May 30th Barassie beach, blue skies and a saltire in the sky

Another glorious day and we took a walk along the beach, deserted as you can see but up in the blue skies a saltire, a good omen.

May 28th Cumbrae ferry a fine sight on a nice day

This has to be one of my favourite sights ever. On a lovely blue sky day like this a short Calmac ferry crossing from Largs to Cumbrae and a stroll around its 10 miles outer path, you cannae beat it. PS. Glad Calmac won the ferry tender.

May 27th Arran has disappeared, sun NOT rain

Out for our walk along the beach today and Arran has disappeared. For once this year it is the sun haze that is the culprit and not the rain.

May 26th Penwhapple Turbines grey day all round

Had my 2nd visit of the season to Penwhapple and what a grey miserable day it was with constant rain and very strong easterly winds. It felt like a March day at the beginning of the season.There were 6 other guys fishing in the morning but they had all disappeared by lunchtime, wise men. This grey picture including the horrendous wind turbines blotting the landscape sums it up. PS: I did catch  3 fish but was glad to head home.

May 25th Whooper Swan Castle Semple

Today's wander was around Castle Semple water at Lochwinnoch which still has some whooper swans around. I assumed that they would have been off a while ago but maybe they are residents now, too well fed by visitors.

May 24th Troon beach

We actually had a brief glimpse of the sun today so out on the bike for a local ride. Down at Troon beach not warm enough for many sunbathers, you might just spot the grandstands on the right, Royal Troon, the Open is coming.

May 23rd Daisies common or not

It seems that such a common plant is also a relative rarity these days, so much so that it stood out to me as a memory of the year worth preserving. Just after I took the snap the council gardener appeared and cut the grass taking all the daisies with him!!

May 22nd Tides out

I don't run much these days but went out for an early morning jog today and the beach was deserted, no dog walkers, highlighted even more by low tide exposing more beach.

May 21st Horse are you looking at me?

The weather is still cool and this one still had its coat on whilst it was munching away. Gave me a look as if to say ' are you looking at me' only photos if you give me some food. Sorry!

May 20th Stone Art

My good lady enjoys painting and likes to collect flotsam from the shore to act as inspiration as well as use as the painting medium. This Tibetan stone painting on a rock from the Holy Isle might be something to aspire to.

Holy Isle

May 19th Prize money spent

Following on from yesterday's post I managed to pick up two Talisker special malt whiskies. Firstly the Talisker Port Ruighe and the Talisker Skye. I got good deals on both so still enough funds in the kitty for a good bottle of port.

May 18th Manager of the Year

Today's memory is undoubtedly being presented with my winnings for topping our Barclays Fantasy Football league for the season. A runaway victory taken hard by some of my competitors particularly as it was my first season in the league. The cash will be turned into Talisker malt whisky tomorrow.

May 17th Floral path to Glen Dubh

On Arran I was walking into Glen Dubh. The track begins near the Auchrannie Spa resort but quickly you are walking along a beautiful wood path with the flowers blooming either side of you. Even better I soon spotted a golden eagle up the glen, yahoo. 

Floral track to Glen Dubh

May 16th Viking graffiti Holy Isle

On the Holy Isle just off Arran there is a cave where St Molaise lived for 20 years, a spartan life indeed. However, within the cave there are scratchings into the rockface, some of which are attributed to the Viking invaders as well as a more modern Celtic Cross. Fascinating to be able to stand at a spot in time where these people also stood. It may be the Norse were pilgrims not warriors.

Norse scratchings Holy Isle

May 15th. Are you brave enough, not me!

Just outside Pitlochry you cross a modern road bridge taking traffic towards the Queens View, Loch Rannoch etc. Most people crossing over do not realise that underneath the bridge you can bungee jump from this platform, the view below being the River Garry. Good on you if you can but no I'm not brave enough, a real feartie.

May 14th. Edinburgh from Arthurs Seat

When you walk Arthurs Seat in full you get some fantastic views of Edinburgh from the crags. If you get the chance just do it.

May 13th Glen Tilt by MTB

Glen Tilt is up there with the top 5 glens in Scotland traversing from Blair Atholl to Braemar. I was mountain biking part of the glen today and although I thought that I was fit for my age this was hard particularly as a 20-30 mph wind was right in my face for the uphill section. Only when I checked my GPS upload did I realise I had climbed just under 2000 feet, two thirds of a Munro. Still wild and remote a thrill and an experience, I didn't meet another walker or biker.

Glen Tilt

May 12th The golden ferns are awakening

Birnham hill was my walk for today, a beautiful smallish hill in Perthshire just outside Dunkeld. The walk was interesting in many ways but one such was the emergence of the ferns, golden orange, the same colour they will be when they change from green in the autumn, nature at its best.

Golden ferns Birnham Hill

May 11th Loch Bhac do you want to fish here?

Today, I was able to get my first trip of the year to this outstanding location to hopefully catch a fish (you need to read my full angling blog to find out). Magnificent views across the hills of Glen Tilt & Fender. Good wading most of the way round. Cuckoos calling all day, I reckon at least 3 at the one time. Plus the osprey visited late afternoon. Who wouldn't want to fish here, you would be odd if you didn't?

Loch Bhac

May 10th Rannoch station cafe the most unique cafe in Scotland

There are many special cafes in Scotland but this one is my number one. For a start it is located in one of the most picturesque areas of Scotland and after a long drive it is a dead end. It is also a working station, when I was sat down a freight train was waiting for the passenger train to come through which stopped on the other platform. A cuckoo called constantly for a partner and we viewed at close quarters red deer and eagles. By the way as well as the stunning views the food and drink is none too shabby, look at my carrot cake. PS. it is closed on Fridays.

Rannoch Station cafe

May 9th River Ayr the salmon are moving

The salmon have started to enter the rivers of south west Scotland. There are no reported catches yet for this River Ayr and looking at these conditions it will need some heavy water to get them moving. But they have been seen just upriver from this spot (near Enterkine viaduct) leaping the weir at Stair (the weir features in a winter snap of the day in this blog). Soon be time to dust off the salmon gear.

River Ayr salmon are here

May 8th Tall trees Dumfries house

Out for a walk on a glorious day going through the grounds of Dumfries house. Plenty of workers around a busy development. One of the highlights for me are the amazing tall trees all through the woods and this is a cracking example of them.

Tall tree

May 7th Mossroddich Loch a little fishing gem

I had the pleasure to fish Mossroddich loch today. This was my first visit and I was delighted with this little gem. Only a small water but boy did the fish fight. Caught nine, lost three of them and one broke my leader. Other 6 returned to fight another day. Also had an osprey, regular red kites and a pair of buzzards. A cracker of a find.

Mossriddoch loch

May 6th White Bluebells

We always have a good display of bluebells in the garden at this time of year but this year we have rather a lot of white ones. The internet suggests these are relatively rare, the blue pigment not fully developing apparently, well there are plenty here.

White Bluebells

May 5th One reason not to drink water from a hill stream

The picture to remember today is not a very pleasant one but it does have an important message and a memory of the year. When out hillwalking I do fill my bottle from time to time from clear running hill waters. But this is a real example of what just might be lying in one of these further uphill bringing possible nasty side effects. Interestingly the rest of the carcass was only a short way away but totally cleaned to the bones.

May 4th Troon Angling Club hut

For yet another day the wind has been around 30 mph with even stronger gusts. I almost got blown off my bike twice this morning with the gusts coming straight off the sea. I had planned to fish this afternoon at Collennan but no chance of casting safely. The chop on the water would have done the waves on the sea proud. I did walk upto the water and the fishing hut was as close as I got to fishing.

Troon Angling club hut

May 3rd Troon's hidden dirty secret

Troon is known as a slightly upmarket coastal town, a pleasant place to live. However, at the back of the town hidden from view is Hillhouse Quarry, as you can see a substantial rock quarry carved into the countryside and this is only part of it, not pretty at all. And for good measure the industrial paper mill has been thrown into the picture, another blot on the landscape.

Hillhouse quarry Troon

May 2nd Blue is the colour

I thought that I had missed the bluebells flowering this year when we were away in Tenerife but a walk in the woods today revealed a good growth, not quite at their best but nice to see.

Bluebell

May 1st Birthday

It is the first of a new month and a family party to remember. The birthday girl looks pleased with her new mode of transport. 

Learner driver

Apr 30th Conic Hill

Dragged the good lady out for her first hill climb of the year. We went up Conic Hill at Balmaha, a straight forward hill with magnificent views over Loch Lomond, the Campsies, the Arrochar hills, the Luss hills plus the magnificent Ben Lomond, what more do you want.

Conic hill summit Ben Lomond behind