Loch Ard and Ghleannain Loch

Keith Michell had wanted to join us on a Las Ramblas Ramble but had to send his & his accomplice's apologies in song.

Gillian, Alison, Bruce, Marion, Neil, Linda, Alfie, Avril, Gary, Johnny,

 June, Dougie, Sasha & Tommy head out by Aberfoyle for a two loch stroll.
Here's Sean with the weather view

"Well Las Ramblas it's going to be a fine day with clear skies
just right for a saunter around the Lochs".

Route

Between the outskirts of Aberfoyle and the foothills of Loch Lomond lies the Great Forest of Loch Ard. The gently corrugated land in the south leading up to the mountainous terrain in the north, together with the sheer scale of the landscape, hides a treasure chest of surprise

Throughout this forest are many lochs and lochans - from the mighty Loch Chon and Loch Ard, to picturesque Lochan a' Ghleannain and tiny Clashmore Loch. Two important rivers - Duchray Water and the Kelty Water - rise here, tumbling down through the forest to join the river Forth.

Totem

Moss

 

Alfie Inspects loch side Art

Loch Ard

March through the Woodland

Gathering at the Apple eating stone

Tommy has no interest in one of his 5 a day

 It's a quandary Fag or Apple?

Loch side Reflection

Alison

Mirror Loch

Time for a Pint in the Forth Inn
http://forthinn.com/

Easdale Stone Skimming 2012

Las Ramblas Stone Skimming Division make the Annual Pilgrimage to the World Stone Skimming Championships on Easdale Island

Unfortunately Harry Nilson was unable to make the journey
due to excessive Alcohol the night before 

Linda,Neil,Sam,Alfie,Kay,Kevin,Jill,Marion & Bruce head over the Atlantic Ocean to
 Trish & Steve's for some stone based shenanigans.
Over to Sean with a window on the weather

"Well Las Ramblas light winds should make for calm waters
a back wall throw may be within reach but wear a fleece".  

Easdale is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. It was once the centre of a thriving Scottish slate mining industry, and one of the disused quarries forms a perfect arena for the World Stone Skimming Championships.

The championships are held every year on the last Sunday in September. Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed 3 skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones.

For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times - it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks.

Looking over the old Pier to Easdale

Ferry leaving Ellenabeich

Let the Competition Begin with the Absurdist Pipe Band 

Alfie takes aim

Jill selects her ammunition



The Dutch have arrived

http://www.stoneskimmingbrouwersdam.nl/

Event winner Ron Long prepares to throw

After going AWOL last year Las Ramblas were relieved to find

 the unassuming Chas had put in an appearance

 

This years Budgie was won by Neil,

Kay was triumphant in the Puffin.

Neil receives the Budgie from Chas & World Champion Ron Long

Budgie Result

Neil 33mtrs
Sam 32mtrs
Kevin 32mtrs
Bruce 31mtrs
Boys 10-15
Alfie 26mtrs

Team
Las Ramblas Ramblers 332mtrs =6^th

Puffin Result
Kay 14mtrs
Jill 10mtrs
Marion 0mtrs


Need accommodation (outside stone skimming weekend)
http://www.garraghmhor.co.uk/index.html
Need a drink,bite to eat in Ellenabeich
http://www.seilislandpub.co.uk/
Need a drink bite to eat on Easdale
http://www.pufferbar.com/
Visit Ron & celebrate his win with him
http://www.ronlongoldtosser.eu/

Ben A'an

Las Ramblas head into the hills

Richard Hawley had arranged to meet us but Lisa pointed him in the the wrong direction we could hear them on a distant peak

Gillian,Alison,Bruce,Marion,June,Dougie,Johnnie

 & eventually Neil,Sam & Alfie

take the well worn path to one of Scotland's Iconic Hills
Sean how's the weather looking

"Weather wise it's looking good for today however if your
standing about in the car park have a hot drink handy"

The start is a small car park on the A821. After parking cross the road and follow the well-engineered path as it climbs initially through forest. The going in places is quite steep,eventually the path leaves the trees and you get your first clear view of the hill.
With the end of the trees the path changes in character and includes a section of steeper ascent through a rocky cleft before the gradient eases again once the more open hillside is reached. From here a great sweep takes you to the summit area from where the magnificent panorama is based on the foreground view Loch Katrine, which can seen almost in its entirety. The backdrop is made up of many mountains, including a good number of Corbetts and Munros, in a great arc from the south to the northwest.

After enjoying the view the best way down is to retrace your steps.

Route

Heading through the Woods

Alison hoping it's not much further to the Top

Looking down on Loch Achray

Alfie claims the summit for Las Ramblas 

Loch Katrine



Discussions begin as to who has brought the best snack's

Dougie & June hold a summit meeting

Ben A'an from Loch Katrine

Time to head back down for a Pint & perhaps a Sticky Toffee Pudding or two in

The Lade Inn.

http://www.theladeinn.com/

The Land O'Burns

Las Ramblas head into Ayrshire for a Sunday stroll

Peter Tosh made the mistake of letting Bunny Wailer navigate

so who knows where they are now

Gillian,Alison,June,Marion & Bruce

head down to Alloway & Dunure
Sean's here with the forecast

"Well Las Ramblas it's clear skies all the way today with fresh coastal winds"

 

Routes

Burns themed weather vane in Alloway

and another

Alison "To a Mouse"

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

Burns Monument

On Brig o' Doon

Brig o' Doon



June & Gillian Promenade in Alloway

Dunure Castle

Sea view

Ailsa Craig

Time for a bite to Eat in the Dunure Inn
http://www.dunureinn.co.uk/

 



Locherwood & Lady Muir Woodland

When Lol Creme heard Sam & the Wrong Bruce couldn't join us today he decided this was not a day out for him. He got in touch with Kevin,Graham & Eric  to let the boy's know the walk wouldn't be the same without them.

Gillian,Alison,Bruce,Marion,Neil,Linda,Alfie,

June,Dougie,Avril & Gary

are joined in Lochwinnoch by Sasha & Tommy

Sean what does the weather have in store for us

"It's going to be a beautiful day today,
 but take care some boggy ground after about 3 miles"

 

There are two quite different types of woodland on this walk. The first is Locherwood Community Woodland, at the start and finish of the walk. This was planted in the mid-1990s as woodland with free access for local people and is a haven for wildlife. The trees are still very young, so it feels very open compared to older woodlands. The trees are mainly native to Scotland – species like oak, birch, ash and rowan.

 The second type of woodland is Ladymuir Forest; this is a much denser plantation of Spruce trees. It is a few years older than Locherwood, having been planted in the mid 1970’s. It also has quite different origins. The woodland was planted for the value of its timber rather than for recreation or nature conservation, and the trees.

Route

Alison

 

A Friend of Beau's

Heading through the woods

Alison & Tommy confident Wellies are the right choice of footwear

Marion discovers the ground is a bit soggy

Neil & Avril extract a fallen comrade

Sticks seem to have become very popular

Alfie joins Marion & June as bog victim No3

Time to head to The Brown Bull for a refreshment or two

Deuchars IPA & a Bite to eat very nice