Cunninghame ramblers. Day trip to Rothesay. July 2014

Leader telling us some of the local history of the town.

Start of climb up Canada Hill

This was the site of the 1960's Co-Op caravan site.

Looking up the Firth of Clyde from the golf course.

Trying to identify the far away lochs and mountains.

An extremely daunting par 3 hole.

Very colourful and beautifully kept gardens at Ardencraig

and again

Entering Mount Stuart estate by way of the back gate.

Shore Chapel.

Very impressive house

with its grand entrance.

our cheery group

Very occasionally I pop up on the blog!!

Our leader enjoying the sunshine.

Yesterday Tuesday July 29 I met with Cunninghame ramblers at Wemyss Bay station to catch the ferry to Rothesay on the beautiful Island of Bute.On a partly cloudy morning the small ferry carried us all over a very tranquil sea to the harbour situated in the town centre. From here 14 of us started the short climb up to the summit of Canada Hill with its magnificent views over to distant mountains and sea lochs. Unfortunately the best views to be had were from the fairways of the local golf course so 14 ramblers were seen to upset the normally smooth play of the more senior members of this course. Muttering the odd apology we headed off down a path away from the golfers until we arrived at the most impressive local authority gardens of Ardencraig. The colours of the flowers could only be described as awesome all tended by one guy who told us we had arrived at the best time of year to appreciate the plants which were all lit up in the sunshine,what a perfect place to have our lunch stop. Next we were all onto the local bus to take us for a visit to Mount Stuart House the home of the Marquess of Bute or better known as Johnnie Dumfries. This is a large estate of some 300 acres with the house as its centre piece.A pleasant stroll around the gardens before it was time to catch the bus back to the ferry to end a wonderful day which could not really be described as a ramble more a pleasant sociable day out with friends to one of Scotlands many beautiful islands.Thanks to our leader who had a wealth of knowledge and is obviously very passionate of the island,she made this one the most memorable days out with this group.