Happy New Year

I had hoped to be posting a photograph from today, but the not so good weather is still with us. Here is one from a cold crisp day in January 2003 which I took from the hills above Straiton to cheer us up.



If you followed the link through to the 1841 census, you'll find that boys as young as 10 were Agricultural Labourers as were women of 65.

Straiton

I'm reduced to posting an old photograph today - I've been somewhat busy and haven't quite got round to taking any shots lately.

I thought I'd post a closer one I took of the Straiton Monument several years ago on a wintry day.

Straiton Monument

At the summit of Craigengower (the Hill of Goats in Gaelic), a hill overlooking the village of Straiton, is the obelisk, visible from Blairquhan Castle, which is a monument to Lt Col James Hunter Blair killed at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854.


The above photograph was taken from the same place as the photograph of Blairquhan Castle.

The following photograph, also of the monument, was taken from considerably further north, on the hills between the villages of Kirkmichael and Dalrymple.

Blairquhan Castle

Built between 1821 and 1824, the present Blairquhan Castle [pronounced Blairwhan Castle] is just visible from the Kirkmichael to Straiton Road.

Cloncaird Castle

Cloncaird Castle is easily viewable from the Kirkmichael to Straiton road. As with many of this type of building, it is now selling itself as a wedding venue - with virtually no public transport links.

Straiton - yet again

I know I said yesterday that it was the last photograph of Straiton, but here is one more - of the church.

Straiton

A final posting regarding Straiton. This picture is from the North end of the village to some 'new' houses built around the 1900s.

Straiton again

Another picture of the village of Straiton, this time looking northwards along the main street from the same vantage point. The village Kirk is just down the hill behind the large tree on the center-left.

The white building on the left is the McCandlish Hall.

The photograph was taken from virtually outside the Buck Tearoom - well worth a visit if you are in the area!

Straiton

The village of Straiton is considered by many as the prettiest in Ayrshire, even managing to look good on a fairly bleak day like today. This view is looking southwards along the main street towards where the old manse stands, at the opposite end of the village from the church!

High on the hill behind you can make out the monument to Hunter-Blair. It's a steep climb up to it, but on a good day the views are outstanding.