So far the posts on this blog have mainly followed the linear sequence of my coastal trek, and I rarely repeat or try to ‘improve’ a walk… but, I simply couldn’t resist going back to Carradale. Why?
Firstly, it’s very beautiful. Here’s a photograph of the harbour, with Arran in the distance.
As I feared, from Polliwilline Bay there is no obvious path along the shore, nor along the neighbouring fields. But I’m reassured when I see footprints in the sand. Somebody must have come this way recently. Another coastal walker?
I was rude about Campbeltown in my previous post. True, it’s not an attractive place, but it does have some fine buildings. I walk past a fabulous Art Nouveau cinema overlooking the loch and can’t resist taking several photographs. This wonderful Picture House was built in 1913 and is still showing feature films today.
The April air is cool and, despite the sunshine, I soon start to feel cold. So I hurriedly finish my snacks and set off down the road. Although I usually find road-walking boring, I’m surrounded by lovely views and time passes quickly. It is wonderful to have Ailsa Craig as a companion again.
There are still a few miles to go before I reach Campbeltown. Over the brow of a hill and I see Ardnacross Bay ahead, and the village of Peninver. Continue reading
I catch the morning bus into Carradale, and walk along a track to meet up with the Kintyre Way and the route of my previous walk. It’s good to see the familiar blue post with its squiggly logo.
Today I set off in high spirits. It’s a Monday and there are buses running along the stretch of road between Carradale and Campbeltown. No need for double-walking today. Yippee! Continue reading
There is a forest above Carradale, but I can’t work out what to call it, because it has a number of names on my map – Brackley Wood, Coronation Wood, Kirnashie Wood, Moineruadh Wood, Gorton Wood, Crow Wood, Ballenmeanach Wood, Century Wood…
The car park sign gives a completely different name – Grianain.
The title of this post is a little misleading, because I haven’t actually reached Grogport yet. But I’m nearly there. I park in the layby where I finished yesterday’s walk, and set out along the road.
Today the sun is shining, but Arran looks misty and mysterious. Every time I see the island, it seems to be wearing a different face. Continue reading
There’s a tiny parking place at the spot where the Kintyre Way leaves the coast road. From here it heads over across the peninsula to the other shore. That’s not the right direction for me…
A waterfall of burning chocolate cascades over my chin. What a shock!
Silly me. The outside of my vacuum flask felt cold, but I should have realised the contents would be hot. That’s the whole point of a vacuum flask! How stupid to have burnt my mouth. (My lips will remain sore and crusty for the rest of the week.)
Shaken, I continue along the forestry road, which mercifully begins to slant downhill. But I know the footpath turns off to the left shortly, and watch out for the sign. A rusted box invites me to leave comments about the Kintyre Way. Yes, of course…
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Report: 1243 Date: 14/5/26 Location: The incident happened on the Dales Way. In the field between the railway line on Lambrook Beck and the Beck houses. This field is in the Dales Way between Sedbergh and Burneside. Rajiv’s post: We were walking on a public footpath on the Dales Way when our path was blocked […]
We published a post recently about being careful while planning new walking routes for fear of meeting cattle Ensuring Safety on a Walking Holiday: Cattle Management – Cattle Safety . This fear is not unusual, and is well founded, we have hundreds of reports where walkers have been frightened or hurt. Below are three recent […]
Report number: 1244 Date: 15/5/26Location: Greywell Hill Estate. Nr Odiham Hampshire. ///reverses.motel.ambitions 1 person no dog Graham’s report: “I was following the bridleway on a bicycle. The cows were 50 yards away from me, I was moving away from them when they came running towards me. Aggressively charging me, pawing the ground with their hooves. […]
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 