Edinburgh military tattoo bands visit Glasgow. August 2013

Nice to see the duke still wearing his normal headgear!

The Scots lead off.

A very colourful display

The Canadians came next.

Some more colour

They were different

They played very unusual instruments

The Brits at the end.

George Square is under renovation at present.

Yesterday I went by bus to Glasgow to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo bands pay the city a visit. George Square was closed for renovation so the display had to be on the surrounding streets causing traffic mayhem . Lots of colour and noise made it an enjoyable day out.

Wigtownshire ramblers. Grey Hill Girvan circular. August 2013

Leaders briefing

Hey "wait for me"

Monument continues to show signs of weathering.

1st climb up from the sea.

Looking down on Girvan

We soon get well spread out

Ailsa Craig.

How many ramblers does it take to open a gate?

A very happy group on top of Grey Hill

Today's leader.

Yesterday Saturday August 3rd I took the bus to Girvan to meet my mother group who were doing an 8 mile walk starting from Woodland Farm at the base of Byne Hill. It was a cloudy very breezy morning when 20 of us left the cars to head up into the hills  to our first stop at a very weather beaten monument that looks as if it may not last much longer, perhaps the local authority could find a little cash to do some repairs.Once we were over Fell Hill  the final ascent was climbed to Grey Hill with it's wonderful views over the Clyde. Today our leader had reccied  a route out towards Lendalfoot to join up with the Ayrshire Coastal path . Once on the path we stopped to have our lunch when the clouds broke up to give us all some very welcome sunshine. Heading back to the hotel the paths were very dry and easy to walk on ( a wee bit different from the last time the group did this part of the walk). Once back at the cars it was time for coffee and scones in the tearoom. Excellent day yet again in the Girvan hills with thanks to the leader for her sterling efforts at finding a nice dry route for us all to walk.

Cunninghame Ramblers. Greenock and Kelly cuts. July 2013

Title of today's walk

Wemyss Bay Victorian railway station

Walk started at this unusually named station

Climbing up the hill with the Clyde in the background.

A wee break for an ice cream

One of the many excellent paths.

Tortoiseshell butterfly

Today's group.

Kilmarnock rocket was the leader.

Yesterday 11 ramblers from Cunninghame group met  at Wemyss Bay railway station to take the train to Drumfochar to the start of our 11 mile walk along what is known as theGreenock and Kelly water cuts. These are manmade waterways constructed last century to take water from Loch Thom to the town of Greenock and surrounding areas.On a lovely clear warm morning we made our way up from the station to the first cut which took us 5 miles along excellent paths past Loch Fyne and the Holy Loch to Cornalees visitor centre where we took a break for an ice cream It was here our resident lepidopterist (I had to look it up too) spotted some tortoiseshell butterflies plus another one that I cannot remeber it's name.. Now we were on the Kelly cut and after another 6 miles arrived back in Wemyss Bay after a super day in the North Ayrshire hills. Thanks must go to the Kilmarnock Rocket for organising the day and travel arrangements. Mrs Rocket  who had joined us today managed to slow him down a wee bit so that for once we were able to enjoy his company!!

Ayr and District ramblers.Forth and Clyde canal. July 2013

Arriving at Buchanan Street bus station.

Then onto the Glasgow subway.

Murals at Kelvinbridge.

Site of the old North Woodside Flint Mill

complete with mill wheels.

Known as Maryhill Barracks.

Maryhill locks.

Ideal place for a coffee stop

The farmer enjoying the warm sunshine

so were the architect and local botanist.

We passed under the Glasgow airport flight path.

Today's unusually shaped route map.

The ladies of the group enjoy a well earned rest.

These swans had 8 cygnets to look after.

The ferry plied it's route for over 100 years.

This bridge was raised

to let the weed cutter through

and it's big brother.

Today's group at a lock gate.

Our leader on his bike!!

One of our male members suggested to the females in our group they may wish to avail themselves of the above services, he was last seen heading for the canal!!

Yesterday ADRC headed off to Glasgow on theX77 bus from Ayr to connect with Glasgow Subwayto Kelvinbridge in the West end of the city for an 11 mile walk on theForth and Clyde Canal to Bowling. 15 of us first of all walked along the banks of the River Kelvin passed the site of the North Woodside Flint Mill to join the canal at Maryhill Locks From here we headed west passedTemple gasometere .Blairdardie ,Knightswood and Drumchapel before arriving at Clydebank for a well deserved lunch break taken in the warm afternoon sunshine. Now it was only 4 miles left until we reached Bowling with it's sea lock to allow vessels to pass safely through and into the Firth of Clyde.The walk was lead with military precision by the group's architect who had put an enormous amount of effort into the planning of this linear walk reminding us all periodically that we were 4 minutes behind schedule and this would be deducted from the planned rest breaks. We all arrived in Bowling on schedule to catch a bus back to the city to make our connection  to Ayr to end a wonderful day out to an area we do not make the most of considering it is not that far away for us to travel to.

Wigtownshire Ramblers. Maidens to Dunure. July 2013

Starting out on the Maidens shore.

Climbing up into Culzean estate.

"John Wayne" joined us today.

Someone always gets a stone in their boot!!

Lunch stop at Croy shore.

A really cheery group today.

Our two leaders.

I always save the best for last!!!!!

As I am involved in assisting with the press report for yesterday's walk I will use it as the text for this blog,

On Saturday July 20^th 20 ramblers headed off to the quaint fishing village of MaSouth Ayrshire to do a 9 mile walk to Dunure along parts of the Ayrshire Coastal path. Once cars had been organised at both ends of this linear walk the group first walked along the sundrenched shore to a path that was to take them up onto a cliff walkway with it’s panoramic views across the Firth Of Clyde to the island of Arran and beyond. We now entered the grounds of Culzean Castle estate passing the swan pond with all its wildlife enjoying basking in the good weather. Arriving at the castle the leader gave us a brief history of its construction dating back to 1759 and the various members of the Kennedy family who had lived there,it was also pointed out that the ex American presidet Eisenhower also had an apartment gifted to him at the end of the second World War.Culzean also had it’s own gas facility manufacturing fuel for the castle and also some of the surrounding area. Now we had the most pleasant 3 mile walk along the shore to Croy where lots of families were enjoying the fine weather sunbathing and paddling in the sea.Stopping here for a very welcome lunch stop everyone enjoyed the scenery with the leader pointing out various local landmarks notably the “Electric Brae” which is an optical illusion best viewed from a distance to appreciate this very unusual phenomenon. The last part of our walk took us up a small hillside to paths around farm fields which have been left fallow to allow walkers to pass safely through without damaging the crops. Arriving at Dunure Castle time was spent exploring this 13^th century ruin before adjourning to the local tearoom for fresh scones and tea. The group expressed their appreciation to the leader for an excellent walk on a very pleasant warm summers day.