Cunninghame ramblers. Kilmarnock to Caprington Castle. September 2011

Meeting up in Halfords car park.

Learn something new every day.

Some nice woodland walks today.

Earlston Castle (Circa 1550)

A tree lined avenue!!

Good crop of apples this year in the estate.

Is that a hand popping out?

Caprington Castle(Circa late1700's)

Side elevation.

The walled garden.

Old railway abutment over the river Irvine.

Coming out from the serious undergrowth.

Council covering their liabiliteies here.

Local graffiti on the flyover.

Our walk leader.

Today Wednesday 14 September I joined Cunninghame ramblers on their mid week walk from Kilmarnock to Caprington Castle estate and return by paths alongside  the River Irvine.20 of us set off from Halfords car park on a sunny morning which was a welcome relief from the last two days of high winds and rain. Making our way into the castle estate we crossed over the local golf course which was closed due to flooding we came to Earlston Castle which is just a ruin today with very little history being recorded about it. We stopped for a tea break in some lovely woodland area with the sun shining through the trees.We then made our way to Caprington castle which is a family home today. Lovely grounds with a large walled garden, once we had all pinched an apple we made our way onto a road that led us to the village of Gateshead.From here we went onto muddy tracks down the very fast flowing River Irvine where we had our lunch break again taken in the pleasant autumn sunshine. Now the fun began as we went to a patch of deep undergrowth with nettles up to your shoulders not to mention the beasties who were enjoying a nap on the leaves in the sun. One walker had his shorts on and everyone was concerned he would be stung all over but I can assure bloggers he came out the other end unscathed. Who would wear shorts on a walk like this in September? Answers on a postcard to the author please.Back into the estate it was a short walk  to the cars to end another pleasant outing with this group and thanks  to the walk leader for allowing me to join yet again.

Wigtownshire Ramblers. Portpatrick circular September 2011

We started out from Portpatrick harbour.

This strange shaped building once housed telephone cables that crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

Dunskey Glen.

Bellcote at Dunsky Home Farm.(See text)

Dunskey Castle. (circa 1510)

Lunch stop in the lee of the castle.

Craigoch Burn making its way to the sea.

Wonderful old railway cutting.

One of the many railway bridges in this area.

Demonstrating the strength of the wind. (I think)

An old radar station known locally as "Hush Hush"

Todays happy walk leader.

Today Saturday 10 September I met up with my mother group namely Wigtownshire ramblers on an 8 mile circular walk of Portpatrick situated on the beautiful Mull of Galloway. First of all this was a wee bit of an experiment for me I decided to try using my trusty bus pass instead of the car. On to the 7.30AM bus from Ayr  to Stranraer I arrived at Port Rodie to be met by a fellow rambler who then took me the final 8 miles by car to the walk start. Portpatrick Harbour was a wee bit wet and windy as 13 walkers set off up the steep steps onto the Southern Upland Way. On reaching Islay Knoll bay we entered into the grounds of Dunskey house to go through a lovely wooded glen. At Dunsky Home farm we admired the building with its Bellcote on the roof. There was the remains of a clock face but the actual bell is still there today.Crossing over the A77 we walked past the caravan site until we reached the remains of Dunskey Castle where our leader informed us has now been bought by a  German gentleman but did not know if he has any plans to renovate it.Lunch was taken in the shelter of the castle looking out on an ever increasing rough sea. The rain had gone off by now but we started to get buffeted by a strong wind which may be the start of the storm the weather man has been predicting to hit us later this weekend. A lovely cliff walk was then undertaken in the full force of the gale which made it a wee bit tough going especially for our older members.We then turned inland through a field of Galloway Belted cows to reach a second world war radar station aptley named locally as Hush Hush. From here we road walked 2 miles back to the start to end a walk of two halves, wet in the morning and dry windy conditions in the afternoon.Thanks to the leader who kept us all going trying to keep up with her and to my fellow ramblers for  another memorable walk in the South Rhinns.Back onto the bus at Stranraer to have a wee snooze on the way home to Ayr.

Superior shot of the bellcote.
I took it off a fellow bloggers site.
www.jimzglebeblog.blogspot.com/

ADRC to Cairnkinna in the Scaur Valley. September 2011

Morning briefing with Madam Vice.

Holiday cottage of a well known actress. (also of Ghurka fame) 

Scaur Valley.

Soon we are well spread out.

Me at the summit of Cairnkinna (554M)

Now it is the groups turn.

Looking down on the old fort.

Cortinarius Rubellus fungi. (What did you think it was?)

Lunch stop at the earthworks or roman fort.

Chairperson was todays walk leader.

Ably assisted by Madam Vice.

Today Sunday September 4 ADRC travelled far into the Scaur Valley to do a 6 mile circular grade "B" walk to Cairnkinna. Starting off from the Woodend Cottage road end (PS that is the cottage owned by the famous actress)20 of us made our way up Woodend Craig(488M) on a very pleasant sunny morning. That is 2 days in a row I have walked without getting wet.Is this a record I hear you ask?Once over the first hill it was onto Cairnkinna (554M)with its wonderful large cairn which our leader informed us is the second largest in the South West of Scotland (Carlins cairn has the record). Wonderful views today of the surrounding hills and valleys a real pleasure to be out on such a pleasant day.Following a path down a steep descent we came to an old earthworks beside the Druidhill Burn which was a beautiful spot to have our lunch. From here it was a  2 mile walk along paths back to the cars. Excellent days walking in another part of Southern Scotland we do not often go to. Madam Vice and our Chairperson led todays group, all walkers thanked them both for their joint efforts in planning todays route.

South Ayrshire ramblers. Dunure to Carrick Hills. September 2011

All ready for the off from Dunure harbour.

We start along the shore.

Some parts were very rocky.

Now up onto the grass with coastal views.

Lunch stop on the top of Brown Carrick Hill (287M)

This is a deadly fungi!



Houses here have wonderful sea views over to Arran.



Today's group.

Walk leader (sorry about the focus)

Today I met up with South Ayrshire Ramblers on their 8 mile grade "B" circular walk from the lovely fishing village of Dunure to the Brown Carrick Hills. 20 of us set off along the shore using the Clyde Coastal Path trying to step on the dry rocks and avoid the seaweed. The sun was beginning to shine before we started to climb up from the shore onto the old railway line that used to run from Ayr to Turnberry. The next section was easier to walk underfoot until we reached the Heads of Ayr caravan park .  Here we crossed over the main road to take us onto a country road that leads up to the summit of Brown Carrick. It is a reasonably stiff climb so it was taken at a fairly leisurely pace to take us up to the aerials which are used to guide the planes over the North Atlantic.Lunch was taken in the shelter of the hill as there was a stiff breeze blowing in from the South.We then followed a track through a forest to reach the path that takes you to Maybole from Dunure. Passing  several fields of cattle one of the group's newer members who is a retired farmer just raised her voice a little and the cattle moved away to the other side of the road to let us safely through. If you heard her shouts you would move out of the way as well!Walking into Dunure we pass several large houses here which are built on the side of a hill to allow them the full view of the coastline. Large decks are built on  top of a few of the houses and one can imagine a nice summers evening watching the sunset over Arran with a wee G&T in one hand and cooking the steak on the barbie with the other. How the other half must live.Arriving back at the start we all agreed it was a great walk in weather which was ideal for rambling . Passing showers were spotted out to sea but did not threaten us at all.Many thanks to the leader for allowing me to join  her today I really enjoyed the walk and meeting up with some old friends again including the "Jolly Green Giant!"

Biggest courgette I have ever grown. August 2011

When does a courgette become a marrow?

Cunninghame Ramblers to Sanquhar and the "Crags" August 2011

Today's walk start.



Leader giving walk details.



Double click to see a colourful frog.

Coffee break under the trees.

Lunch overlooking the "Crags"

Back on the S.U.W.

Weather improves as we look down on Sanquhar.

Today's happy walkers.

"Walk Leader"

Today I joined Cunninghame ramblers on their mid week walk from Sanquhar to an area known as the crags for an 8 mile grade "B" ramble.12 of us gathered at the start in the constant rain with no breaks in the clouds but we are a hardy lot so it was on with the waterproofs and off we went. First of all a road walk before entering a track up the side of the Euchan Water past the falls and out onto moorland. Climbing up Cloud Hill (451M) was a wee bit dreich in the rain with very soft underfoot conditions. Once on the summit we dropped down a bit to see the crags which are a range of hills spanning some 4 miles down the glen. The rain went off so it was an ideal spot to have lunch before rejoining the S.U.W. to follow the Whin Burn back down towards Sanquhar. Fortunately we had a nice breeze blowing which allowed us to dry off a bit before arriving back at the cars. Super walk in difficult conditions especially in the tussocks and bogs. Good fun was had by all and a vote of thanks was given to the leader who had recced the walk last week in better conditions.