This is the road to Muirshiel at the mile marker [1 mile to go!]. It was a beautiful morning a week ago, and I couldn't resist stopping to take some photos on my way to work - nice route eh! There is a small parking area at the trees on the right [an old 'guarry' area - but quite small. Enough for a couple of cars to stop.
The hills are just past their best as the heather bloom was a few weeks ago and only lasted for a couple of weeks - just when it was raining all the time!!
The brown stuff in the foreground is braken which can rapidly take over hillsides and smother the 'natural' vegetation.
The River Calder flows down the valley towards Lochwinoch and the riversides are quite steep as it cuts its way down. This means that cheep are excluded and therefore the trees get the chance to grow past eating height!
At the end of the road is the Muirshiel Visitor Centre. There are some huge Chestnut trees all around the centre and carpark, a remnant from when the area was a private Victorian shooting estate - and the trees were part of the garden policies.
Patch had a lovely patrol on Tuesday morning up to the Windy Hill Gate, at Muirshiel. He had a bit of company too - a young springer spaniel called Buster, who had only been up to the park once before. Patch and he had a great time running around after balls, and then, when they got up on the trail proper - running around sniffing out all the exciting scents they could find, but always staying within sight of their owners!! 
It was a beautiful autumn day and we did get some lovely photos.
Muirshiel centre - old picnic site.
Another dainty little fungi which is fairly easy to identify. I also found this little clump growing up at Muirshiel.
With the recent wet weather and then a short dry warm spell the fungi have definately started to appear all over the place. I even have some Blackening Waxcaps in my lawn at home.
Not the kind you buy in the sweet shop - these Jelly Babies are a fascinating type of fungi which I spotted growing beside on of the trails at Muirshiel Country Park [ in the hills above Lochwinnoch] last week. Their latin name is Leotia lubrica.
Patch and I took a day trip, heading out on a ferry from Ardrossan. As Patch is a rescue dog, I wasn't sure how he would react on the ship - but as usual he took everything in his stride. However I did go straight upstairs to the outdoor area, so that we could enjoy the sunshine, and see all the views!
We were pretty fast to leave once everyone was on board, they have a VERY fast turn around, despite it being a largish car ferry.
Our destination was hazy on the horizon - the beautiful island or Arran sitting in the Firth of Clyde. I used to spend all my holidays there as a child, setting off with my parents, down to a house they used to rent for the month of July every year. It was always a great adventure - packing all out summer clothes and toys into a large hamper which was then taken to the house by road and rail, ready for us to head down in my dad's car to Ardrossan and over the sea to Arran. We used to have a competition, usually about the time we got to Kilmarnock, to see which of us [me or my brother] would see the sea first! Once we got to Ardrossan it was onto the ferry and up on deck to feed the seagulls, and then hang over the side watching the waves until we got closer and closer to the island and the pier at Brodick. Then straight to our rented house to unpack and then get to the beach as quickly as possible!! We used to have breakfast as a family, and unless we were going a trip somewhere on the island, we would head off to the beach, until lunchtime, and either go home or to our beach hut which we always hired for the month. Over the years the line of beach huts seemed to dwindle, as some of the winter storms caused damage, or they were damaged by being moved. They were really great, as we kept all our beach stuff in them, plus it was a place to get change easily. You also made friends with the people who had the huts next to you too! Anyway those were very happy days - especailly as we used to spend the entire month of July there - arriving on the 1st and leaving on the 31st. We always wanted to get the earliest boat to arrive and always the last boat to leave, if we could.
So heading over on the ferry always brings back those very happy memories, of long summer days and practically complete freedom.
When we arrived on the island, the others [my brother and lady friend] wanted to visit Lamlash, so we took a bus over the hill to the sailing haven of Lamlash. Protected by the rising mass of Holy Isle from any storms it was always busy with boats of all kinds. I can even remember a few naval ships being moored out in the deeper water in the 60's!
Some of the trails are in 'mature' wooded areas, others are through young plantations, and yet others go through areas of cleared conifer woods which have been replanted with native deciduous trees.The river Clyde flowing past Dumbarton with the snow-topped highland hills in the distance behind. That is the snow-covered tip of Ben Lomond showing on the right of the picture Spring morning 2008
Loch Thom and spring clouds 2008. A beautiful clear , stil, sunny but cold spring day in Scotland. This is the area I am working in for this summer - lucky me!!
Having fun on a stormy beach! Patch playing with his ball and ignoring the surf and the very strong winds.
I got a little bit of video of Patch standing head into the wind , and all his fur was being continuously ruffled up!
Castle Semple Loch flooding over the waterside walkway on the 8th March 2008. There is a concrete walkway underneath the waters edge - probably about half a metre below the surface!! The swans and other waterbirds were sheltering behinf the shrubs down near the white vehicle - as far up on the grass as they could get. When the rain did come - it was horizontal!!
Patch taking a saunter along the Clydeside walkway west of Bells bridge and the Moat Hotel. Unfortunately he decided to use the landscape route - probably much more interesting smells there!
A nicer view of the Waverley waiting for the season to begin again. I really like the way she is moored next to the very futuristic looking Science Centre - a real union of the past, present and future!
The Waverly paddle steamer moored at the Science centre on the Clyde - next to the science tower [which is still closed!]. I took this after an afternoon at the Craft & Hobbies Fair at the SECC, and I needed some fresh air - so went for a walk along the Clyde walkway [which doubles as a cycletrack!] around 4.00pm on a Friday afternoon.
