South Ayrshire Ramblers to Black Hill by Durisdeer April 2011

Durisdeer Parish Church.

Looking down on a Roman Fort (double click to get effect)

Today's group. I needed a bit more light.

Lowther Hill golf ball aerial. (Tomorrows walk)

Summit of Well Hill 606M



Bothy without a name!



Our abseiler of next week. (See text)

Very steep descent from Black Hill.

Walk Leader is camera shy on the right
Today Saturday April 16 I joined South Ayrshire ramblers on their walk at Durisdeer. For those of you who are saying "where" Durisdeer is a quaint peaceful village in Dumfries and Galloway not too far away from Drumlanrig Castle. 9 of us set off from the church which is in the centre of the village and made our way up to Black Hill (531M). It was quite a steep ascent and fairly got some of us at full stretch early on in the walk. Our walk leader pointed out an old Roman Fort which is best viewed from a height to imagine what it must have looked like all these years ago.At the summit we were buffeted by quite a strong wind as we took in the views of the surrounding hills which included Lowther Hill with its Golf Ball aerial where we will visit tomorrow with ADRC .From this point we lost a fair bit of height only to climb again this time to the summit of Well Hill (606M). Again in the strong wind our walk leader pointed out all the various hills and points of interest. Due to the wind we dropped down off the hill to have lunch at the start of the old Roman Road. At this time one of our younger ramblers explained she was going to Abseil down the side of the Finnieston Crane in Glasgow next Saturday in aid of a Beatson Cancer Charity and she was looking for contributions from the walkers. Everyone made a donation towards her goal of £250 and we wish her well and look forward to seeing the photos in the future.Once lunch was over we found the original Roman Road and made our way down to the actual fort which we had seen earlier on in the walk.From the fort it was a short walk back to the cars in the village to end a fairly short tough "A" grade walk of 6 miles.Thanks again to our walk leader who is becoming an expert on walks in this area and we all look forward to his next venture into the Durisdeer Hills. PS Maybe next time we could take in the Durisdeer Ridge.Watch out for tomorrows blog on the Lowther Hills I have been told in advance that the walk leader is known for her long high climbs on her now  legendry "A" walks. Looking forward to it.

South Ayrshire ramblers to Lochwinnoch. (Correction LARGS)

This is the most unusual blog I have ever written mainly because there are no photographs and the reason is I have to protect the rambler involved or else I might get sued. Lets start at the beginning 12 of us met at Prestwick yesterday morning and the walk leader issued us with detailed instructions on how to get to the walk start which was on the Lochwinnoch to Kilmalcolm road. So far so good. Off we went in the various cars and I was in one being driven by a lovely lady who I once had the privilege of working with in the same quarry company. As we headed for Kilwinning we were following a well known rambler and from my back seat in the car suggested we follow him as he had already stated he knew where he was going. We safely made it to Kilwinning and then onto Dalry where we took the road for Kilbirnie. Not for me to question this as I am in the back seat of the car following. Before we arrived in the the metropolis of downtown Kilbirnie we swung left to look at the beautiful North Ayrshire countryside. I thought this a strange way but as we were going through parts of the county not normally inhabited by man this was turning out to be an expedition. Well we finished up on the main road to Largs going in the opposite direction of the walk and again who am I to criticise from the back seat. I did mention to our driver perhaps we were going on the wrong road but she was sure the driver in front knew a shortcut that had fooled everyone else including the walk leader who by this time must have arrived at the walk start. Well we finally descended the Healy Brae into Largs at great speed when in the town he finally stopped and as I have a basic local knowledge of the area I got out and told the said driver "this is Largs not Lochwinnoch". His reply was not coherant enough to print but I think you will have got the general idea of what he was trying to convey to me in a nice quiet street of this lovely coastal town. Of course it was not his fault that we finished up where we did his good lady was in the front seat navigating so again little guessing is needed as to whose fault it was.You would have thought she could read a piece of paper for goodness sake.(PS I did not make that comment) Well what to do now we asked ourseves when I suggested as we were all out and about on a wonderfully sunny morning lets park at Largs Academy and go up onto Girtley Hill high above the Clyde. So from looking forward to a new walk in an area I did not know I finished up leading a walk in area very familiar to me. Well that is the wonderful thing about being a versatile rambler you never know where you will finish up and one must adapt to the situation. My thanks to the "Magnificent Seven" for making the day a very memorable one and I guess one which a certain rambler may wish to forget. HA HA

Recce for ADRC and Stranraer groups Ballantrae to Big Fell circular

Climbing up to "Big Fell"(316M)

First outing for my shorts this year.

This lamb thought she had found her "father"!!

Farmer showing off.

They were waiting to be fed.

Some of todays many gates did not open.

Obviously a cat lover stays here.

Crailoch House .

Hyacinths blooming in the gardens of the house.

Lunch at my favourite tree lined avenue.

Sorry . Many blog readers will have seen this before.

In days of old
when Knights were bold
and girls were not invented
men had put their arms around a tree
and had to be contented.

Todays walkers .

Today Saturday April 9th the "route marchers" or should I just say we made that name up today as we walk at a very brisk pace for such a mature group.(In actual fact I am the youngest member ha ha !!) We set off from the new cemetry at Ballantrae and crossed over the A77 and started up the road passed Auchairne which is also the track to New Luce 19 miles away but as they only have a bus once a week we decided not go that far.(only kidding) We left the track at the hut circlesas described on the map what ever they are we could not find them. We could see the summit of Big Fell and really just took a fix on it and made our way to the top. At the peak it was blowing a gale which we estimated to be in excess of 70mph so we did not hang about to look at the views which were partially blocked by the heat haze.Yes we do get  a heat haze occasionally in Scotland last one recorded was back in August of last year.Onto Balkissock Hill we then made our way down on  to a track which would take us along to Braeburn Cottage where we turned right up passed Crailoch House with its magnificent gardens and views over the Firth of Clyde.Lunch was taken at the start of South Ayrshire's finest tree lined avenue but as I have mentioned it many times before I am not going to dwell on it any further.Thank goodness I hear you say.As we crossed the Crailoch Burn a sheep had literally just given birth to a lamb and was in the process of cleaning it up this was better than Lambing Live which has just finished its series on the television.We gave it a wide berth and made our way back over the A77 down to the Glenapp Castle Estate. The walk through the grounds today were wonderful and sheltered in the Spring sunshine. One red squirrel was spotted but long gone before I could get my camera out. At the lodge gates it was just a short walk back to the car to end an 11 mile grade "B" walk which hopefully will be included in both groups winter programme.Thanks again to the route marchers for accompaning me on such a nice sunny windy day for another of my recces.

Visiting partridge in our garden. April 2011

Partridge on the fence.

To appreciate this bird double click the photograph. Partridge are not rare or an endangered specie but to have one in a suburbian garden is.If you look closely you will see his or her mate on the taller fence at the back. Pity I could not get any closer.

4 Seasons Walk in the Kilpatrick Hills Nr. Glasgow with ADRC.

Walkers starting out.

Not a variety of daffodil I am familiar with.

Climbing the Kilpatrick Braes.

A friendly shepherd +dog in the back.

Looking back to the Erskine Bridge.

"Shaun" came to see us at our coffee stop.

Loch Humphrey.

Loch Humphrey fish ladder.

Ascent to Duncolm Hill.

Today's happy ramblers.

A view of the City of Glasgow.

Rock climbers learning the ropes!

On our way down.

Todays walk with ADRC was a wee bit like going abroad for some of us we ventured to the North side of Glasgow to a place called Old Kilpatrick for a 7 mile circular walk into the local hills.First of all I will start at the beginning in Ayr where we assembled and normally  have our trusted Vice Chairperson to organise cars etc but today she is in Tenerife sunning herself and I was charged with managing this part of the day's outing. I would like to report Madam Vice it went like clockwork and we were soon on our way. After negotiating unexpected road closures near the walk start all 11 of us were eventually safe on our way.Up the aptly named Kilpatrick Braes we gained height fairly quickly and were rewarded with wonderful views "doon the water" to Greenock and beyond. Whilst we were having our usual coffee stop "Shaun" the sheep paid us a visit she was obviously very used to walkers and posed for photos in return for a wee bit of our sandwiches.Arriving at the wonderfully named Loch Humphrey which is home to the Bearsden Angling Club we admired a well constructed fish ladder.First real hill today was Finloch before we climbed to the summit of Duncolm (401M) the highest peak in the Kilpatrick Hills. Our walk leader pointed out to us through the hailstones the many lochs and resovoirs surrounding us. It was not a time to hang about the top as  the wind also howled so we quickly made our way down to a sheltered spot for lunch where thankfully the hail and rain soon gave way to sunshine.Over to Greenside Resevoir and then to the summit of the Slacks (365M) where we stopped to again admire the views which included the Ochil Hills in the North, Tinto Hill nr Lanark in the South,Ben Lomond in the East and to cap it all a very distant Ailsa Craig in the South.On our way down along the track we came up in the morning we stood to admire young rock climbers practising their hobby on one of the lower crags. Rather them than me was overheard more than once. Now back  to the cars and the end of a very enjoyable all season walk. We had wind,rain.hail and lovely sunshine well it is April and we are in Scotland. Thanks again to our walk leader for pointing out all the places of interest including DuMbarton in DuNbartonshire now there is something I did not know.

Rainbow over Doonfoot. Saturday April 2nd 2011

Rainbow over Doonfoot.

Here in Ayrshire on the West Coast of Scotland we get some magnificent rainbows and I caught this one this evening from our house looking back towards the county town of Ayr.Double click the photo to get its full potential.

Recce for a future walk utilising part of the Southern Upland Way.

Walk start heading for Lorg Trail

The Water of Ken was in full flow.

We saw some very well constructed sheepfolds.

My 1st swallows of this year.(Is this a record?)

We now reach the trail.

Polskeoch Bothy.

Coffee break in the bothy.




 

We meet other walkers and their dogs.

Allan's monument +dog!

Walkers on a tough stretch.

The hills in the distance are in Cumbria.

Signpost for the the arches walk.

A very sociable place for our lunch break.

Todays outing was more a recce for a future walk with one of the groups which we are all associated with. Which one has still to be decided but it will form part of the winter schedule so watch this space.4 of us set off at a car park beside the Water of Ken not too far away from Moniaive.It was a wee bit dreich at the start but our leader informed us by 11.00 it will clear up and some sunshine was promised.At least that what he told us. Heading uphill we soon joined the Lorg Trail which took us through a boggy forest and eventually to the Polskeoch Bothy. I have not been in too many bothys personally but I was very impressed with the clean and tidy condition of this one. There is tin opener, fly spray and various pices of  cleaning equipment provided so full marks to whoever provided all this. I am sure it has been a safe and dry refuge for many walkers using the SUW.Our route now was on the SUW taking us up a long gradual climb passed a quarry which was being used to supply all the stone for the various forestry roads in the area. Leaving the open countryside behind we entered the forest and came to a covenanters memorial stone called "Allan's Cairn" built in 1857 and mentioned various people some from as far away as Penpont. Reaching the summit of Black Hill (551M) we stopped to look at the view down the valley to the Solway Firth and beyond to the hills of Cumbria. Also we could see 2 of the sculptures that form part of the "The Striding Arches" which ADRC walked last year.Our next summit was Cairn Hill where more distant hills could be seen which caused lots of discussion as to where it could possibly be. To save any embarrassment to my fellow walkers the location will be revealed when we do this as an organised ramble. Going down from Cairn Hill was interesting as it was very steep in places and also very wet underfoot so one or two minor slips were inevitable. Safely over the Altry Burn we arrived back at the car where we finished a very good walk with lunch on the picnic tables very kindly provided at the side of the Water of Ken.