8th May - Carradale Bay, and the Point

On Tuesday May 8th the weather was not looking inviting. The view from the cottage conservatory was limited by cloud and mist.

By early afternoon it was lifting and we thought a stroll down to the bay and round to Carradale Point was in order. 

We walked a little way along the road in the direction of the main road, and took the track leading down to Port-Righ and the Bay. We turned right away from the Port-Righ path and walked across the wide sandy beach.

The sky was showing more blue by now, as we walked as far as the creek at Waterfoot.

We retraced our steps back along the shoreline, and at the far end turned right along the path towards Carradale Point. There are the remains of a vitrified fort here, though we saw no evidence.

Photographer at work

Ailsa Craig on the horizon, just visible

This short stretch was a bit rough in places, but the views and surroundings were worth the effort. Loads of wild flowers again.

We rounded off the day with an ice cream from a local hotel.

May 7th - 10th Carradale, Kintyre

Part 1 - the journey across

We crossed to Kintyre peninsula by taking the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick on the Isle of Arran.

Before long the east of the the island was basking in the sun, and we drove a short distance south to a car park with a terrific view of Arran's hills, including the highest, Goatfell.

Back into Brodick for the essential coffee, before crossing the island to Blackwaterfoot, and finding more cloud.

Finally we headed north to Lochranza,  The Sandwich Station provided an excellent lunch before the short ferry crossing to Claonaig, on the eastern side of Kintyre. 

 The drive along the single track road south to Carradale took about forty minutes.
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Part 2 - Deer Hill

Monday 7th May, afternoon.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/deer-hill.shtml

We followed the instructions given on the link above, with variations.
The first time I walked the route in reverse, and although the top (230 Meters high) was clear the views were not as good as promised. It had been a rainy morning and the clouds were low. 

Thursday 10th May
We walked up the hill again on a much clearer day. In fact we walked up it twice, combining this with a walk around the lower part of the country park. This made a very good walk of just over ten miles, with about 1400 feet of climbing.

And we had the views - of Carradale Bay, of Arran, of Ailsa Craig and beyond.

Looking back over Carradale Bay

Arran across the water

Ailsa Craig - the rock on the horizon