Portencross

Found yet another gem and although not right on the doorstep it's close enough to start making this a regular destination for a pleasant wander. It really is a compact wee package that has just about everything.Portencross is a wee hamlet at the end of a single track road. It's on the Ayrshire Coastal Path but has a couple of things that make it quite unique.

The first is the very obvious Portencross Castle which, unlike many, has been restored and is in use. There was a party when we were there today, not a bad venue. It does get opened up to the public but we'll have to wait a few more weeks before we get the chance to see inside. I love the fact that it has a bench up on its ramparts next to the flagpole with the Saltire for you to appreciate the views over the Firth of Clyde to Arran, Bute, The Cumbraes and beyond. It also has a gorgeous way bay right next to it that when the tide is out has fantastic rock pools to go play in. Last week we were treated to the unusual sight of a couple of divers wandering into the water at this bay - very James Bond ;-)

So far we have only explored around the path that goes north towards the second thing that makes this unique, a nuclear power plant. The path is lovely and flat and it's only a couple of km but there is so much to keep you occupied. The first is obvious, the views out to Arran and Little Cumbrae are hypnotic. There is a jetty that, once you ignore the huge hole in the middle of it that gives you an airy walk onto it, makes you feel even closer to them. As you look back south you might be lucky enough to glimpse Ailsa Craig.

This little package just keeps giving. As you are walking north you can see the cliffs known as the Three Sisters but to be honest, they look even better when you are heading south. At the foot of these cliffs is yet something else that will keep you occupied, a lovely wee wood. This is probably the best time of year to appreciate this wood. The first thing that hits you as you enter it is the refreshing smell of wild garlic. It's everywhere making the place look like it has a carpet of green shag pile on steroids - stark contrast to the mostly still bare trees that remind me of The Ents from Lord of the Rings. The way that these trees manage to climb up the cliffs has me mesmerised. Craig of course couldn't resist climbing as many of these trees as possible and even got himself so comfy on one that he could have fallen asleep on it - kids!!

We also had lots of other things to look at. Spring flowers were showing face, daffodils and primrose giving the yellow contrast to the green shag pile. Let's not forget the animals. We had ladybirds, bumble bees and butterflies keeping us company as we meandered through their wood. Up above we were treated to an as yet unidentified bird of prey (ie the standard bloody big bird) causing mayhem with the gulls while the oyster catchers on the rocks squacked away.

As we wandered back to the car still in glorious sunshine feeling sorry for those on Arran which was now shrouded in cloud we wondered where the last 4 hours had gone. I have a very funny feeling that this wee section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path may just be affected by a timewarp, one which we shall continue to explore and enjoy   

What the....................??????

I thought it was slightly amusing when I saw this the first time. But now as this now almost daily event continues I am starting to wonder what this gull is getting out of knocking the hell out the patio window.

Poor Jimmy the gnome is puzzled too....................

Cumbrae

With the pootling about on the bike on the flat going OK I decided to set myself a goal. In fact it was going to be a double goal but more on that later.

To most of us who live in the west of Scotland at some point during our childhood we'll have been "doon the water" to one of the Firth of Clyde seaside resorts. I've always referred to the Isle of Great Cumbrae as Millport, which is the main settlement on the island, but there is certainly a lot more to Cumbrae than its town. The island lies just off Largs in North Ayrshire with a 10 minute ferry ride to make it all the more exciting. Even better, cycles are free :-)

The first goal of the day was to cycle round the island. It's 10.25 miles of mostly flat road and my guide book said it should take approximately 1hr 30m. ................mmmmm wonder how long we'd take? It was a tad nippy as we waited for the ferry at Largs so I ran into the cafe to pick up some coffees to keep us warm on the crossing over. What I hadn't expected was the fact that it's a new ferry since I was last on the island over 10 years ago and it has a very nice enclosed observation deck something that the old one lacked. It meant that when we reached Cumbrae we still had coffee to drink as they were still too hot, so we sat at the slip and watched the ferry head back to Largs.

Traffic jam Cumbrae style

Steve with the coffees

The MV Loch Shira heading back to Largs

And we're ready for the off

Soon we were off heading to the north of the island. It was a wee bit windy but not so bad to cause any real problems. Before too long we were stopping to look at the birds on the shore line, take photos and look out for seals. This would be the pattern of events for our whole journey round.

Oyster catchers and eider ducks Stinking Bay

Oyster catchers sunning themselves at Stinking Bay

Geese at Skate Point

Swan getting a drink at Fintry Bay

Large bird flying above Cumbrae

The west coast of the island is a lovely revelation of sandy bays interspersed with rocky ones and the views over to the Isle of Bute and Arran are constantly catching your attention, hence we had lots more stops to take it all in. As we rounded the southern tip Little Cumbrae comes proudly into view. It's now privately owned so gaining access to it is somewhat difficult which is a shame as I'd love to have a wee explore. Before we new it we were hitting the town.

The views of Bute and Arran opening up as we go along

Scary face in the bushes

Looking out west from Bell Bay

Steve at Sheriff's Point

Little Cumbrae

Welcome to Millport with Hunterston A in the background

Millport Bay seems timeless. It's been over 10 years since my last visit but it looks unchanged with its fine array of Victorian "big hooses" looking over the Ayrshire coast. Once we'd had a wee wander it was time for goal number two.

Millport seafront

Earlier this month I had mentioned a list of HuMPs that caught my attention. Well, Cumbrae just happens to have it's very own HuMP Barbay Hill. It was just too much of a temptation. How could I ignore this summit after all it's only 127m with the trig just 20m from the road. Bit of a no brainer. So we headed out of Millport taking the anticlockwise route up to the top of the island. Boy this was hard work and before too long I was pushing the bike. The knee may have been coping fairly well with our slow meander on the flat stuff but it really didn't like the hills despite the bike's excellent gearing. It was worth it though as the views from the top were fantastic. OK it wasn't blue sky but we could see right over to Ben Lomond & the Arrochar Alps to the north as well as having fantastic views over to Bute and Arran. Fantastic. It was all downhill back to Millport

The final pull up to the top of Barbay Hill

Looking north towards the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lomond still with their winter hat on

Steve & I on top of Barbay Hill with one of the Glaid Stones behind

Moddy Arran & the tip of Bute

Trig point on Barbay Hill

Ailsa Craig just visible on the horizon

We had planned to go see the Cathedral to the Isles on the way back into Millport but Steve was going so fast he missed the turning so that'll just have to wait for the next visit. It was time to complete the last part of the journey round the island back to the slip. And there was one last amazing site to be seen on this east shore, Lion Rock. Well impressive geological dyke formation. 

Back at sea level at Kames Bay

Lion Rock

We were back at this slip in perfect time for the ferry back to Largs, four hours after we'd arrived - a tad out on the book time. My knee was feeling it but what a magical day out. To finish the day there was only one thing left to do. We were in Largs after all so that must mean fish, chips and ice cream at Nardini's. Yum yum 

The fantastic Nardini's Cafe - worthy of a visit anytime in Largs

Cumbrae

Kryptonite for the supermoon

If only.........

Cloud is being a total spoilsport here. Not even getting a peak of it.

Ach well, can't have everything. The link below is very informative though about the whole supermoon thing. Thanks Prof Brian Cox for directing me towards it

Kryptonite for the supermoon

Every picture...................

I've been getting used to looking over to Arran but today was a wow moment as the hills were free of cloud and they had their winter hat on still. Well worth sitting back and soaking up the view.

Lunar perigee

If you believe some of the press you'd think that the world is about to end this weekend. OK there are some pretty catastrophic events happening at the moment but blaming the moon is just a bit much. So it's time to hope that the lovely UK weather behaves itself and we can get a chance to get a close up view. And for those who are lucky enough to be out in the wilds enjoying it, I'm not jealous.......................... much

Moon shot taken on 16th March 2011 1722

Getting the HuMP

Whatever type of personality you are, at some point during your life you'll have a tick list. I have some friends who can't get through a single day without compiling and ticking their lists. Others are a tad more conventional with their wish lists. Then I have some hillwalking friends who are ticking that ultimate hill list The Munros. That ain't me.

There is however a list I have discovered that has pricked my imagination and suits my nonsensical personality - The HuMPs. I came across this website http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/ by accident but I was totally sucked in in seconds. I ignored the lists for the Munros and Corbetts but had a wee poke about in the County Tops page to satisfy my curiosity that I had managed to climb to the top of all the counties that I had lived in bar one of the London Boroughs though I do dispute the one for Edinburgh as it's 12 miles from the city centre in the Pentlands and out with what I thought was the city boundary.

Then the HuMPs page really sucked me in. What a great idea to compile a list of hills with a hundred meter drop all round whatever their height is. As there are a few of them and it does take a wee bit of patience to get to the area you want to look at.  Turns out I have already done a few.  So now I am compiling my own modified version of HuMPs to add to my "must do hills" knowing fine well that the likelihood of me ticking them all is about the same odds as me winning the lottery. Still, it's something to aim for..................

Tinto one of Lanarkshire's HuMPs and one of my first hills