South Ayrshire ramblers. River Ayr walk circular. March 2011

Oswald Hall

Daffodils are in full bloom.

Oswald's Bridge

View down the River Ayr

One of the few hills on todays walk.

Serious discussion during the coffee break.

The other hill.

Tarholm Bridge.

Council covering themselves against any claims.

Fishermans bothy.  NB. Constructed using Hillhouse Blocks!!

Memorial to Rt. Hon.James Brown.

Todays happy ramblers.

Yesterday saw me meet up with South Ayrshire ramblers for a 6 mile circular walk to Annbank via the River Ayr paths and tracks. We started from the very grand Oswald Hall formally known as Auchincruive House before the West of Scotland Agricultural College aquired the estate in 1927.We set off down the driveway taking care not to damage literally thousands of daffodils in full bloom. Over Oswald's Bridge and onto the path by the river's edge we passed the disused railway line to Annbank that presumably carried the coal and bricks from the village. Over the river again this time using the Tarholm Bridge we made our way up to Annbank. At this point we normally go through a field that allows you to by-pass the village but the farmer has blocked off the access with the usual barbed wire on top of the gates. The walk leader informed us he has reported this matter to the councils access convenor. However as usual the leader had done an excellent recce and found us an alternative route through the village passed the memorial stone to the Rt. Hon. James Brown who was one of Annbank's more famous sons. Now back down at the river we found a nice spot for lunch in the company of plenty of mallard ducks hoping to catch a crust from the ramblers pieces. A short walk after this and we were back at the start. A nice gentle walk after all the exertions of Saturday.

Stranraer and Wigtown Ramblers . 3 Glenapp Hills Saturday March 26th 2011

Coffee break before our first ascent to Penderry.

On summit of Penderry. (309M)

Aerials on Benawhirn. (326M)

Summit of Smyrton Hill (370M)

I always find a tree lined avenue.

Surely it was not all that tough a walk.

We always keep the best till last.

Today  Saturday March 26th saw me at Glenapp to meet up with the Stranraer and Wigtown ramblers where I was the walk leader to take us up Penderry, Carlock and Smyrton Hills.18 walkers met at the crossroads on the A77 on a fine partly sunny morning. After introducing our guest from Glasgow (actually he has a caravan at Laggan House) we walked 3 miles on tracks to the base of Penderry. A wee coffee break and then the climbing began. At the summit of Penderry we had an interesting discussion on the various places we could see ranging from Ireland, Mull of Kintyre and Island of Arran.On we went through some peaty boggy ground over Green Benan and Milgarva before reaching the summit of Carlock Hill. On the summit is a memorial stone to a wee girl (see blog of recce) and we learnt from a rambler that she had died of salmonela poisoning and her parents stayed locally.A very moving tribute. Across the A77 we climbed up towards Smyrton via the aerials on Benawhirn. This hill has a few false summits and there was  cries of "are we no there yet?" At the summit a well earned rest was taken before we headed down to Smyrton Bridge and onto the track leading back to the cars. A tough walk on a glorious day and my thanks to the other 17 walkers who joined me to make it a very worthwhile outing.

Cunninghame Ramblers to the Merrick. Tuesday March 22nd 2011

Leaving car park at Bruces Stone.



Bruces Stone.



Start of the walk.

Culsharg Bothy.

At the wall for a breather .

Summit of Benyellery (719M)

Summit of the Merrick (843M)

Lots of timber felling operations.

Some ramblers did not like the rain!

Mist starts to clear at the end of the walk.

Today Tuesday March 22nd I travelled to Irvine to meet up with the group to set off to Dumfries and Galloway to climb the Merrick. At Bruces Stone car park we met up with other ramblers and started off with 19 hardy souls in the mist and drizzle.One younger rambler informed us she had just returned from a walking holiday in Spain and was feeling a wee bit chesty and might not make it to the summit. Several male members suggested remedies to her problem which were all rejected! We stopped at Culsharg Bothy for the usual coffee break before the steep climb to the summit of Benyellery.We were completely shrouded in mist so this was not a day for views and hence the lack of good photographs. At the summit of the Merrick we had lunch and then the walk leader held an impromptu meeting to discuss our next part of the walk. It was his intention to drop down from there to Loch Enoch and return via the Grey Man. It was decided and agreed that due to our numbers today and the thick mist that this route was not adviseable. We then made our way back to Benyellery and  down the way we came up.It was not until we past the bothy that the mist showed any sign of clearing and we returned to the cars after a most enjoyable walk in a damp dreich March day.

ADRC Girvan to Tormitchel Circular. Sunday March 20th 2011

Bridge under the Girvan-Stranraer railway line.

We meet some highland cows.

Taken before we disappeared into the mist.

Signs of brighter weather coming in.

Coffee break.

Some stiff climbs today.



This must have been a large farm at one time.




Tormitchel Quarry



Not everyone has two lamas in their back garden.

Lunch stop.

Our first view today of Ailsa Craig.

Today's group on our way down to Girvan.

Today Sunday March 20th 18 members of ADRC headed off to Girvan on a rather dreich day for 9 mile circular walk  up round Tormitchel Quarry and over the hills back to the start.Our first obstacle today was a herd of highland cows who were very vocal and a couple had their calfs with them .Our walk leader was contemplating how we could navigate safely around them when our rambling farmer came to the rescue lifted HER walking pole to the vertical position and proceeded towards the beasts and they immediately moved aside and we carried on up the hill!!Thanks to the farmer we had no further problems.By now we were heading up into the mist and the summit of Laggan Hill (269M) With the rain coming on and a wee bit soft underfoot we stopped for a coffee break when in the distance from the South it appeared to be brightening up a wee bit. Passing through Barbae Woods the rain went off and we descended down to Tormitchel Quarry where I explained to the group I had had some business dealings with in a past life but all that was behind me now. (Most people refer to it as retirement) We were now on a hard road surface which made the going a little bit easier when we met  with 2 lamas in a smallholding who probably had never seen so many people at one time in their lives.Several efforts were made to communicate with them but we all failed miserably.Lunch was taken on the slopes of Tralorg Hill before we climbed up to Saugh Hill (269M) which lies above the town of Girvan which also gave us our first sighting of Ailsa Craig today.A steep descent with a couple of ramblers demonstrating their skills at tobogganing without the sledge if you can get my meaning.We came onto a track leading to Fauldribbon Farm and along a road back to the car park at the South side of Girvan which was our starting point. Excellent walk under difficult conditions and our thanks to the walk leader who had worked out a route for us all to pass safely through.

South Ayrshire Ramblers at Bowertrapping Woods, Dalry. 19th March 2011

Walkers starting out.



Some male walkers noted the telephone number.



Looking back to Dalry.

The walk followed the equestrian route.

Coffee break.

3 Fine examples of "Nissan Huts"

The Dusk Burn

Blair Mill

We were invited in to view the gardens.

This is the mill's garden pond!

Unusual warning sign.

Managed to get a tree lined avenue.

Walkers passing Blair House.

Bridge over the Bombo Burn.

Saturday March 19th saw 25 ramblers from the South Ayrshire Group set off on  a 7 mile circular walk round Blair Estate and Bowertrapping Woods near Dalry in North Ayrshire.It was a nice pleasant sunny Spring day ideal for a woodland walk. First of all we walked up the side of the Bombo Burn which started us all wondering how on earth it found its name.The internet only informs us that it finally runs into the River Garnock but gives no details to its origin. Further searching will have to be done. Coffee break was taken on top of a small hill beside a trig point . The hill is on the map but does not have a name so several were suggested the favourite being "plook" as it was quite small.Glasgow bloggers will understand the terminology.From here we took a path down through Bowertrapping Woods and along the Dusk Water until we arrived at Blair Mill. The lady of the house was tending to her garden and very kindly invited us in to view the work at the rear of the house that they have had done over a period of 20 years or so.The pond was enormous and at one time had 2 resident ducks who have since disappeared. The mill dates back more than 200 years and has had additions built on.From here we then entered into Blair House Estate which is very grand and laid out for all sorts of equestrian events. The house is still owned privately and can be hired for functions and film shoots. An episode of Taggart was shot here. Lunch was taken on the estate beside the now infamous Bombo Burn. Back out of the estate it was a fairly short walk back to the start and allow walkers to get home in time  to watch the Scotland Rugby Match. A very pleasant walk in the Spring sunshine with usual banter between the ramblers.