Cunninghame ramblers. Fairlie to Largs and Wetherspoons. October 2016

Group at the Pencil monument

Who could this be I hear you ask

This is how his plate arrived

Getting there

Wetherspoons Largs

The leader has to make an appearance

Enjoying some light refreshment

Yesterday on a fine cool autumn morning 10 ramblers left Fairlie for a short walk along the coastal path to Largs. It was a leisurely pace set to allow everyone to enjoy the wonderful scenery before arriving at Wetherspoons which opened recently. Obviously as walk leader I had reccied it out (on more than one occasion)to ensure it was a fit and proper venue for this esteemed group. Pleasant time was had by all before 8 of the ramblers walked back to Fairlie with one particular member trying to walk off a rather LARGE breakfast. Thanks to all who turned out.

Cunninghame ramblers. West Kilbride to Fairlie via the Crosbie Hills. September 2016

Our short train journey started here

Crosbie reservoir with West Kilbride in the foreground.

Starting the climb to Caldron Hill

Hunterston power station and Millport

Her version of desert island discs!!

Lovely waterfall on the Glen Burn

Group on the summit of Caldron Hill.(329M)

Mr and Mrs walk leaders.

Yesterday on a lovely sunny breezy (nae midges) morning 15 walkers from Cunninghame Ramblers took a short train journey from Fairlie to the walk start in West Kilbride. Leaving the village we took a road past a large caravan park before going out onto the open moorland with its wonderful views over the Firth of Clyde climbing steadily until we reached Caldron Hill with its rather large rock cairn. Many sights were identified on the Clyde which today had lots pf pleasure craft enjoying the fine weather sailing in between  the mainland and the local isles.A steady descent took the walkers to a lovely waterfall on the Glen Burn where we had a very pleasant lunch break listening to the water passing by us on its way to the sea. A moorland path took us along a ridge to Fairlie where after a woodland walk through the glen we arrived back at the cars after an 8 mile walk taken in glorious sunny conditions. Thanks to our leaders today who had the difficult task of recceing this walk twice due to some areas being completely overgrown making it impossible to navigate a safe route for a group.

Cunninghame ramblers. Clauchlands Point/Glen Cloy,Isle of Arran. August 2016

Waterproofs were donned (only briefly)

Lovely view of the Holy Isle

Looking up to Goatfell

Walkers emerging from the ferns.

looking back towards Brodick

At the summit of Clauchlands Hill

Mr and Mrs walk leaders. (one I took earlier!!)

Yesterday Saturday August 13th Cunninghame ramblers met at Ardrossan to catch the 9.45AM ferry to the beautiful Island of Arran.Once safely in Brodick 16 members headed out of the village to pick up the track that took us to the summit of Clauchlands Point with its wonderful views of the different bays that are located on the east side of the island. A lovely forestry walk took us to our lunch stop high up above Brodick looking out onto the Firth of Clyde with all its shipping and headlands in view.Dropping down into Glen Cloy we then enjoyed a lovely walk alongside the river to the famous Auchrannie Hotel which was looking very opulent in the warm afternoon sunshine. Arriving back in Brodick several of the group headed for the local hostelries for tea or a light refreshment. This was an excellent 9 mile walk with all the usual banter you come to expect from the group who gave the leaders a big thank you for organising our day out so well.

Cunninghame ramblers. 4 trig point walk near Greenock/ Inverkip. August 2016.

Todays leaders.

On Tuesday Cunninghame ramblersheaded North to Cornalees visitor centre on the Greenock cut. I am going to post a link to an excellent collage of photos and videos which one of the members has prepared so hence the lack of photos on my blog. It was a clear rather windy morning when 17 of us left the centre to head up to Dunrod hill (298M) over to Whin Hill(176M) and quickly followed by Murdieston Hill (234M) and finally Corlic Hill (303M).Apart from a shower of rain towards the end it was mainly  fine dry day with excellent views over the Clyde to the Arrochar Alps. It was a new walk to most of us as we are so used to the Greenock cut walk you tend to forget there are plenty of other areas up there to explore. Thanks Mr and Mrs walk leaders for a great day out.


Click on the link to see a super set of photos of our day out.Cunninghame ramblers.

Cunninghame ramblers. Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs. July 2016

Snypes Dam with Glasgow in the background

Some steep paths were negotiated

I thought it was an orchid but I have my doubts.(lovely colours with the bee feeding on the pollen)

Craighall Dam

Some parts were on nice open moorland

Climbing James Hill

We called this the sleuce gates restaurant

Todays happy group

Walk leader complete with jelly babies!!

Yesterday Tuesday July 12 Cunninghame ramblers went to East Renfrewshire for a 7 mile walk on the Neilston Pad and surrounding lochs and dams. Parking near to Harelaw Dam on a mild cloudy morning 14 walkers made their way up onto a volcanic plug known as the Neilston Pad with its wonderful views over the city of Glasgow.From here we had a steep descent to Craighall Dam which forms a series of lochs and dams to be used as resevoirs for the surrounding areas of Neilston ,Barrhead and Paisley.This walk was described as a figure of eight so we crossed over at our starting point where we picked up our rucksacks to continue over the moors to Harelaw Dam complete with fishermen trying to catch their dinner. Unfortunately we did not have the groups  twitcher with us this morning but I think there was a small flock of greylag geese on the loch. A steady climb took the group to the summit of James Hill in the middle of Harelaw wind farm before a rather tricky steep descent to the sleuce gates that were used as a lunch stop. The last 2 miles were mostly on windfarm roads before reaching the car park to end another great day out with a leader who is not normally given to dry weather walks managed exceptionally well despite taking the group through some rather treacherous undergrowth with the odd wet muddy patches not visible due to the walkers .Well done sir.

Cunninghame ramblers. Black Craig by Kirkconnel. June 2016

Meeting at the start

Tricky wee stile had to be crossed

Nobody loves me he was heard to say

A trio of beauties

Todays group

Our leader

We stopped for a break here.

On Tuesday June14th cunninghame ramblers travelled to Kirkconnel for a 13 mile walk up Blackcraig (700M) . On  a partly sunny morning 11 of us made away along some good forestry access roads before starting the ascent  up the hill. This was done at various stages to give us older members a wee break to catch our breath on the steep terrain. Lunch on the summit was a guessing game to name all the hills round about us ranging from East Lowther in the southern uplands to the hills in south ayrshire.A steep descent got us all safely back down to the forestry road and retrn to the cars. A fairly stiff 13 miles was enjoyed by all and apart from about 10 minutes of light drizzle it was a dry day. Thanks to the leader who was completing the walk for a second time in 2 days having taken ARDC group up on Sunday.

Wigtonshire ramblers. Maybole circular. June 2016

Todays group

Todays leader.(used this photo as I did not take one yesterday)

Yesterday a small group from Wigton ramblers travelled to Maybole to do the regular 7 mile circular walk. 9 of us left the local swimming baths on a cloudy warm morning with the promise that rain was in todays forecast. A rather pleasant road took us away from the town up onto the local moorland where there  were some excellent sightings of the local wildlife including buzzards ,yellowhammers,mistle thrush and various meadow pipets to name a few.The leader had described the walk as murder,howling dogs and venomous snakes. Well we past murder hole and the local kennels but unfortunately the snakes did not make an appearance.The walk finished back in the town where several of the group enjoyed tea and scones in one of the local tearooms.Apart from one heavy shower of rain at lunchtime we had a dry day for our outing. Thanks to the teacher who as leader  added his own wee touches to the walk with his usual anecdotes etc etc.