Cunninghame ramblers. Clauchlands Point/Glen Cloy,Isle of Arran. August 2016

Waterproofs were donned (only briefly)

Lovely view of the Holy Isle

Looking up to Goatfell

Walkers emerging from the ferns.

looking back towards Brodick

At the summit of Clauchlands Hill

Mr and Mrs walk leaders. (one I took earlier!!)

Yesterday Saturday August 13th Cunninghame ramblers met at Ardrossan to catch the 9.45AM ferry to the beautiful Island of Arran.Once safely in Brodick 16 members headed out of the village to pick up the track that took us to the summit of Clauchlands Point with its wonderful views of the different bays that are located on the east side of the island. A lovely forestry walk took us to our lunch stop high up above Brodick looking out onto the Firth of Clyde with all its shipping and headlands in view.Dropping down into Glen Cloy we then enjoyed a lovely walk alongside the river to the famous Auchrannie Hotel which was looking very opulent in the warm afternoon sunshine. Arriving back in Brodick several of the group headed for the local hostelries for tea or a light refreshment. This was an excellent 9 mile walk with all the usual banter you come to expect from the group who gave the leaders a big thank you for organising our day out so well.

Wigtownshire ramblers day out to the island of Arran. September 2015.

On the ferry

Looking down of Coire Fhionn Lochan

She always does this at the trig point

"A" walkers including me.

Some well earned fish and chips.

C group walk looking over the the Holy Isle

C group walkers

Yesterday Saturday September 26th I the deerstalker and I were extremely honoured to be asked to lead two walks on the island of Arran for the Wigtownshire ramblers. It was a cloudy morning when 18 of arrived in Brodick after our sail over for Ardrossan on the cal mac ferry. 8 of us were going on the "A" walk led by myself whilst the rest went with the deerstalker for a more leisurely low level walk. My group caught the bus to Thundergay on the West coast of the island. After we had journeyed past Lochranza the bus stopped on the crest of a hill to allow passengers a birds eye view of a basking shark displaying its swimming skills right in front of us. It was without doubt the best sighting of the worlds second largest fish we were ever liable to see and made a wonderful start to our day out.Arriving at Thunderguy we started out up the hills to our first stop at Coire Fhionn Lochan a small stretch of water at the base of a ridge we were about to climb. First benn on this walk is Meal Biorach (551M) and then onto Meal Donn(610M). At this point the mist was swirling about us giving only the occasional blink of sunshine but no worries our resident meteorologist assured the group that it would be full sunshine by 1.00PM . (it was now 1.30PM) Pressing on to our next summit of  Beinn Bhreac(711M) the mist started to lift giving us all some magnificent views of the Arran mountains. After a steep descent it was good climb up to Mullach Buidhe(721M) before the short challenging rocky ascent onto our final summit of Beinn Bharrain (717M). After a another short break we started the extremely difficult descent down to the village of Pirnmill where we caught the bus back to the ferry.

The other group did a very interesting walk from Brodick over the Clauchlands hills towards Lamlash where you get some of the best views over to the Holy Isle. In the afternoon and the welcome sunshine had arrived they walked along forestry tracks back to Brodick for some well earned refreshments.

My thanks to the deerstalker for all her help in reccies and planning for yesterdays extremely successful day out without her assistance it would not have been possible to do an "A" and "C" walk on the same day. Thanks pal.

ADRC Turnberry to Culzean Castle. September 2015

Walking along the Maidens shorefront

Climbing up from the shore into Culzean

New adventure playground

in Culzean by the swan pond.

Todays happy group

with our leader.

Yesterday Saturday September 19 Ayr and District ramblers were doing a 10 mile walk from Turnberry to Culzean Castle returning back along the shore.22 of us set off on a lovely sunny morning along the Turnberry shore with its wonderful views over to the island of Arran towering up in the distance. Care was taken as we crossed over the hallowed links now known as Trump turnberry golf course that we did not upset the players who were also enjoying the fine weather. Once in the Maidens we stopped for our usual morning break allowing us a rest whilst some of us reminisced about how the village once looked as a thriving fishing community sadly no more.In Culzean estate there is a new childrens adventure playground built close by the swan pond. Judging by the number of children and a few adults enjoying the various rides  this will very quickly become a highlight of a visit to the estate.Lunch was taken at the Home farm accompanied by a few wasps before I thanked the leader for the first part of her walk but as I had travelled to Turnberry by bus I decided to carry on to Dunure along the Croy shore to catch the bus back to Ayr.The group did a tour of the walled gardens and then returned to Turnberry on the mornings route.

Cunninghame ramblers. Cock of Arran circular.September 2014

Conditions were perfect.

We have stopped here before.

Lunch in the sun

This was the fast group.

This fine group walked to Glenashdale Falls.

On Wednesday September 10th Cunninghame ramblers sailed off from Ardrossan to the lovely Island of Arran. Arriving in Brodick 4 of the ladys decided to go south to do a shorter walk to Glenashdale Falls whilst the rest headed off north toLochranza to walk round what is known as the Cock of Arran. 18 of us alighted from the bus to start a fairly gradual climb on a perfectly sunny warm morning to head over to the coast at Laggan cottage. At this point our leader sensed we had two distinct groups out today and suggested the faster walkers may want to go on first and this would allow the slower group to enjoy the sunshine at a more leisurely pace.I was in the first lot who soon arrived at Laggan cottage situated at the base of some rather majestic heather clad hills. After a lunch stop we started out heading north around the shore which was extremely difficult in places due to the large boulders. Slow progress was made with one or two minor falls which did not alter the enjoyment of this beautiful part of the island. Arriving back in Lochranza we were able to catch the earlier ferry back home to end the most wonderful day out to what must have been the best possible weather conditions  to complete this type of 8 mile walk.

PS. More photos are due to be published but I am still awaiting for them to arrive. Also thanks to Madam Chair for her contribution to todays blog.