Culzean Revisited

It's Monday the 8th of October, and I've arranged to meet my walking friend from Cumnock at Culzean Castle. Since we're both members of the National Trust, we'll take the guided tour of the castle. 

Culzean Castle with its associated country park in Ayrshire is regarded as the "jewel in the crown" of the heritage organisation, the National Trust for Scotland. "Culzean" is pronounced "Kull-ane", with the accent on the second syllable. The Kennedy family became established in the area in the 12th century.

It was not until the 18th century that the wealthy family, now known as the Earls of Cassillis, engaged Robert Adam to design a splendid castle. And to add to the wonders, a 565 acre parkland surrounding the castle was designed by Alexander Nasmyth and two pupils of Capability Brown. 

It's a glorious Autumn morning, although a bit chilly.........

.......................but perfect for photographs.

Over the water, the Isle of Arran looks mystical.

As in most National Trust Houses, photography isn't allowed.

The tour took around an hour, and was excellent.

In the first room which was the Armoury, we learned that this was the largest collection of muskets (apart from Windsor Castle) in the country. 

We learned that the top floor (now an exclusive hotel) was gifted as a thank you from the people of Scotland to General Eisenhower in 1945.

We saw beautifully detailed ceilings in the Blue Drawing Room and the Long Drawing Room. We saw a full size portrait of Napoleon in the central "Courtyard", which cost an arm and a leg !

N.B. We were told during the tour that the phrase "an arm and a leg" came from portrait painters, but This Page tells a different story.

We saw wonderful clifftop views from the Round Drawing Room. We were amazed with the kitchen.

I could go on, but I'll leave it to the reader to visit themselves. 

After the tour we had lunch outside on one of the many picnic tables around the ground.

This robin and chaffinch took an interest in our lunch.

After lunch we're heading through the grounds for a good walk.

Here's an interesting little dam, I wonder what it's purpose is ?

A wood carving by Marvin Elliot from the Isle of Arran

This bird was atop a very high tree, I had to zoom in quite a distance for these pictures.
Can someone identify it please ?

The Swan Pond was busy, with quite a few youngsters around today. One or two school parties were visiting.

Here we've reached the beach just north of the village of Maidens.

Ailsa Craig and a Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter.

We'll head north back to the castle.

My walking partner made a comment about horses on the beach. Right on cue they arrived.

Over the water there's a fishing boat off Arran. It's moving quite rapidly.

A long digital zoom in gets a wrinkly image of the Alba Na Mara.

It's a fisheries research vessel.

As I clicked on this Curlew, it decided to take off. I'm quite pleased it did.

There are caves galore along this stretch of coastline.

We were treated to numerous sightings of seabirds.

I'm not sure about the pipe, but the rivets in the metal panels indicate shipwrecks.

There were a few shipwrecks off Culzean, but I've a feeling that this is from the Airdrie, which was classified as an iron schooner. 

I should have had someone alongside this.

If it's giant hogweed, it's the tallest I've ever seen. It was a good ten feet high.

I got a few pictures of this Heron.

The castle comes into view. There's a noisy group below Dolphin House

We spoke to a young man sitting there when we arrived. He was enjoying the view after successfully achieving the required standard for one of the centre's awards.

A little further on and the view changes slightly.

A couple of devil's archways.

We'd done a lot of rock scrambling to get here. I think we were lucky with low tides. I've just spotted a picture with waves crashing onto this round building.

Now we're right under the castle, and the fascinating caves and passageways.

"The Firth of Clyde was a notorious centre for smuggling and the fortified caves beneath Culzean Castle were ideal for hiding contraband from the Revenue Officers. For centuries the Culzean Kennedys and others on the estate were either directly involved in smuggling, or turned a blind eye to it, in exchange for a share of the profits."

An interesting account of two friends exploring the caves can be found at Maybole.Org

They're not normally open to the public, but occasionally have tours for interested people. There are open ways in though. If it hadn't been so late in the day, we could have explored a little. Next time !

Culzean's a great place to visit. We had a very enjoyable day.

Wigtownshire Ramblers Newton Stewart Circular October 2012

Saturday the 6th of October.

Today's walk is an old favourite. A walk round Newton Stewart.

It's one I created a while back and is still quite popular.

Here's a link to the last time we did it.

February 2010

My pal Gordon from Ayr was also along today, and you can read his account here.

Gordon's Post

Report follows the pictures as usual.

There are 18 of us today.

Cree Bridge

 It was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Ninian at Whithorn, in 1329, that Robert the Bruce forded the river where the present handsome Cree Bridge stands. 

Kirroughtree House Hotel

A Triumph 2000

Accessing the golf course at the 7th

Today's happy wanderers

The Penkiln Burn

Out of possible interest the Penkiln Burn website is the strange electronic abode of Bill Drummond, the former front-man of the K.L.F. Remember the guy who burned a million.

There's a picture of him in the burn in this Interview he did for the Guardian back in May 

Monnigaff Church

The arrow through the two ravens.

I noticed while looking through the archives, that all three clans descended from the sons of the widow from Craigencallie, McKie, McLurg and Murdoch at some point lay claim to the feat of shooting the two ravens.

This page gives a feasible story. The Ravens and Cumloden.

King George V and Queen Mary Suspension Bridge

Lunchtime

A light shower cooled us down.

A bit of self promotion.

Thanks to both Scoop and Gordon for their contribution of photographs.

Over Old Hall Farm

The Trig Point on Doon Hill

The small hill north of Barbuchany.

Same view, but I'm in it.

Under the mobile phone mast.

Must be one of my top ten favourite spots. How many pictures have I taken from here ?

Walk finish along the Cree

Refreshments at the Belted Galloway

Wigtownshire Ramblers Report for Saturday the 6^th of October 2012.

On a bright morning with a decent weather forecast, eighteen ramblers met at the Riverside car park, Newton Stewart for the walk.

The walk began by crossing the Cree at Sparling Bridge, and following the river up to Creebridge.  It's recorded that Robert the Bruce forded the Cree at this point in 1329 on a pilgrimage to St Ninians.

From here the route went through Minnigaff to Kirroughtree House. A short stop was taken for the walk leader to read out some of its history and association with Robert Burns and the Heron family.

The perimeter path of Newton Stewart Golf course led up to the tenth tee where Wild Wood was accessed. The walk continued along the sometime muddy track to Bower Wood and the Old Edinburgh Rd at Minnigaff.

The group now made their way to the Queen Mary Bridge, the site of the old Cumloden Woollen Mill. Now converted to upmarket flats, a millstone is still visible through one of the windows on the Penkiln side. On the bridge attempts were made to secure a wish by cleanly dropping pebbles into the wishing pot. A cheer would accompany a successful drop.

The next point of interest was Monnigaff Parish Church. The 900 year old Yew tree and the listed Heron memorial were among the many points of interest. Here the walk leader set the group the task of finding the headstone depicting an arrow piercing two ravens. This is related to the legend of the three brothers, McKie, Murdoch and McLurg trying to impress Robert the Bruce. One of the brothers shot two ravens with one arrow.  The search was successful.

A lunch stop was taken on the banks of the Cree by the King George V and Queen Mary suspension bridge. A light shower saw a number of umbrellas produced.

After lunch the group made their way over the bridge and up to King Street. Here they learned that when the mills were in production, King Street and Arthur Street went by the names of Cotton Mill Row and the Gorbals.

A left turn at Duncree led to the old coach road which originally went from Old Hall Farm to House O' Hill. Here panoramic views of the Galloway hills were enjoyed.

The route now took a ninety degree turn south. Following drystone walls and crossing excellent stone stiles, fields of various sheep were crossed above Old Hall farm and Douglas Ewart High School to reach Corsbie road.

After entering Blairmount Park, an unexpected diversion took the group up to the trig point on Doon Hill. Very few people knew of the existence of a trig point in Newton Stewart. After encircling Blairmount Pond, the Barnkirk road and the A75 were carefully crossed.

Open fields were now crossed to begin the ascent to the mobile phone mast above Barrhill Wood.

 Arriving at the mast a tea/coffee break was taken. The view of Newton Stewart from this point truly shows the town to be the Gateway to the Galloway Hills. The good weather allowed most of the hills of the Minnigaff range to be identified.

 The descent eastwards afforded wonderful views of the Cree Valley. After crossing the embankment of the old railway line into Newton Stewart, an old metal gate was climbed and the riverside walking and cycle path accessed. From here a lovely riverside stroll brought the group back to the start point.

Tea, coffee, scones and other culinary delights at the Belted Galloway completed a very enjoyable day.

The next walk, on Saturday the 13th of November is a 10 mile section of the Mull of Galloway Trail.  Meet for car sharing at the Riverside, Newton Stewart, 8.15am or at the old Stena Car Park at Port Rodie for the 8.55am bus to Sandhead (bring your bus pass if you have one). The walk starts at Sandhead (NX 097 498) at 9.30am.

If going straight to the start please phone walk leader 01776 700707. New members are always welcome.

Carlingwark Loch, Catle Douglas

Wednesday 3rd of October.

I'm over in Castle Douglas having a walk round Carlingwark Loch.

There's been otters spotted on Carlingwark Loch. I didn't get to see any, but I think I'll come back in the spring. Judging by these two clips, spring is the time to see them.

February 2010

January 2012

There is however a lot of  birds (mainly swans), so here's some pictures and a video clip.

Is this a standoff of some sort ?

This Moorhen doesn't seem to care.

There's quite a few cygnets around. They seem to be further on than those in Blairmount Pond.

  

There are lots of swans on Carlingwark, I think they get well fed as a later picture will show.

It may be October but there still seems to be a lot of tourists.

I got the lighting wrong on this robin.

Is it me, or are there more Robins in Autumn.

A walk opened in 2004 by the previous Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry.

It seems the youngsters need a little persuasion to take to the air.

Shortly before I filmed this clip, the mother swan was fairly chasing the pair of them.

      

Imagine what babies would look like at 6 months old if they developed as quickly as Cygnets.

Soon be Christmas

Having watched the swans and cygnets on Blairmount for the last six months, I see a change in the female.

Her coat is much more glossy, and she shows it off more.

It's a chaffinch init ?
(Paul's commented below that it's a House Sparrow. He's right of course)

See what I mean !

The fountain makes a lovely picture

I'm being followed.

A young lady pushing a toddler commented with a smile on her face "Bloody pests"

Another look at the fountain

I like the above picture

On the move to pester someone else.

I'll go back in the spring to find the otters.