Yes Arran

It's been another fairly 'yucky' day here again, so I've posted a photo of Arran taken from the cliff-top walk at Culzean a couple of days ago. Once again, the mysterious Isle haunts me!

Culzean once more

The weather is back to it's its normal dreich way, so here's another couple of photos from Culzean. {Blame the hour of the post for the error}

The first was very close to the fountain, the second is on the cliff-top walk, where the trees tend to be distorted during growth by the wind.

Culzean again

A far better day today and we yomped around the grounds of Culzean (pronounced Cullaine) Castle which was looking good. The first photograph is from the North and the second of the fountain in full flow.

Arran - will it never stop....

The pictures today were taken from the slopes above Brodick Castle.

The first is a view of the main car ferry, MV Caledonian Isles arriving at Brodick Pier. I say the main ferry, since at the height of summer, there is an extra boat laid on.


The second is of Brodick and the bay slightly to the north of the pier.


As this is the main place of habitation in the Island, it gives you an idea of the size of the other villages.

Birds - of the feathered kind

We went walking in Culzean Country Park this morning doing some bird watching. I took this photograph at the swan pond in order to capture the four visible species: Mallard, Cormorant, Gull and Grey Heron (it is much more difficult to spot). There are also 2 Moorhens with chicks and 2 female Mallards with ducklings, but I had to use the binoculars to see them.

The weather was excellent and the Park very quiet, so we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I've posted the all the photos on Flickr (including one of Arran).

Flowers again - it is that time of year

I was at an excellent 21st birthday ceilidh last night and I felt in no fit state today to go photo gathering, so here is one I took a few days ago in Culzean.

Culzean Wood Sculpture

The above pictures show a very fine wood sculpture, Otter Slide, which was commissioned by NTS and placed in this woodland setting.

The piece is by Marvin Elliot who works on the Island of Arran - which I keep showing you pictures of as well!

More Culzean flowers

Yet another rhododendron, but of a different colour.

Spring flowers

It may be a dreaded rhododendron (they tend to crowd out every other plant), but the colours are superb at Culzean again.

I love Culzean in the springtime.....

With apologies for the misquote ..........., but I do love Culzean in the springtime (and the summer and the autumn and the winter).

Here are two photographs of views from Culzean which replicate views you have seen before but at a different season.

The first is of Arran and the second Ailsa Craig.

Corrieshalloch Gorge

Corrieshalloch Gorge is a place you shouldn't miss if at all possible. I'll post a series of my phots on Flickr when I get a chance, but this place is quite spectacular in a 'homely' sort of way. You can comprehend the scale, but not the forces it took to make it!

Walking over the suspension bridge is something not to be missed. I began to think that perhaps I had started suffering from vertigo until I realised the bridge was going up and down and from side to side at the same time. Out of this world!

Robert Burns (2)

The Burns family moved to Lochlie farm, near Tarbolton in 1777 and while at Tarbolton, in 1780, Robert Burns founded the Tarbolton Bachelor's Club to provide diversion "to relieve the weary man worn down with the necessary labours of life."

Tam o'Shanter (5)

Souter Johnie's cottage in Kirkoswald - now a National Trust for Scotland property.

And at his elbow, Souter Johnie,
His ancient, trusty, drouthy cronie

(John Davidson (1728-1806), a cobbler)

Culzean Inhabitant

I thought of giving Chris another view of Arran, this time from Culzean Estate, but decided you might like this close-up instead. This one was in the process of scratching its beak.

Oh, all right, here's the Arran one as well!