadyard wind farm. On a clear warm sunny morning 18 walkers including two visitors from Ayr met at the village square where the leader gave us a  description of the walk including local points of interest we would encounter on our way. Leaving the village the group made a steady climb up  Hadyard Hill (324M) onto a moorland ridge which gave us our first views of the surrounding countryside. Crossing over onto Maxwellston Hill the ground was fairly soft and boggy due to the recent heavy rain that fell on Friday evening.A steep descent took the walkers down to Hadyard wind farm with it's large white turbines making a loud swishiing noise as they generated their power for the national grid. Lunch was taken beside a little stream that ran into the nearby Penwhapple resevoir which today had several fishermen in little boats enjoying their sport on such a lovely day.Passing through the windfarm we eventually came out onto the single track road that runs from Dailly to Barr. After two miles we turned off into Lindsayston Woods with it's well maintained paths back into Dailly to end a super day in the South Ayrshire hills.
  Our next outing is on Saturday 31 August when we will  travel to Loch Braden in Ayrshire for an 8 mile circular walk. please meet at Breastworks car park ,Stranraer at 8.45AM or Riverside Newton Stewart 9.15AM for car sharing or alteranatively if going direct to the start please contact the walk leader on 01776840226 who can also give any further details you may require.New members always welcome.

Monday 19 August 2013

Reccie for Wigtonshire ramblers. Maxwellston Hill Dailly. August 2013

Top of Maxwellston Hill.
Today Monday August 19th (P.S. my sister's birthday) I traveled by bus to Dailly where I met up with the teacher to recce our walk for Wigtownshire ramblers this weekend. It is an 8 mile circular grade "B" walk with some fairly steep hill climbs,  track and hard road walking to make this a very interesting day out on the hills. Hope to see a good turnout on Saturday when I will publish a fuller blog.

Thursday 15 August 2013

Lendalfoot circular .August 2013

The house's old brick well is clearly visible.

It helps to have a head for heights

he didn't go too close

Double click to see the seals on the rocks

Looking up to Balsalloch Hill

What a time for his phone to ring!!
Back on the bus today to Girvan where I met the teacher and his partner ,who he was taking  to Pebbles Spa at Lendalfoot for the day whilst we went hill walking in the local area.We first went up the A77 to Sawney Beans car park before turning in to go up past a farm where one of the groups had a wee problem with a farmer back in October 2010. No problem today as we headed up to the masts above Lendalfoot before working out a route that took us to the summit of Balsalloch Hill (187M) where we had our lunch admiring the wonderful views across the Firth of Clyde. This was more a recce today to work out new routes in this area and with another visit or two we will make it and put it on a future walking programme

Cunninghame ramblers. Muirkirk/ Kames circular. August 2013

Enjoying the coffee stop.

What a mess is left after the trees are felled.

Making full use of the forestry tracks.

A new bridge specially for the sheep to cross safely.

A lovely tree lined avenue to Burnfoot Farm

When does the next bus arrive?

Not sure what breed of cattle this is.

The next part of our walk.

This is after the open cast mining has left

Now we are on the River Ayr path

well maintained with steps provided.

Today's large group

With Mr.and Mrs. Walk Leaders.
Yesterday Wednesday August 14th I caught the trusty old bus to Cumnock  with a quick connection to Muirkirk to join Cunninghame Ramblers on their mid week 9 mile circular walk . Arriving just after they had started I joined the large group of 25 walkers up through the Kirk Green until we came to forestry tracks which would form a large part of today's walk. It was lovely morning with just a pleasant breeze sufficient to keep those midges away as we headed out over the moors with lovely views across the East Ayrshire countryside. After a brief coffee stop we made our way to Burnfoot Farm to join a minor road for a couple of miles that took us back to the main A70 road where we stopped for lunch before joining the River Ayr Way back to Muirkirk. This was a very pleasant walk,one that could be enjoyed in the winter as it is mainly on good paths and roads perhaps suitable for ADRC in their winter schedule. Thanks to everyone who was on yesterday's walk especially our leaders for showing us a new route around a familiar area.

Sunday 11 August 2013

ADRC North Sannox to Lochranza. August 2013.

We had to use the ferry for today's walk.

22 of us on our own wee private bus.

This bouy appeared to be lost!

This lady thought we were going the wrong way.

Excellent paths along the shore.

We were rewarded with most wonderful scenery

which we all stopped to enjoy.

This guy is always waiting on the tourists to feed him.

Unfortunately we had a wee accident (see text)

The group at Laggan Cottage

The leader has to make an appearance
Yesterday ADRC held 3 walks on the beautiful Island of Arran off Scotland's west coast. After taking the ferry to Brodick the walkers were organised into groups for the different walks. I had the honour of leading my group of 22 walkers from North Sannox to Lochranza. As the buses were all very busy the driver asked a colleague to put on a special small bus to take  my group to the start at Sannox, so we had a wonderful journey on our own wee private bus. On arriving at the shore we walked along an excellent coastal path to Laggan Cottage which is owned by an author who uses it's remoteness to inspire his books. Lunch was taken here before we climbed up a fairly steep path to give us excellent views across the Firth of Clyde to Bute and the Cumbrae islands.Once on the summit the path crosses moorland and descends to Lochranza,it was at this point one of the walkers slipped and sustained a small gash to her head which required to be treated before we could carry on. We just happened today to have a young lady with us who runs her own first aid training company who assessed the casualty's injuries and applied the necessary bandages etc. to stem the flow of blood . The walker was able to carry on with the rest of the walk thanks to the sterling efforts of our first aider. Once in Lochranza it was a short wait for the bus back to Brodick and a lovely sail home on the ferry. Thanks to all who came along yesterday and I am pleased to report that our injured walker was checked out last night at Ayr hospital where a couple of staples were put in her wound and she was soon home in Patna enjoying a wee brandy after her traumatic ordeal. I hope this does not put her off coming out on any of my future walks, I promise to look after you dear if you do.Thanks to everyone involved in yesterday's walks but it is really all down to the organisational skills of our very own Madam Vice who puts in such a lot of time and effort to make these days run smoothly and efficiently.Thank you Madam.