Dunure to Culzean and back 4 March

Alan, Alan W, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Kenny, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert

Thanks to Rex for the coffee and toasted hot cross buns before we departed for the car park at the Dunure Inn. Whilst getting ready we were politely asked about our plans as the new owners of the Inn were concerned about people parking there and not leaving enough space for their customers. When it was revealed that we would be returning to the Inn after the walk the lad was more than satisfied.

Helping Rex to get his leg over on to the Electris Brae

We’ve done Maidens to Dunure on a number of occasions and Dunure to Maidens at least once before, but the walk today was to be Dunure to Culzean and back, four hours said the ‘wise one’.

And so we set off up out of Dunure, taking care on the wee steep bit of the path because of the muddy conditions, and before too long we were on the field adjacent to the ‘look-out’ and heading for the bridge over the burn and then the next couple of fields until we reached the top of the track down to the beach. Forty minutes in on a day that was good for walking and all was well with the world.

Nearly there

However the tide was in and as we walked along the beach the underfoot conditions were not easy, alternating between cobbles and soft shingle, and by the time we approached Croy shore there was a problem. We couldn’t go round the rock outcrop because of the tide, so we decided to climb up the banking with a view to dropping back on to the beach about fifty yards further along. This proved to be a forlorn hope because, as we struggled upwards through bramble bushes, it became apparent that there was no easy way back down. The only way was up. As we emerged at the top we found a track which led to, well, nowhere. We could see where we wanted to go, but a steep gorge meant that there was no option but to continue inland over yet more fields until we hit the Electric Brae. This was a shock to some of us who had anticipated a fairly stress-free day. It even got to Davie C as he demonstrated how not to climb over a gate. The mud on the rear of his trousers held testimony to that. Anyway, we now walked down the main road and took the road to Croy shore.

A balmy lunch for the barmy army

It has to be said that not all of us had come this way. Peter, with Holly,, whilst on the beach, had continued on his merry way and had managed to cross over the rocks to Croy shore, then had crossed back to look for us, and then had crossed them once again before phoning Rex to find out where we were. The detour had cost us a couple of miles and forty-five minutes but Peter was there waiting for us, still throwing sticks for the dug. Memories came to mind of the infamous day at New Lanark when another stress-free walk turned into a journey into the unknown.

The walk up to Culzean was uneventful but again the underfoot conditions were not so good. Passing a couple of dead baby seals, we soon were climbing up to the castle and enjoyed lunch in the almost balmy conditions in the gardens.

Haeding for home

The return journey was more straightforward as the tide was going out and we had no difficulty with the rocks. Having said that, the walking was still challenging in places and we were happy to get to the end of the beach and onto reasonably dry ground. It was on the last stretch that we encountered a wee bit of rain but generally speaking the weather today had been much better than the previous couple of days.

Four hours and fifty-five minutes was the call as we reached the cars, got changed, and headed for FRT at the Dunure Inn. We wished the new owners all the best as we relaxed and quenched our thirst.

As has been said before on this walk, ‘Beware the Tides of March!’