Irvine Bogside and Garnock Floods

There were a lot of options on offer today from Air na Creagan Mountaineering Club with other members off having adventures in Glen Shiel and the Mamores.

We'd opted to stay local doing a walk on Irvine Bogside and Garnock Floods which Alan L has been enticing us with.

Irvine station was the start point for Alan L, Eleanor, Gail, Steve, Tracey, Noah and Honey dog. The first section of the walk follows the National Cycle Route 7 which also doubles up with the Ayrshire Coastal Path. When you get to Irvine Golf Club, it's time to leave the NCR7 and head over to Irvine Bogside SSSI. This also happens to have the abandoned Irvine Bogside Racecourse which used to host the Scottish Grand National.

Heading south on the old racecourse track

You really feel like you are in the middle of nowhere as you make your way round the old track looking over the River Garnock to the Ardeer peninsula and the now empty Big Idea.

Looking over the River Garnock to the Big Idea

Noah testing out one of the old racecourse jumps

We soon hit a section of woodland which the local ornithologists rate for seeing owls. Today though we take the middle path to head over to another abandoned feature - the old MOD munitions magazines. En route there are a number of ponds where the local swans are enjoying a quiet time.

Abandoned munitions magazines

The magazines were still fairly well preserved. Noah was having a great time exploring.

Thick walls filled with sand

The spooky corridor

Now empty munitions store room

After the magazines we were back on the bank of the River Garnock where there was evidence of the old field systems.

We were soon back onto the NCR7 making our way back to central Irvine.

Good to eventually get out to this little used area. Thanks Alana L for being the local guide.

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