Turnberry to Culzean 11th September

Alan McQ, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Rex

When we met at Turnberry to debate whether to continue down to Ballantrae, an unfavourable weather forecast had already made it look unlikely that we'd end up doing the planned walk along the Ayrshire Coastal Path from Glenapp to Ballantrae, but when we learnt that a road accident had caused the A77 to be closed in both directions at Glenapp the decision not to proceed was effectively made for us. We therefore followed plan B which was not to go directly to the pub but to walk an alternative route from Turnberry to Culzean.

Shortly after setting off, the expected rain started which caused those who had not already done so to don their waterproof trousers with the exception of your scribe who reckoned it would be the briefest of passing showers which indeed it was and we had no further rain for the duration of today's walk. A short distance after passing Turnberry Hotel, we crossed the road and through a gate onto one of the three old runways originally built in 1917. Our route continued past the building which was formerly air traffic control now converted into a private residence and Shanter Farm which was once home of Douglas Graham who was the inspiration of Burns' poem Tam o' Shanter. We stopped in Maidens to inspect the library of books which were on display in a repurposed old red telephone box but there was no honesty box to be seen so either it had been pinched or more likely the library operated on a simple book exchange system. The air was very clear today and we enjoyed pin-sharp visibility over to the Isle of Arran where the houses of Whiting Bay could be clearly seen. We continued through the caravan site and into the grounds of Culzean Country Park where we stopped for coffee at the swan pond until the wasps persuaded us to move on. Rather than turn back at the swan pond, we walked on a bit further to the castle itself, crossed the viaduct and returned to the swan pond via the walled gardens. By the time we were back at the swan pond, it was time for us to have lunch and the wasps returned to pester us.

The return route to Turnberry involved us walking back to Maidens along the beach then using the pavement alongside the main road for a short distance before taking the road up to Turnberry Lighthouse. The final mile of today's outing was along the very pleasant Turnberry beach back to the cars. Your scribe measured today's outing as being exactly 10 miles and it had been a very flat walk all the way round. 

Our watering hole of choice today was The Anchorage in Dunure where we spent a pleasant hour and the usual suspect (and the most recently retired Ooter) made it a three-pint day. All-in-all a very good day out given the initial concerns about the weather forecast and disappointment of not making it down to Glenapp.