Cunninghame ramblers. Catrine circular and the River Ayr paths. October 2013

We met in the village square.

Some interesting registration numbers at the local dairy

and another!

This was the best one (must be the farmer)

Convenient place for a coffee in the local swing park.

Silence whilst we eat.

I managed to get a seat on the "pig"

Ballochmyle House

Leaders telling the group the history of the house.

Some large houses have been built on the estate.

Ballochmyle cup and ring markings

carved in Neolithic times.

Another fine example.

River Ayr path.

Today's group in the Autumn sunshine.

Mr and Mrs walk leaders.

Yesterday Saturday October 26 Cunninghame ramblers met at the village square in Catrine to do an 8 mile circular walk utilising parts of the River Ayr walk.It was a clear mild morning as 16 of us (actually we started with 15 with a late comer swelling our numbers )left the village and made our way up a small hill to give us some wonderful views over the Ayrshire countryside.After a coffee stop in a local swing park we entered the Ballochmyle Estate complete with it's magnificent house which has now been converted into desirable apartments for local yuppies!!yes there is the odd one in this part of the country.On the site of the old hospital some rather large houses have been built that actually look a bit out of character stuck out in a remote corner of the estate. Passing the local golf course we crossed the main A76 (Kilmarnock to Dumfries) onto a track that took us through a lovely wood complete with full autumn colours until we reached the official river Ayr walk. Lunch was taken in the shadows of the magnificent Victorian structure of the Ballochmyle viaduct which carries the trains on their way south. At this point we took a little detour to look at the Neolithic cup and rings whch were carved into the sandstone walls of the gorge all those thousands of years ago and were only discovered in 1986. Back on the path we made our way back to the village to end a super day with some magical autumn colours in the forests. Thanks to our leaders and my fellow walkers for making it another memorable walk, the patter and the wee jokes make it a real pleasure to be part of this group.

ADRC Carrick Hills circular. October 2013

Group on the summit of Brown Carrick

with me as leader.

Apologies for the lack of pictures but due to the wet conditions in the morning the camera remained in it's waterproof case . However as always we had an alternative "The Duke" had his camera and will record his snaps as usual on Utube which will be published later today or tomorrow. His record of the walk can be found in the following link.The Duke's Utube.
On a fairly wet dreich morning 15 of us from Ayr and District Ramblers met at Greenan car park for a 13 mile circular walk on coastal and moor tracks. Leaving the car park we first of all walked on the shore until we reached the Bracken Bay where we went inland onto the old disused  Dunure to Ayr light railway line. A steep descent took us back onto the shore we hit a wee problem with a stream which was in full flood due to the overnight rain,some of the group managed to cross (they must have web feet) whilst 8 of the others including me decided to seek an alternative higher route to try and avoid the water. This was duly done and we all met up again at Fisherton School where we then took the tracks up onto the summit of Brown Carrick Hill. Now the rain had stopped it made this a very pleasant climb to be rewarded with a lunch stop just short of the summit. Once suitably refreshed we passed the trig point and made our way down over several fields to the Heads of Ayr and back onto the shore at Craig Tara holiday park. Now the sun was making a welcome appearance it was a very pleasant shore walk back the start . As usual it is difficult to judge the success of your own walk but judging by the positive comments at the end it was another good day out with a friendly group of fellow ramblers.

ADRC. Recce for my walk on Saturday 19/10 Carrick Hills circular.

On the summit of Brown Carrick Hill.

Today Tuesday October 15th I was extremely honoured to have the company of none other than Madam Vice accompanied by the Pilot for the recce of my walk this Saturday.It is a 13 mile circular grade "B" walk starting from Greenan shore car park to Dunure and return back over Brown Carrick to Bracken Bay and the Heads of Ayr.Today we got the weather just right and if we can get something similar this weekend it promises to be a good day out when I will publish a full post of the ramble.

Cunninghame ramblers. Whitelees windfarm from Darvel. October 2013

Managed to find a spot for our 4 cars.

Making our way to Whitelees.

Entering the wind farm

Using a turbine as shelter from the wind

One of two disused quarries we past.

Women striding out

whilst the men try to keep up!

today's walkers

with a smiling leader.

Yesterday Saturday October 12 Cunninghame Ramblers left Irvine on a cloudy windy morning to travel to Darvel before turning onto an unclassified road that would eventually take us to a remote part of Whitelees Wind Farm. It was a tight squeeze to get the cars in before 17 of us made our way up a disused track that led up to the wind farm where our leader informed us is made up of 140 Km of roads and 250 working turbines making it one of the largest ones in Europe.The roads are in excellent condition which made the going very easy as we passed numerous turbines with their eerie noise coming from the blades as they sped round and round. Two disused quarries were located and with my back ground in this industry I was able to tell the group that well over one million tonnes of material must have been quarried to make all the roads in the farm. As we walked around the various roads we were treated to many fine views of Ayrshire with Arran in the distance. After 8 miles of fairly easy walking we arrived back at the start after a most enjoyable day with this friendly group. Thanks to the leader for organising the day and locating this alternative access to the wind farm.

Our daughter and family moved house today in Ayr. October 2013

The new house.

The furniture arrives

Opening the door for the first time.

D.I.Y. removal.

Big day today as our eldest daughter and her family moved from Prestwick to Ayr to a lovely house in the Forehill area of the town. Anne and I wish them all the happiness in their new "hoose" and look forward to seeing all the improvements they have planned for the future.

ADRC Troon circular with a visit to the beer festival. October 2013

We are travelling by train today.

Meeting up at Troon shore car park.

Leader's briefing before we walk on the hallowed turf of "Royal Troon Golf Course"

We met Dillon a Clydesdale out for a trot.

Morning coffee stop at Fullarton House

Autumn colours are on their way.

It has been a good year for crab apples

Hoi wait for me down there.

We called on this member who offered some weak excuses why he was not out with us today.

Making our way back along the shore.

Today's large group.

Our leader.

Now for the serious business of the day!!

Cheers

and again.

Troon pipe band entertained the drinkers.

On a lovely mild partly cloudy morning 26 walkers from ADRC met at the car park on Troon shore for an 8 mile circular walk finishing up at the local real ale beer festival. Setting off along the shore we then crossed Royal Troon Golf Course to take us to the grounds of Fullarton House where we had our first stop for morning coffee. Picking up the smugglers trail we then made our way to the village of Loans passing through some lovely wooded areas on the way which were now taking on their autumn colours.Arriving back on the shore we found a sheltered area for our lunch stop before making the final 2 mile journey back to the start where most of us were then going to spend the rest of the afternoon in the local annual beer festival.. There were over 150 beers to choose from brewed in all different parts of the UK, some very strong including a range of ciders that were particularly high in alcohol content (hic hic).Super day with a lot of fun in the afternoon ,thanks to the leader for organising the walk great idea which has to be repeated next year, one walker was heard to say if the weather was inclement we could always cancel the walk and just go for the beer!!