ADRC. Annual barbeque on Croy shore. June 2014

Some of the colours today in the

walled garden were at their best.

Algie on the fire pond made you think you could walk on water

Time for lunch and a chat.

Outside Culzean Castle.

Mr.&Mrs Chef.

Yesterday Saturday June 28 ADRC set off to Croy shore for their annual barbeque with Anne and I organising the day. 18 of us left Croy on a cool morning with a forecast that saidit would soon warm up  as we  made our way to Culzean Caslte for a short walk through the walled gardens  onto the swan pond. Sun had now broken through when I left the group with a deputy leader to make my way down to the Maidens to meet Anne who had the car with all the goodies packed in the boot.Once we arrived at Croy we put the tables out and lit the barbie to get the food cooked for the ramblers return.It was not long until we were all tucking into burgers with spicy chicken and salads. Much to the amusement of other people on the shore the smells were soon making them wish they were part of this jovial walking group. Again thanks to Anne for all her efforts preparing and par cooking the food at home without her it would not be possible for me to be the  walk leader and  head chef all on the same day.

Recce for Cunninghame ramblers. Maybole with a twist. June 2014

Todays merry trio.

Today Wednesday June 25 I was very honoured when the the deerstalker asked me to assist her in a recce for a Cunninghame ramblers walk she is leading in mid July. Met up with the fluorescent man and the teacher on a cloudy cool morning before heading out of Maybole towards Kildoon Hill where we deviated a little from the normal route most groups take, but to find out where we went you will have to come along on the day when all will be revealed. It was a little wet underfoot but hopefully on the day of the big event the sun will shine,birds will sing to make it a memorable day in the South Ayrshire hills.

ADRC Straiton to Loch Spallendar circular. June 2014

Arriving at Loch Spallendar.

Todays group

with leader.

22 walkers met at Straiton for a 9 mile circular walk to Loch Spallendar. It was lovely warm sunny morning as we firstly walked along paths known locally as the Lady Hunter Blair walk that eventually took us into the forest. As there was quite a lot of forestry tracks to follow today there were not too many photo opportunities and also as I was the back marker I had carry out my official duties. Some of the paths were a little bit on the tussocky side so great care had to be taken as we walked around the sides of the lock Loch,lunch was taken in a clearing with views out to Girvan and Maybole. Another forest track took us high above Blairquhan Castle before dropping down quite steeply back to the village. Again much appreciation to the leader who had worked out this route through the forest making it fairly difficult for him to navigate.

Wigtownshire ramblers . Lochwinnonch/Castle Semple to Howood circular. June 2014

Another tree lined avenue!

A rather grand hotel on the outskirts of Howood.

On Saturday June 21 I met up with my mother group who had travelled a fair distance to get to the start at Castle Semple loch (NB not the RSPB car park that one walker thought it was). As the Newton Stewart blogger was present again I will leave it for bloggers to read his excellent account of the walk hence the lack of photographs on my blog. 23 of us thoroughly enjoyed the day out with my thanks to the boatman and all who took part for making it another memorable walk.

Queens baton relay passed through Alloway. June 2014

Baton arriving

before stopping at the world famous Burns Cottage.

On Friday June 20th the Queens baton for the Commonwealth Games arrived in Alloway on a gloriously warm summers morning. This was only a small part of its visit to Ayrshire over the next couple of days before it headed off into the towns of Ayr and Prestwick.

Cunninghame ramblers. Mid week walk to Todholes and Kirkland Hills near Kirkonnel. June 2014.

Remains of Fauldhead Pit baths

First climb was up Todholes Hill (481M)

Telecommunication mast at the summit

He was a member of Cunninghame ramblers

our leader laid some flowers.

Some well sign posted routes today.

Another very colourful top today

Lunch on Kirkland Hill (511M)

Some of the bridges that cross the Bakers Burn

They were pleased to see us

Group at summit of Todholes Hill.

The local lass took good care of us today
Yesterday Wednesday June 18 Cunninghame ramblers travelled to Kirkonnel in Dumfies and Galloway to climb Todholes and Kirkland hills. It was a very warm slightly misty morning as we left the village behind and walked up to the remians of Fauldhead Pit which was a major employer in the area at one time employing over 1000 miners in its peak year of 1949. The first climb was up Todholes where we followed an old track zig zagging its way to the summit where we had a break to replace all the fluids we had lost in the heat. Now we had a hard road walk for 1 mile passing a memorial to one of the groups members who sadly passed away in 1997 in the middle of a recce for the group so we stopped and our leader laid a small floral tribute  whilst we remembered him.At the base of Kirkland hill another short water break before ascending to the summit where lunch was taken admiring the views of the hills around us. Descending was a wee bit tricky on the tussocky paths before reaching the Bakers Burn that took us back to the village where our cars were parked. Thanks to our leader who was born and raised here her local knowledge certainly added to the days enjoyment making all the hard stiff climbs in the midday heat worthwhile. Thanks again.
PS. Sorry the fonts appear to be a bit out, need to contact the my blog Mentor for advice.

ADRC Glasgow city centre to Milngavie. June 2014

Group met at Glasgow Central Station

old Renfrew ferry

memorial to the Cheapside fire disaster

What a lovely river scene

new Hydro music centre

P.S. Waverley berthed at Glasgow science centre

an unusual seat at the transport museum

A great wee train for the kids.

I was in one of them as a guest of the police

Kelvingrove art galleries

These are snow gates! (see text)

Entertainment in the park

Having a break at  an old mill.

From city to the open countryside

Some of the paths were a wee bit muddy

Todays fine group

On Saturday June 14 ADRC met at Central station in Glasgow for a 14 mile walk from the city to Milngavie . It was a warm humid day as 25 walkers made their way down Hope Street to the River Clyde and onto Glasgows transport museum where we took a path alongside the River Kelvin. It was at this point our leader stopped us on a bridge over the river to point out the snow gates and could anyone guess why they were so called. The answer is a good few years ago council workers would load snow off the roads onto lorries which then drove on to the bridge and tipped their load into the river. If you look closely at the photo you will see that a concrete plinth was built to stop the lorry from going too far thus preventing any accidents. Passing along the river we passed Maryhill before arriving at the West of Scotland Science Park on the outskirts of Bearsden. Here the walk took a wee twist as we had all been enjoying hard roads or well maintained tracks all this was to change into muddy wet nettle infested paths but as our leader said we now had got rid of the cyclists that had whizzed by us on the city stretch of the walk. The going got quite tough particularly in the heat of the day before we stopped for a lunch in a nice open area on the side of the river. The last 6 miles were on wooded overgrown tracks of the Allander Way before we all arrived at Milngavie railway station for the train back to the city. A great walk in the warm conditions full of information from our leader who had put a lot of hard work into working out the route which had several junctions with no visible signage of directions. Many thanks to him and all who took part today to make it another memorable day out in rather unfamiliar surroundings.

Cunninghame ramblers. Evening walk from Ardrossan to Seamill. June 2014

Well defined signage

Leader  acting as rustler to the cattle (and walkers)

A tree lined avenue on way to Law Hill

A wee rest was required in the warm evening sunshine

Looking from West Kilbride over to the Island of Arran

He has a new name "Slim Jim"

Another one from the tree lined avenue

Muggie was the  walk leader.

After the exertions of earlier it was a quick shower and something to eat before setting  off to Ardrossn to join Cunninghame ramblers on their 6 mile summer evening walk from Ardrossan to Seamill . 15 fellow walkers set off from the shore on a lovely warm sunny evening up a short steep incline to start giving us the wonderful views out to Arran  and even the Paps of Jura were visible. A gentle walk along the tops took us to West Kilbride and the  lovely restored Glen trail down to Seamill  onto the shore back to the cars. This was an excellent idea of the group to organize an evening walk one that hopefully could be repeated again next year. Thanks again to our leader and all who took part it was a great end to a rather full day of walking for the teacher and myself. Wetherspoons provided the late night well earned refreshments!!