Cunninghame ramblers Christmas lunch at Dalgarven Mill hotel nr. Kilwinning. December 2015

Pre lunch drinks

River Garnock was in full flow

Santa arrived

Is this the guy who runs the kirk's finances!!

It looked good enough to eat (the hat)

The stags HEID

Miss pouting lips

helped to organise a great lunch.

On Saturday December 5th Cunninghame ramblers went to Dalgarven hotel for our Christmas lunch. 43 of us had an excellent meal followed by a successful raffle with the proceeds being donated to the Arran Mountain Rescue in memory of member who sadly passed on during the past year. Super day out despite the weather outside being somewhat inclement.Thanks to all who helped in organising another excellent lunch.

Wigtownshire ramblers. Grey Hill circular by Girvan. November 2015

Todays starting point

Making our way up Byne Hill

Looking down on Girvan

Snow covered Rhinns of Kells in the distance

Arran peaks with snow on the summits

A well wrappped up rambler

A wee break on some unusual seating

Met a friendly farmer

who entertained us with

a display of one man and his dog.

Todays group at the summit of Grey Hill

this group always finishes with tea and scones.

G I Joe was our leader

Yesterday Saturday November 21 I met up with Wigtownshire rambler for a 7 mile circular walk up Grey Hill just south of Girvan. 19 of us left the car park at Woodlands Hotel to start with a climb up the side of Byne Hill before making our way over the moorland with its wonderful views of the Firth of Clyde on this clear cold morning.Upon reaching the summit of Grey Hill the leader pointed out a lot of the distant hills which were all covered in this winters first fall of snow. Our descent took us over an area controlled by the RSPB with lots of different wild birds flying highup in the sky including a gaggle of geese. A busy farmer came along on his quad bike with the usual dog sitting on the rear to bid us good morning and hoped we would all  have an enjoyable walk when he then rounded up his sheep and herded them into a pen ably assisted by his trusted dog. One man and his dog was an excellent description and he was thanked by all of us for putting on a display of his  shepherding skills. After our lunch break we took a path down to the main road and back to the hotel for some wonderful freshly made home made scones washed down with lots of tea and coffee. Another great day out with my old group it is always nice to see you all and catch up on all the local gossip. Hope to see you all again soon on another walk next time you venture up to South Ayrshire.
Thanks also to Scoop for her contribution to some of the above photos. 

Wigtownshire ramblers. Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston. November 2015

We took the bus to Isle of Whithorn

Leaving the village behind

Leader hands out some sweets

Weather starting to clear

This part of the coast has some wonderful inlets

Would not be Galloway without a beltie.

It is really starting to clear up.

A walk of many kissing gates.

Our leader

Todays group

and again

My photo of Cruggleton castle did not come out so I pinched this from another well kent bloggers site. (thanks JD)

Finished the day with our a coffee break in the Harbour Inn.

Yesterday Saturday November 7 in the company of the deerstalker we drove down to the Machars in Wigtownshire to meet my old friends from the Wigtown ramblers group for an 8 mile walk along the coast from Isle of Whithorn to Garlieston. After a short bus run 13 walkers arrived at the start on a dreich drizzly morning with a faint hope it may clear up later. Once on our way it was not long before the rain stopped and signs of the dark skies clearing with touches of blue sky appearing,now out on the coast the views across the estuary were magnificent making this a very popular walk in the winter.Some soft going was encountered which was to be expected after a fairly wet 48 hours during the week. Lunch in the sunshine high up on the cliffs watching seals.cormorants and including a ballet of whooper swans (yes a ballet ,google it if you do not believe me) made the break most enjoyable. Passing the remains of Cruggleton Castle we reached the grounds of Galloway house a very fine mansion dating back to 1745. Some rather pleasant woodland walks have been created to allow walkers to pass through and enjoy all the wonderful colours to be seen at this time of year. Arriving back in Garlieston we retired to the harbour inn for the usual coffee and home made scones making this a perfect ending to what is one of my favourite walks in Galloway.Nice to see some old friends yesterday and thanks from the deerstalker and myself for allowing us to join such a prestigious group.

Cunninghame ramblers.Dean park,Kilmarnock circular via Craufordland estate. November 2015

Deer were keeping an eye on us.

He thought he could walk on water!!

A new method of getting over a gate.

Making our way through some sunlit fields.

Fishermen in the sunshine

Some stunning reflections today

Some inquisitive llamas

Todays rather large group

I managed to get into the blog

Today Cunninghame ramblers met at Dean park in Kilmarnock for 6 mile circular walk to Craufordland Castle near Fenwick. With myself as walk leader 28 walkers met at the car park and after welcoming guests from Eastwood and Kilmarnock groups we were soon on our way in the early morning sunshine. Passing through the park we took time to admire the autumn colours on the trees all lit up in their different shades of copper and bronze. Once  out of the park the road took us under the A77 ,over a ford and onto a pleasant open field walk with lots of stiles to be crossed which slowed the group down but on a morning like today who was in a hurry. After a short tea break beside the river we made our way into Craufordland estate to the fishery pond with lots of anglers enjoying their chosen sport. A very enjoyable woodland walk through the estate on an old coaching road to the bridge over the A77 back to an equestrian centre before we entered another wood to take us down the side of the river and back to our starting point. A super day out with such a large group made it a most enjoyable walk in the late autumn sunshine.

Recce for Cunninghame ramblers. Dean park to Craufurdland ,Kilmarnock.

Todays colours were amazing

Ditto

The deerstalker was my recce buddy today.

First of all my apologies for not posting a blog for a couple of weeks but this is due to the fact that Anne and I are moving house to Prestwick sometime in 2016 and there is so much junk accumulated in 28 years in Ayr this is going to be a mammoth task.Yesterday the deerstalker and I went to Kilmarnock to recce my walk of next week when I am the  leader for Cunninghame ramblers.We chose the most perfect day for our walk, the colours in the forests were absolutely amazing so lets hope we have similar conditions next Tuesday with the group.

Cunninghame ramblers. Glasgow historic walk. October 2015

Lighthouse museum

Is there no end to this ramblers talents!!

We travelled on the subway today.

Kelvingrove art galleries.

Part of the magnificent interior.

Walkers reading about my father.

Govan stones exhibition

Todays group

Beside my Dads Spitfire.

Yesterday Cunninghame ramblers travelled by bus to Glasgow for a historical walk round a small part of the great city led by myself. On a cloudy mild morning 15 of us met at the famous Donald Dewar statue situated at the top of Buchanan Street for a briefing from me on what we were proposing to visit on our journey. First stop was at a hero of mine "Nelson Mandella Square" where I explained why our city fathers had gone to exceptional lengths in 1986 to rename and dedicate the square to a great man.Next visit was to the Lighthouse museum to see a building designed by Charles Rennie McIntosh and also to admire the various designs and architecture housed within .After a quick shoogle on the famous Glasgow subway we arrived at Kelvingrove art gallerys to visit my father . Let me explain in more detail ,there is a spitfire hanging from one of the vaulted ceilings and in an alcove at the side is an area dedicated to Glasgows own 602 Battle of Britain  squadron which my Dad was proud to have been an active member of complete with his photograph taken in 1986 with surviving members of that era.Lunch stop was at Govan cross before we went onto visit the newly opened exhibition of the Govan Stones which is a display of prehistoric burial headstones.Our last visit of the day was to Fairfields shipyard where we had an excellent tour of the history of the Clyde shipyards and all of that areas rich industrial heritage. Another quick shoogle on the subway took us back into the city centre to end an interesting and varied walk to areas not normally frequented by the normal Glasgow tourist. Thanks to everyone involved today particularly the deerstalker who helped me organise travelling and keeping the group together in some of the more busier areas we visited.