Loch Doon and Loch Cornish

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On a bright, cold Sunday in October, we ventured down to Ayrshire to explore the area around Loch Doon. We arrived just in time for lunch and, although the ospreys which nest nearby had departed for warmer climes some months before, we still enjoyed watching them via video as we ate in the Roundhouse Café.

The view across the loch from the café is very pretty, and there is an interesting walk along the Ness Glen which leaves from its door. However, this was the day after the clocks went back and we knew it would get dark early. There was more we wanted to see along the road, including a castle, so we decided to save this walk for another day.

Loch Doon Castle looks ancient – and it is, but all is not what it seems. The castle was built in the early 14th century on an island in the loch. In the 1930s, the loch was dammed for a hydro-electric scheme and the water level rose. To save the castle, it was moved stone by stone and re-erected in its present site on the shore. Impossible to tell!

Loch Doon from the castle

Just after the castle we took the winding, gravelly road that is Carrick Forest Drive. It was beautiful with some lovely viewpoints – and you might recognise the adventure playground which appeared a couple of weeks ago in my Walking the line post. I’m not entirely sure why one of the trees was dressed for Christmas in October …

At the end of the drive is Stinchar Bridge from where a circular walk climbs up through the forest to Cornish Hill and Loch Cornish. We decided we had just enough time to do this before sunset. (NB the name has nothing to do with Cornwall: the best explanation I can find is that it is an anglicisation of Loch Coire an Eas: the lake of the corrie of the waterfall.)

Stinchar Bridge
Stinchar Bridge

First, we followed the path through the mossy, fungi-rich forest.

Cornish Hill trail
Carrick Forest
Fungi in Carrick Forest
Fungi in Carrick Forest
Carrick Forest
Carrick Forest

Climbing upwards, we emerged onto open moorland before reaching the top of Cornish Hill. The autumn colours were stunning looking down to the loch.

On Cornish Hill
On Cornish Hill
Cornish Loch from Cornish Hill
Cornish Loch from Cornish Hill

We descended to, and crossed, the loch’s outflow (Water of Girvan) before climbing through trees and moorland again, then descending to a forest track which meets up with the forest drive a short distance from where we had parked our car.

Loch Cornish
Water of Girvan at Loch Cornish
Water of Girvan at Loch Cornish
Descending from Cornish Hill
Descending from Cornish Hill

It was still light, but only just – the 1.5 hour drive home was mostly in the dark. Once again, Scotland had amazed me with a lovely day out in a place within 60 miles of home which I’d never visited before. We’ll definitely be back – we still have Ness Glen to walk.

Scotland, UK , , , , ,

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  5. Beautiful photos, Anabel. Especially the last ones of your walk up the hill. I can tell you just made it back to the car before dusk – the light is stunning. BTW, I had no idea ospreys are migratory birds (in Scotland).

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  8. What a picturesque walk! I’m still getting used to the time change too – since I’ve moved house I now live close enough to walk to work, and walking home in complete darkness at 5pm isn’t the greatest, especially as the street lights are fairly patchy along most of my walk. It’s not that it’s an unsafe area, but I have a long black cloak/jacket thing that I’ve been wearing a lot lately and I worry about how visible I am in it, so I’m always extra careful when crossing roads in case cars can’t see me in my goth splendour!

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  10. I hate it when the clocks go back and the nights draw in early – even earlier where you live. But autumn has it’s pleasures and looks like you had a good day for your walk.

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  15. I have not given any thought to clocks changing time around our planet. I think there may be different rules in different areas. OMgoodness on moving a castle. It would be interesting to find out how long this took and how many people were involved. The mossy, fungi area does look like some of the areas around us. Likely, all of the rain. Spectacular setting and scenery! Thanks for sharing “my visit” to Scotland, Anabel.🙂

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  22. I love the autumnal colours and the vivid greens of the mosses Anabel. Beautiful walk, and you’re right, a reminder that there’s a lot to be seen close to home.

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  23. I missed your walks but I am back…It’s Birgit, in case it doesn’t show. I love the forested area and the one picture with all the moss makes me feel like I might see fairies. I also love seeing the tall trees. Amazing how the people could get together and move the castle and set it up exactly like it was

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  25. What a beautiful hike…and a great reminder for me to get out and explore trails near me that I have not yet been to. Thank you for sharing this rich and interesting history. I cannot begin to imagine moving a castle stone by stone!

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  28. Wow Anabel, I think all of these pics are stunning. I love the roundhouse which puts me in mind of the ones I see in Gambia, West Africa where I regularly visit.
    Thank you so much for sharing a part of beautiful Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

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