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.

Images of the walk from Maybole to Maidens

Featuring Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie M, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm and Paul

Croy to Maidens - 30 November 2022

 Present: Alan, Bob, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul and Rex.

All nine of the above were kitted up ready to go by a quarter to ten on a beautiful calm November morning. However we decided to wait to see if there were any latecomers but since nobody showed up we set off at 3 minutes to 10. Walking along the sand on the shore was a pleasure although some paddling through the stony burn caused some dancing about.  

In about 40 or so minutes had reached the esplanade at Culzean Castle where a coffee stop was called for. Culzean was very quiet as one might expect at this time of year. Having gone along the west side of the Swan Pond, we cut off to the right and Davie called a view stop on the cliff above Maidens shore, with the lighthouse in the distance presenting a lovely picture.

Lunch was taken down at Maidens harbour before we set off on our return journey, taking the shorter route  round the east shore of the pond, and going down the steep steps to the shore-side cottages.

We reached the car park 3 hours and 35 minutes after we we had set out. FRT was taken at the Balgarth Hotel in Alloway, where a discussion was held as how to pronounce the Italian lager Menabrea. 

A first class day out.

Images of the walk between Croy and Maidens featuring Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie McM, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul and Robert

Today's walk got off to a downhill start

Clear views of Culzean Castle and Ailsa Craig from Croy Shore

Leading the way

Isla waits patiently for her two-legged friends

A splinter group of Ooters went to inspect the caves below the castle

        

The caves have been in use since the Iron Age and were used by smugglers in the 1700s

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/chance-to-discover-culzean-castles-subterranean-secrets

Down to Maidens shore

Beach boys

Maidens to Maybole via Mochrum Hill 15 February

Alan McQ, Alan, Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Robert

We met at the Green in Maybole in order to get the bus to Maidens to start our walk. Despite words of caution from the locals, the bus arrived on time and off we went on a tour of rural Carrick before we alighted on a dry morning, but with a chill wind blowing. Alan McQ, (teachers get far too many holidays these days), was using his local knowledge to lead us on a walk which was to take us over Mochrum Hill (270m, 886ft) and back to our starting point. Our friend Ian Hill had taken us up Mochrum Hill before, but for many this was to be a new excursion.

Following the road adjacent to the beach, we made our way up the track and then followed the old railway line until we emerged at the Cat Gates into Culzean. From there we followed Alan as he took us on towards the road just north of the Swan Pond and up to the Walled Garden, where we could see substantial works in progress. Coffee was called for at the picnic benches.
The next stop was at the memorial to the Kennedys, a feature that had gone unnoticed to us in the past. Leaving Culzean at the main entrance point, taking note of new landscaping , we crossed the A719 and took the track which relentlessly took us up towards the hill. When the track ran out, the going got trickier over tufts and the like, and we were grateful that, at this time of the year, we didn’t have the bracken to contend with. With our goal in sight we could see two or three ways to tackle the final climb, but those in front went for the direct and steeper route through some dense heather. The rest followed a bit behind, keeping Jim company on the ascent.

An alternative view of Robert's patience!

Little time was taken to enjoy the view at the trig point as the wind made it a cold spot so we continued on to the well-defined path which would take us down the other side. Alan found us a secluded, sheltered spot for lunch in the woods and as we recovered after our climb and enjoyed our pieces, we could hear light rain starting.
No rest for the wicked! It was soon time to get a move on down through the woods and following the path through thick and thin before emerging on to more open countryside and onto a track which took us down to the B7023. By this time there was a persistent drizzle and, rather than walk along this busy road, Alan took us across the road and up the farm track to Trees Farm before continuing back towards Maybole via Gardenrose Path.
We arrived back four hours and a few minutes after having set off and having covered 15km (nearly nine and a half miles in old money). For convenience, we decided to partake of FRT at the Greenside, a haunt we have used before, but perhaps not again. Unusually, the place was busy with noisy locals, not an issue, but the juke box was blaring, making conversation, even for the Ooters, almost impossible. Add to this the very limited selection of draught beers, it made a disappointing end to an interesting and varied walk. We left after one drink.
Thanks to Alan for leading us today, a new walk to add to the Ooters' portfolio. We look forward to more walks in the future.

Maidens to Dunure 27 January

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Ian, Jim, Johnny, Kenny R, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

It was raining constantly as we headed to the meeting point at Dunure along roads which contained many dangerously large puddles – not surprising given the amount of rain that had fallen and that the surrounding fields were saturated. However, we were promised a weather window, and so we set off for Maidens hoping for the best.

The tide was well in as we strode down the beach towards Culzean and, although it was raining, it was the cold wind that was causing more of a problem. Soon Culzean was reached and, in the shelter, the day became very pleasant indeed. By the time we reached the castle the sky was brightening and the rain was abating. On descending towards the wee holiday cottage, Davie Mc, still nursing his hip injury, confirmed that that was far enough for him today and he would turn back to Maidens. Johnny and Allan, not wishing to see him walk back alone and not relishing the prospect of the muddy fields further along, decided to join him and were heard to sing ‘Hip, Hip, Hooray’ as they went. Holly was most disappointed to see the others continue without her, but had to accept her fate as the threesome returned to the castle for a coffee in the grounds. By this time the weather had improved dramatically, so they took the cliff path back to the steps down to the shore before making their way back to the cars.

The tree had grown over the wall

How the day had changed!

Too exposed to stop for lunch here today

The walk had taken them two hours and forty minutes and by the time they had got changed, had a quick bite to eat and drove back to Dunure, the rest of the guys were waiting for them. They hadn’t wasted any time and, as expected, had encountered some ‘Somme-like’ conditions whilst crossing the fields.

FRT was taken at the Dunure Inn. We had got the best of the day and enjoyed our day out.

Davie's photos:

Some pictures from Maidens to Dunure Walk

Johnny contemplates his sandwiches at our coffee stop on the terrace at Culzean Castle



This is the section of beach to the north of Culzean castle along which we walked toward the sunshine.

The group was well spread out on the high ground between Croy and Dunure.

Andy strides out over the new bridge over Drumshang Burn

OK, so this wasn't taken on yesterday's walk but it was taken this month - on the 10th to be exact.

Alan, Allan, Andy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Peter, Rex, Robert

This walk is part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path and has oft been described before on the blog so suffice it to say that the route from Maidens was along the shore until the path up to Culzean Country Park. Walking through the park past the Swan Pond we quickly reached the castle where coffee was taken. Descending to the beach we continued past Croy until lunch was taken at the rocks adjacent to the ascent up to the cliff face. From here we followed the path until Dunure was reached.

As the pictures show, we were fortunate yet again with the weather and enjoyed the banter in the Anchorage Bar of the Dunure Inn.

For the record, this walk lasted a tad over 3 hours. Last week’s has been calculated at 22km, the best part of 14 miles in old money!

Maidens to Dunure 6 March 2013

Allan, Andy, Davie, Davie, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert, Ronnie

When we arrived at the car park at Dunure we were greeted by a snell wind and an overcast sky. Although the sun threatened to break through on a number of occasions, it didn’t, and the order of the day was to keep going for the wind was to be against us as the designated cars arrived at Maidens.

This is a walk that has been documented many times before and is one of our favourites, so the description that follows is minimal.

'All along the watchtower'

Setting off along the beach we made good time and soon we found the ‘staircase’ up towards the cliff walk and it was here that a short coffee stop was called for – and guess what? – it was at our usual place, but today the view was much restricted. Before long, having scoffed the last of Allan’s Christmas sweeties, a box, no less, of Liquorice Allsorts, we made our way into the grounds of Culzean, skirting the swan pond and heading up to the castle itself. We noted work taking place towards the roof and a discussion ensued about how certain parts of the castle’s sandstone and the surrounding buildings were suffering from erosion. We didn’t stop off at the café on this visit for two reasons 1) we weren’t sure if it would be open and 2) Davie had checked the tides and had suggested that we make our way along the beach asap. Remember the adage ‘Beware the tides of March’. We wonder however if Davie had checked them in the mist as the sea was well out as we passed by the gas house and on to the beach.

Lunch was called for at, dare I say it, our usual spot on the rocks and since we were in the shelter it made for a pleasant break. All good things come to an end though and we were soon climbing up the track from the beach to the cliff top and making steady progress alongside the fields which seemed to be drying out nicely for there were only a few mucky parts to be negotiated. When we reached the stepping stones over the burn we were delighted to find that a new bridge had been built making it much easier for Paul and Davie. The next ‘view stop’ was at the watchtower before the last wee sprint to the cars back at Dunure.

FRT was taken in the public bar at the Dunure Inn where there were laughs aplenty.