Day 130 Ayr to Girvan

 

Date: Saturday 6^th July 2013   Distance: 25.37 Miles

 

We parked at Ayr station where the fee was £3 but reclaimed when purchasing a ticket. We bought one each for the journey back from Girvan. After walking some of the one way system we eventually reached the sea where we then cycled on the pavement (cycleway). I must have counted more than 70 swans, where freshwater met the sea, just the other side of the promenade. Yesterday there were many ducks at a similar point washing in the clean water and drinking.

This picture shows Greenan castle in the background and numerous swans.

 

Taking cycle route 7 we were led up past the picturesque ruin of a castle. There was quite a bit of climbing with lovely sea views. The wild roses especially the purple smelled delightful.

 

10 miles out was another castle again looking out to sea.  Dunure Castle looked to be more a fortified medieval house with grassy slopes around it to sit and picnic with provision also for barbeques. This has been a ruin for 300 years but in the 1200s it was an important stronghold with a keep, still surviving in part, built into the precipice and lower buildings added later to the non seaward side. A doo cote still stands beside it. You can walk in and around the ruins free of charge though there is a fee for the car park. Dunure Castle belonged to the Kennedy’s, earls of Cassilis who later were famed for Culzean Castle.

 

Culzean belongs to the National Trust for Scotland and we cycled the long drive deep into its grounds about 12 miles after leaving Ayr. The 18th century castle designed by Robert Adam has a dramatic cliff-top setting and an estate of 600 acres. We enjoyed the inside, particularly the entrance hall with its 800 used flintlocks and 400 swords arranged in patterns all around the walls. It certainly had a wow factor. I was amazed by the Wedgewood style friezes around the ceilings in muted blues, greens and pinks just like the china. There was a beautifully made rocking cradle that could have also been a usable boat. The lord was interested in boat building and this encapsulated the fact. One of the ceilings was decorated using papier- mache- so smooth it was hard to believe!

There was good food at the visitor centre, especially the enormous cream cakes. Watchful eyes were needed to save them from the sparrows if you ate outside. We were sorry to miss the power house where they had perilously made their own gas. Eccentrically in the past a cannon was set off at 8am everyday and the shot landed in the sea, only to be retrieved if it was washed ashore.

We rode out past the beautiful walled garden where a vinery is warmed by fresh manure. We looked at the swan pool but unfortunately there were only ducks. Apparently this is a good place for bats and otters are seen in the pool. An adventure playground, ice-cream hut and toilets are nearby.

 

Out of the park we came to Turnberry where there were posh golf facilities and a large organised rugby tournament on the beach. The latter caused a glut of cars on the road and we were against the wind so not so pleasant. We arrived in Girvan just in time for the 2.33 train back to Ayr.

 

With time to kill we looked around the town after securing the bike back in the car. Quiet, a bit drab we were disappointed and decided to go to Robbie Burns cottage at Alloway just north of Ayr. A short walk away is a museum dedicated to him also. The cottage is stark but we enjoyed the museum. On route to it was a path lined with 10 iron fretwork weather vanes depicting Burn’s poem Tam o Shanter. We also liked the 2 metre brass mouse. I feel inspired to learn more about the bard. I never realised he had written so many lyrics to songs I knew. Unfortunately the museum closed at 5.30 or we would have stayed longer.

We had a vain search back along some of today’s route to find a real ale pub and then ended up eating at the premier Inn where we stayed another night.