South Ayrshire ramblers. Dalmellington to Maratz Hill circular. June 2012

This memorial garden was created by our leaders.

The group take time to remember.

Dalcairney falls.

Morning coffee at the roadside.

Baing Loch.

These pylons take power to Northern Ireland.

How not to cross a stane dyke.

We came across this "Jubilee Garden"

Complete with the teddy bears picnic.

Today's group.

Sister and brother leaders.

Today Sunday June 3rd thirteen ramblers from South Ayrshire met at the Dalmellington Community Hall for a 12 mile circular walk to Maratz Hill above Craigengillan Estate. On a fairly cool breazy morning we made our way up to Dalcairney Falls passing the most picturesque memorial garden erected and maintaned by todays walk leaders to remember members of their family who are sadly no longer with us.A walk through the woods took us out onto the moorland before disappearing into a forest on a very good path for 3 miles. Once we were on top of Maratz Hill we had our lunch break which as usual developed into a discussion trying to identify all the hills in the distance including the Merrick and Rhinns of Kells. A lovely walk over dry grassy hills brought us back into the estate and back to our starting point to end an excellent day led by a brother and sister who were born and raised in this part of East Ayrshire . A vote of thanks was conveyed to them by all members of the group.

Wigtownshire ramblers. Craignaw/Merrick circular. June 2012

First hill was Snibe.

Memorial to the American Airmen killed in 1979.

Was he trying to hail a bus?!!

Two of the walkers discussing the view from Craignaw.

"Devils bowling green"

Lunch stop (look who is on his phone)

Starting to get spread out.

One of our many stops.

The views from here are stunning.

Today's group.

I was the walk leader today.

Today Saturday June 2nd I went to Glentrool to meet my mother group to lead them on a fairly strenuous walk in the Galloway Hills.Sixteen members turned up and to be honest given the severity of the walk I was pleasantly surprised at the large turnout. Was it the calibre of the leader I wondered to be told no it was such a nice day everybody decided to get up and about.Anyway once we left the car park at Bruces Stone we went up the Gairland Burn on a breezy cloudy morning passing by Loch Neldricken on our way to Snibe Hill. We now walked up a small gulley to the memorial of the American airmen who lost their lives in 1979 when their plane crashed into the mountain. On the summit of Craignaw (641M)  the views of the surrounding hills which were opening up now the sun had started to shine. A leisurely lunch stop was taken at the side of an area known as the devils bowling green which is a large granite slab left over from the ice age. A steep descent took us down to Loch Enoch where four of our group decided to take an easier route back to the start over the Buchan Ridge. Thanks must go to Madam Chairlady who kindly volunteered to lead this small group. The rest of us did the very steep climb to the summit of the Merrick (843M) which is the highest hill in South West Scotland. Unfortunately one of the group had a muscle problem with her leg on the way up which slowed our progress to the top. Once on the summit she thought it had just been a wee bit of cramp and  was now fine to continue. However after a short distance on our way to the Naive of Spit it became clear she was injured perhaps a pulled muscle. My main prority then became to get her safely off the hill and back to the start. We were planning to go over Bennin Hill but due to our wee incident I decided to cancel the last part and allowed several of the experienced walkers to carry on down on the tourist route whilst four of us  remained with our casualty to guide her  safely down albeit at a fairly slow rate. Once  on  to a more level surface and the effects of a couple of painkillers started to work she managed a lot better and we got her back to the car safely. Trust you will not suffer any lasting injury Madam and by the time you read this wee blog you will be well on the road to recovery and will come out with me again on one of my grade "A"walks  in the very near future. Thanks to all who ventured out  with me today on the  12 mile trek around the hills I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I hope you all did bar one walker for obvious reasons. Must also thank my back marker for all his patience and assistance today it was none other than the man I keep referring to in almost all my blogs these days . "The Teacher"

Lost villages at Dunaskin . May 2012

Known as "The Managers House"

Unusual way to cross the burn.

Going through Dunaskin Glen

That is the Kilmarnock Rocket already up on the summit.

This is the Crosbie Glen.

She was very inqisitive!!

Looking at the remains of Burnhead Farm.

All that remains of the Corbie Craigs miners row.

Taken from the front entrances.

Coffee stop .

1st World War memorial.

The old schoolhouse at Benquhat.

Contrasting colours today.

Open cast coal mining leaves a mess on the landscape.

Reference to the village of Lethamhill.

Today's walkers.

Plus little old me.

Yesterday Tuesday May 29th the Elite walkers plus three guests met at Dunaskin Colliery between Patna and Dalmellington to visit the old mining communities sometimes referred to as "the lost villages". This walk has been extremely well blogged by my friend and blog mentor and is certainly well worth reading to learn more about this fascinating area. 10 of us left the cars at the colliery on a very warm cloudy morning and made our way up the Dunaskin Glen past the ruins of Laight Castle taking us  to the derilict farm of Burnhead where we had a wee coffee stop. It is worth mentioning here two of our guests today were actually born in the lost villages and one of them  went to school at Benquhat. Our other guest who hails from Patna also had a wealth of local information and lots of wee storys of what life was like in and around this area.At Benquhat we visited the remains of the school where our guest was able to point out the various buildings and showed us his old classroom photo of 1948. From here we crossed on the old dis- used railway lines to Lethamhill before a steep descent back down to the start. A wonderful day out and on behalf of the Elite walking group may I take this opportunity of thanking our guests for giving us all an insight to life in "The Lost Villages"

Wigtownshire ramblers. Portpatrick to Stranraer on the S.U.W. May 2012

Portpatrick Harbour.

First comfort stop.

This bay was absolutely idyllic

Admiring the scenery.

Killintringan Lighthouse.

Complete with foghorn.

Climbing away from the coast.

Leisurely lunch in the warm sunshine.

Occasionally someone does listen to me!!

Stranraer's water supply at Knockquhasson

"Shortie"is well named.

The leader.

Today's group.

Yesterday Saturday May 26th I travelled courtesy of the trusty bus pass to Stranaer to meet my mother group, Wigtownshire Ramblers who were going to take another bus to Portpatrick and return on The Southern Upland Way (S.U.W.). Once we arrived in Portpatrick on a lovely hot summers morning our leader briefed us on the route and 10 walkers set off  up a long steep flight of steps to take us onto the sea cliffs which dominate this part of the coastline. Several stops were taken over the next stretch to admire the scenery before arriving at Killantringan Lighthouse where our walk now goes inland onto the moors which were take us back to Stranraer. Lunch was a very leisurely affair as there was no rush today as it was so hot. Our leader kept reminding us to consume plenty of fluids and apply our suncrems as the wind was making us feel quite cool but the strength of the sun could be quite misleading.Once back at the start our leader was thanked for his efforts today along with his back marker she helped to keep  everyone together. Tea and scones were taken in one of the towns many tearooms whilst I made my way back to the bus terminus for the journey back to Ayr to end a super day out with the ramblers and hope to see you all next Saturday when I am the leader in the Galloway Hills for some good old fashioned hill climbs. Be warned!!