Cunninghame ramblers. West Kilbride to Fairlie via the Crosbie Hills. September 2016

Our short train journey started here

Crosbie reservoir with West Kilbride in the foreground.

Starting the climb to Caldron Hill

Hunterston power station and Millport

Her version of desert island discs!!

Lovely waterfall on the Glen Burn

Group on the summit of Caldron Hill.(329M)

Mr and Mrs walk leaders.

Yesterday on a lovely sunny breezy (nae midges) morning 15 walkers from Cunninghame Ramblers took a short train journey from Fairlie to the walk start in West Kilbride. Leaving the village we took a road past a large caravan park before going out onto the open moorland with its wonderful views over the Firth of Clyde climbing steadily until we reached Caldron Hill with its rather large rock cairn. Many sights were identified on the Clyde which today had lots pf pleasure craft enjoying the fine weather sailing in between  the mainland and the local isles.A steady descent took the walkers to a lovely waterfall on the Glen Burn where we had a very pleasant lunch break listening to the water passing by us on its way to the sea. A moorland path took us along a ridge to Fairlie where after a woodland walk through the glen we arrived back at the cars after an 8 mile walk taken in glorious sunny conditions. Thanks to our leaders today who had the difficult task of recceing this walk twice due to some areas being completely overgrown making it impossible to navigate a safe route for a group.

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.

Cunninghame ramblers. Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs. July 2016

Snypes Dam with Glasgow in the background

Some steep paths were negotiated

I thought it was an orchid but I have my doubts.(lovely colours with the bee feeding on the pollen)

Craighall Dam

Some parts were on nice open moorland

Climbing James Hill

We called this the sleuce gates restaurant

Todays happy group

Walk leader complete with jelly babies!!

Yesterday Tuesday July 12 Cunninghame ramblers went to East Renfrewshire for a 7 mile walk on the Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs and dams. Parking near to Harelaw Dam on a mild cloudy morning 14 walkers made their way up onto a volcanic plug known as the Neilston Pad with its wonderful views over the city of Glasgow.From here we had a steep descent to Craighall Dam which forms a series of lochs and dams to be used as resevoirs for the surrounding areas of Neilston ,Barrhead and Paisley.This walk was described as a figure of eight so we crossed over at our starting point where we picked up our rucksacks to continue over the moors to Harelaw Dam complete with fishermen trying to catch their dinner. Unfortunately we did not have the groups  twitcher with us this morning but I think there was a small flock of greylag geese on the loch. A steady climb took the group to the summit of James Hill in the middle of Harelaw wind farm before a rather tricky steep descent to the sleuce gates that were used as a lunch stop. The last 2 miles were mostly on windfarm roads before reaching the car park to end another great day out with a leader who is not normally given to dry weather walks managed exceptionally well despite taking the group through some rather treacherous undergrowth with the odd wet muddy patches not visible due to the walkers .Well done sir.

Cunninghame ramblers. Black Craig by Kirkconnel. June 2016

Meeting at the start

Tricky wee stile had to be crossed

Nobody loves me he was heard to say

A trio of beauties

Todays group

Our leader

We stopped for a break here.

On Tuesday June14th cunninghame ramblers travelled to Kirkconnel for a 13 mile walk up Blackcraig (700M) . On  a partly sunny morning 11 of us made away along some good forestry access roads before starting the ascent  up the hill. This was done at various stages to give us older members a wee break to catch our breath on the steep terrain. Lunch on the summit was a guessing game to name all the hills round about us ranging from East Lowther in the southern uplands to the hills in south ayrshire.A steep descent got us all safely back down to the forestry road and retrn to the cars. A fairly stiff 13 miles was enjoyed by all and apart from about 10 minutes of light drizzle it was a dry day. Thanks to the leader who was completing the walk for a second time in 2 days having taken ARDC group up on Sunday.

Cunninghame ramblers. Barony hill by Dailly circular. May 2016

I got a lift to the start from this lovely couple.

Lindsayston woods have been felled.

One of many stiles today.

A wee break before our final ascent onto Barony.

Bluebells were in full bloom

Todays fine group on the summit

The teacher was our leader and raconteur.

Worth another look.

Today Tuesday May 17 Cunninghame ramblers traveled to South Ayrshire village of Dailly for a 10 mile circular walk up Barony Hill. A bakers dozen gathered at the start and after a short briefing we made our way through Lindsayton woods which have been felled recently and has lost a wee bit of its character . A nice pleasant walk in the cloudy but sometimes sunny morning we slowly made our way up Barony hill reaching the summit as the wind started to blow. Lunch at some old limekilns was enjoyed by all before a walk through some woods that were completely covered in glorious bluebells. Crossing the road the track follows the river Girvan back to the village to end a very pleasant dry walk both overhead and underfoot.

Cunninghame ramblers. 3 hill circular at West Kilbride. April 2016

The first of many stiles

The cup and ring stones (cups are full of rainwater)

I am not sure what the deerstalker intends to use the walking pole for

At the cairn on Blackshaw hill.

Yesterday Wednesday April 6 on a cold cloudy morning 16 of Cunninghame ramblers finest braved the elements to do a short 7 mile walk round 3 of the local hills.Setting off from West Kilbride the first obstacle was a serious muddy track known as the coffin road. It was extremely mucky and slippy probably caused by large flocks of sheep being moved to lower pastures for the lambing season. As we cleared the muck the rain came on to add to our enjoyment as we trudged up to the summit of Blackshaw hill where on a clear day rather nice views of Arran can be enjoyed,we had to make do of an aerial view of West Kilbride through the mist.Undeterred the next stop was at the cup and ring stones which may date back to the bronze age.Still raining the group now climbed up to Knockewart hill radio station before dropping down past a wee lochan complete with two very noisy geese.Last climb was Lawhill before a walk through the local glen back to the start ,to dry off and enjoy a spot of lunch. The walk was ably led by past Madam chair assisted by the Rt Hon Sec.,they did a sterling job in what can only be described as difficult conditions.

Cunninghame ramblers. Kilpatrick Hills north of Glasgow. March 2016

We met at Old Kilpatrick

We followed this new path (not to be confused with the Ayrshire Coastal Path)

One way of getting rid of that confounded "DREEP"

Cochno burn

Great views of Glasgow as we climb.

Lunch at Greenside resevoir

Explanation of a trig point by the Rt Hon Sec.

Made it to the first cairn

Group photo

and again

Mr and Mrs walk leaders.

Yesterday on a cloudy mild morning Cunninghame ramblers ventured over the Erskine Bridge to Old Kilpatrick for a 10 mile walk in the Kilpatrick hills climbing up the The Slacks which towers 365M above the Clyde. 20 of set off on a newly constructed Clyde Coastal Path through Duntocher and Hardgate before reaching Clochno estate where we then started to climb up through some fields until we reached the moorland with some of the reservoirs used to supply parts of Glasgow. Once we conquered Clochno hill we descended to Greenside reservior for our lunch stop before a short sharp climb to the summit of The Slacks with views down past Dumbarton and Greenock. A steep descent took us down onto a road which led us back to the start to end another great day out with the group who kept up an excellent pace considering the first real semi strenuous walk we had done for a while. Thanks to Mr and Mrs leaders whose knowledge of this area kept us fully informed of the surrounding areas.