Читать книгу Walking in the Southern Uplands - Ronald Turnbull - Страница 13
ОглавлениеWALK 2
Ailsa Craig
| Start/Finish | Girvan harbour (NX 184 981) |
| Distance | 2.5km (1½ miles) |
| Ascent | 340m (1110ft) |
| Approx time | 2hrs |
| Terrain | Steep path |
| Max altitude | Ailsa Craig, 338m |
| Maps | Landranger 76 (Girvan); Explorer 317 (Ballantrae) |
| Public transport | Girvan station |
| Access | The author crossed with established boatman Mark McCrindle (www.ailsacraig.org.uk) |
| Parking | Street parking near harbour |
Ailsa Craig is the only island in the world with a variety of onion named after it. And just like an onion it can make you cry – not because of the awkward journey to Girvan and the slightly pricey boat trip, but because even if you extravagantly booked for 3 hours on the island, when it’s time for the boat you haven’t been there nearly long enough.
The boatman will take you right around the island before landing at the pier. Poisoning of the island’s rats has allowed the ground-nesting puffins to recover, while there have always been gulls, gannets and everything else that goes squawk and drops a splat onto the deck beside you. Bring binoculars and a splat-proof hat.
Ailsa Craig north end, with remains of a foghorn tower
The ascent of the island is straightforward, if strenuous. From the pier, head across the island’s small patch of level ground onto a path that slants steeply up left. It zigzags back right to reach the ruined Castle of Ailsa, perched a third of the way up the slope.
Gulls nest alongside the path as it slants up to the right, working up the eastern slope of the island then straight uphill to the trig point, with its magnificent view.
If the summit is in cloud, a compass bearing is useful to ensure you head down the correct slope. Directions other than east lead to a lot of seagulls and possibly a messy and dung-smeared death.
Return down the small path to the cottages near the pier.
A former tramway along the shoreline allows a strangely horizontal walk towards either of the massive abandoned foghorns seen from the cruise around the island.
