Around the Clyde

Fairlie Castle

2011-11-11T15:57:00.001Z

We discovered this castle a few days ago! There’s a pleasant walk to it from Fairlie Station or the corner of Castlepark Gardens – you can go up one way and down the other (as we did).

Facing the station, turn onto the narrow footpath to the left, over the bridge, turn right by Argyll Cottage, through a gateway and then follow the path uphill. It’s rocky and a bit slippery when wet with a bit of a drop on the right hand side down to the burn, so take care! You’ll pass lovely little waterfalls and see many wild flowers and birdlife – not to mention the beautiful views back down over the Clyde.

Partway up the path (you can actually continue for a longer walk but I don’t know how far it goes) you’ll come to Fairlie Castle – actually a keep of four levels. There’s no access to the interior as the entrance is blocked up. Now roofless, it’s a plain rectangular tower built in the 15th century. It measures 45ft 5ins by 29ft – I looked that up as I didn’t take a tape measure with me! ;-)

Apparently it was the Ross family who built the Castle; they lived there until the 17th century but by the end of the 19th century, unfortunately, it was nothing more than a ruin.

Below are some of my photos taken along the walk to the castle:

Fairlie Castle at last!

Views from near the castle

There were many wild flowers along the path despite it being November!

Doulton Fountain, Glasgow

2011-09-12T15:02:00.000+01:00

At a height of 46 ft and with a 70 ft basin at the bottom, this is the largest terracotta fountain in the world! Lord Provost Liz Cameron described it in 2005 as “an enduring symbol of Glasgow, Glasgow Green and the redevelopment of the East End”.

Found on Glasgow Green just north of the People’s Palace, this was gifted to Glasgow by Sir Henry Doulton to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It was actually made by students from the Lambeth School of Art for the International Exhibition of 1888. It was originally sited in Kelvingrove Park but moved to Glasgow Green in 1890.

There are five tiers above the basin. There are several groups of statues representing the diversity of the British Empire, and the armed forces. A statue of Queen Victoria stands right at the top – actually a different one to the original which was struck by lightning in 1891.

Over the years the fountain has been renovated, including a £4m refurbishment in 2002.

Glasgow: St Andrew's Suspension Bridge

2011-08-27T16:12:00.001+01:00

What a lovely footbridge this is! We walked over it a few times the other day and took photos, but couldn’t find the name and it wasn’t on my map. I asked a man who was walking his dog. He became very embarrassed when he told me that he had no idea of the name despite living very close to it for over 50 years! However, we both set off in different directions, found plaques nearby bearing the name and doubled back to inform each other!!

It was built in 1856 for factory workers and replaced a small but very busy ferry across the River Clyde, connecting Glasgow Green to the north and Hutchesontown to the south. The engineer was Neil Robson. The chains, pylons and deck are iron and the four fluted Corinthian columns nearly 20ft high. There is a span of 67 metres.

It has apparently been refurbished many times over the years, the most recent being in 1997 when the timber decking was also replaced.

Painted blue in the colour of the St Andrew’s flag, this is altogether a beautiful bridge and well worth a visit!

Clyde Views

2011-07-21T12:04:00.003+01:00

Thanks to my friend, Alvan, who recently sent me these lovely photos from his collection, all taken in August 2010!

The beautiful Isle of Arran across the water

Mid-river looking towards Gourock and Dunoon in the distance

The Waverley Paddle Steamer berthed at Rothesay Pier

A. J. Cronin Biography Update

2011-07-19T08:05:00.008+01:00

As it would be A J Cronin's birthday today (he was born 19th July 1896) I wanted to give an update about the wonderful new biography by Alan Davies. I now have my copy!! It is skilfully written and extremely interesting for anyone who loves Cronin's works. You will not find more details or more fascinating photos of his life anywhere else and I can highly recommend this book.

Please see my previous blog about this which shows some of the places where you can buy your own copy - click here

Greenock Cut Waterfall 2011

2011-06-08T21:05:00.007+01:00

Wow, what terrible winds there were in Scotland on the 23rd May this year!! We went to the Greenock Cut for a walk with a friend and were nearly blown away. It was really dangerous and we almost fell into the water. Then we had a lot of trouble getting back to Largs in the car because of all the branches which had blown across the road.

Here's a short video of the waterfall before the wind became too strong - we could still stand upright at this stage!! I was going to add music but then thought I'd leave the wind noise! Unfortuately I wasn't able to take more photos as we just wanted to concentrate on getting home safely.

"FREAK winds tore down trees, knocked out power supplies, and caused travel chaos and structural damage across Inverclyde yesterday. Gale-force gusts battered the district throughout the day, leaving a trail of debris in their wake, and causing a catalogue of problems. The Met Office issued a weather warning as gusts of up to 70mph hit the area. A spokesman described the weather across the west coast as 'exceptionally windy', adding that some particular exposed areas experienced gusts of up to 80mph." (Source: Greenock Telegraph)

Gourock: Cardwell Bay 2011

2011-06-01T15:18:00.008+01:00

I really enjoyed going to Cardwell Bay again to take some photos!
This is a mixture of shots from the railings, down on the sand and some views across the water.

It was a bonus to see the rainbow!

The steps were of great interest to me - I recognised them as the old steps we used to access the beach way back in the 1950s! Click here to see them in my photos from the old days.

Largs: New Pier

2011-06-01T13:59:00.006+01:00

It was wonderful to be back in Largs last week! Here are some of my photos of the new pier, opened in August 2010 by HRH Princess Anne.

Above: from the pier looking across to Cumbrae

View of Largs from the pier

Below is a great video (I hope it will remain available for some time) showing the grand opening of the pier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yYR9iufneE

Click here for my photos of the old pier taken on my previous visit to Largs

Innellan: The Snug

2011-02-05T20:00:00.009Z

Where we stayed a couple of years ago - a few miles down the coast road at Innellan. A very comfortable little detached house, ideal for a couple wanting to 'get away from it all'!

The lounge and kitchen are upstairs, with the bedroom and bathroom downstairs. Everything is clean, well equipped and comfortable with bedding and towels provided. We searched for ages for a self-catering place on this side of the Clyde and could find nothing as good as this (or at such a good price)! There is a TV/DVD player, radio and lots of extras too, including books and games for rainy days or cosy evenings!

Below: the lane leading to The Snug

The coast road beside Trinity Lane

and, looking in the opposite direction, the wonderful Clyde view

I'd definitely recommend The Snug as a lovely quiet place to stay!

See the owners' website - click here

A. J. Cronin - New Biography

2010-08-28T15:00:00.008+01:00

Wonderful News! This first full biography comes out this October by the author, Alan Davies, entitled, 'A. J. Cronin, the Man who created Dr Finlay'; definitely not to be missed by anyone who loves Cronin's works.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'A. J. Cronin, author of some of the best-loved novels of the mid-twentieth century and the creator of Dr Finlay, has been unjustly overlooked by literary biographers. In this, the first full-length life of this eminent but often neglected writer, Alan Davies recounts the story of Cronin's Scottish childhood as the son of a Protestant mother and Catholic father, his subsequent medical career, and ultimately his rise to literary prominence, emphasizing throughout the importance of holding at arm's length many of the apocryphal tales that have accumulated around the memory of the author of "Hatter's Castle", "The Citadel" and "The Stars Look Down", many of which are based on mistaken autobiographical readings of Cronin's fiction itself. Incorporating an account of Cronin's tempestuous relationship with his publisher, Victor Gollancz, and revelations about his private life, Davies' timely and moving book paints a clearer portrait of both Cronin the writer and Cronin the man than the world has hitherto seen.

About the Author:

Born in Pontnewydd in South Wales, Alan Davies read Anthropology at University College London. After a career in industry, he turned to writing and the study of the life and works of A J Cronin, one of his lifelong passions. He has two children and lives in Shropshire with his wife.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some places on line where you can buy this book (needless to say, I have already pre-ordered my own copy!) For those ordering from a local store, the ISBN number is 9781846881121

Alma Books

WH Smith

Amazon (UK)

Amazon (USA)

House Sale Update

2010-08-28T14:27:00.004+01:00

After three and a half months of marketing, no one has bought our home in South Wales - in fact, no one has even been to view it! It looks more and more as though we won't be moving to the Firth of Clyde in the near future. Very disappointing :-(

House Price Increase

2010-05-14T09:19:00.016+01:00

Our house went on the market yesterday! If it sells then we should be able to move to Scotland before too long. However, the latest news about property prices rising so high (and so fast) is very worrying and will make things difficult for us:

"INVERCLYDE Has Biggest House Price Rise
(04 May 2010)

AVERAGE property prices in Inverclyde in the first three months of 2010 increased by more than anywhere else in Scotland.Figures from the Government’s Registers of Scotland show that house prices in Inverclyde between January and March rose by 27.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2009.

The average price of a property went up almost £30,000 from £102,493 to £130,856.This was the highest increase in Scotland. Argyll and Bute had the next highest increase – 18.8 per cent. The average Scottish rise was 5.4 per cent and the Scottish average house price was £147,854.

Inverclyde had a 0.8 per cent house price increase between the final quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, compared with a fall in the Scottish average price of five per cent."

(Source: 'Inverclyde News')

Greenock Cut - Heritage Walk

2010-04-29T21:26:00.010+01:00

I was delighted today to see my photo (above) of Shielhill Farm and the Greenock Cut in May's edition of the magazine, 'Scottish Memories', thanks to the historian, Nate Pedersen. It appears in his article 'A Walk Through Time' as one of his recommended ten heritage walks.

Information about the magazine can be found here

The photo appeared originally in my first blog 'The Greenock Cut', (there is some information about its history too) and there are many more of my photos in 'Greenock Cut 2'.

Largs in the 1930s

2010-04-14T19:57:00.005+01:00

A few interesting postcards - not my own photos as I'm not that old!

The Viking Cinema in Gogoside Road, sadly demolished in 1983

Ardentinny

2010-02-28T16:45:00.007Z

Not far from Strone (see my last blog) on the banks of Loch Long, 14 miles from Dunoon. A little further from the Firth of Clyde but is part of the general area and group of places I've written about here recently. What a nice day we had for this drive from Dunoon, around the lovely Holy Loch, to Kilmun, Strone, Ardentinny - and then through the impressive Glen Finart to Loch Eck!

The shoreline at Ardentinny, very picturesque and tranquil

Below, looking across the waters of the loch to Coulport and, since the 1960s, the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, part of HMNB Clyde.

Below, the road to the Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre

I'm running out of my own photos to use for this blog but hopefully it won't be long until I'm back to take lots more! In the meantime I'll be uploading some old postcards of the area fairly soon.

Strone

2010-02-13T15:44:00.007Z

We had a lovely sunny day for a drive around to Strone and beyond. All my photos were taken on the pier, sadly derelict now for many years, although it was once a regular stop for Clyde steamers. Strone is very close to Kilmun (see my previous blog) and is where the north shore of the Holy Loch becomes the west shore of the Firth of Clyde.

Above, an old photo of Strone on a postcard, from around the early 1900s

Kilmun and David Napier

2010-02-04T16:43:00.005Z

A few photos taken at Graham's Point, Kilmun, on the shore of the Holy Loch, where it meets the Firth of Clyde. It was once a popular watering place for Glasgow merchants after a quay was built by David Napier (1790-1869), the famous engineer who is thought to have been one of the best builders of marine engines in Scotland.

It's a great spot to stop and admire the wonderful views!

The children's play park at Graham's Point and a poem about David Napier

(Click on photo to enlarge)

You can read an interesting account of his work, and the development of steam powered ships, written by his grandson, here

There is also an interesting piece about him on this page and I quote a sentence from it below:

"Robert Napier of Shandon, who succeeded to his business when he went to London, enjoys most of the credit today, but David Napier was the actual pioneer of the modern shipbuilding industry of the Clyde"

Isle of Bute: Ferries

2010-01-30T16:24:00.007Z

Two Caledonian MacBrayne ferries operate between the mainland and the island, one from Wemyss Bay in Inverclyde and the other from Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula to Rhubodach in the north of the island.

My photo below shows the MV Loch Dunvegan at Colintraive getting ready for the five minute crossing over the narrowest part of the Kyles of Bute

Below, the ferry, MV Bute, coming into Rothesay from Weymss Bay.

Alas, this completes my collection of Bute photos until I can visit again
(hopefully sometime this year)!

The Caledonian MacBrayne website is found here

Isle of Bute: Rothesay Harbour

2010-01-17T14:58:00.006Z

Some of my photos taken around the harbour and pier

A short video from the pier (with a bit of unavoidable wind noise!)

Isle of Bute: Rothesay Esplanade

2010-01-09T11:25:00.009Z

A few of my photos taken on the Esplanade (there's a bit of overlap between this and my next blog of the harbour area)

Isle of Bute: Rothesay Winter Gardens

2009-12-25T22:04:00.016Z

When I began this blog I thought the Winter Gardens was the name given to the formal gardens alongside the Esplanade in Rothesay. I've now found out that it's actually the Grade A listed building in my photos below. Built in 1924, many famous music hall entertainers performed here. Redeveloped in the 1990s, it's now called The Discovery Centre, housing the tourist information office and shop, a 90-seat theatre/cinema, and restaurant.

The surrounding gardens are very attractive and well looked after.

The statue of Alexander Bannatyne Stewart (1836-1880), Convenor of Bute. He gave thousands of pounds of his own money to charities on the island and cultivated flowers at his house, Ascog Hall, growing superb varieties of orchids.

The statue is in a bit of a mess but there's not much that can be done to stop seagulls from standing on his head!

This one was drinking water from a hole on the putting green - I just missed a better photo when his whole head disappeared down the hole!

The Rothesay coat of arms on a post near the Winter Gardens

Isle of Bute: Ettrick Bay

2009-12-18T14:53:00.008Z

Another beautiful bay, perhaps the most beautiful on Bute, 3 miles west of Rothesay on the opposite coastline.

A stranded kite

Below is the Ettrick Bay Tearoom which had actually just closed when we arrived, to our disappointment, it being quite late in the day. However, the owner, Alex Gibson, who was inside baking amazingly large lemon meringue pies, actually opened up to allow us some welcome coffee and cakes, which we appreciated very much. There is a photo of him on the tearoom website here. (Next time we are on Bute we will come here for lunch because the food is renowned and Alex is an experienced and excellent cook. The menu was very enticing!)

Geoffrey enjoying his coffee. This was just before our smiles vanished as I lost my car keys and we were sure I'd locked them in the boot of the car. It was very kind of Alex to help us search for them - they were found eventually after I went back and forth between the car and the cafe several times. What a carry on!!

Isle of Bute: Kilchattan Bay

2009-12-16T15:50:00.012Z

We had a short but delightful visit to this deserted bay, just two and a half miles from the southernmost part of the island. My photos were taken at the very end of the narrow coast road, near the bus turning area and the shingle beach.

View across the water

The colours of the rocks and pebbles are beautiful, particularly the red sandstone (I brought back a small piece!) There was a lot of different insect life close to the shore.

A Rosy Rustic Moth (Hydraecia micacea)

I was actually holding the ragwort stem quite close to the flower head, to stop it waving about in the breeze, but the moth didn't seem to mind!

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Very pretty butterfly but harder to photograph than the moth. As always, I could have done with extra time to take more photos!

Isle of Bute: Blackpark Stone Circle

2009-11-23T11:34:00.006Z

Incredibly atmospheric and well worth a visit (we loved discovering them!), these three standing stones are all that remain of the original seven. They are surrounded by forestry plantation and composed mainly of quartz which explains their glittery appearance when seen at close quarters. One of the stones has been split by frost.

They aren't difficult to find: not far from the village of Kingarth, drive south along the A844, soon turning left onto a B road which runs down the centre of the peninsula. Continue along here until you see a signpost on the left pointing towards a forest track (it's possible to park here at the side of the road). The stones are found a short distance along here on the right on the edge of the Blackpark Plantation (hence the name of the stones).

Dunoon: Sandbank and Holy Loch

2009-11-10T11:51:00.016Z

Ardnadam is part of Sandbank and has the longest pier around the Firth of Clyde (200 ft/60m long), not shown to its best advantage in my photo above, unfortunately (click to see larger). Built in 1858, it was used as a steamer pier. Prior to the First World War, there was actually a regular daily service of 15-20 pleasure steamers which called at Ardnadam Pier for the benefit of locals and tourists! During World War Two the loch was used by the Royal Navy for exercises and a submarine base. From 1961 (amid great controversy) it was used by the US Navy for various vessels and as home to the Polaris nuclear submarines until it was decommissioned in 1992. (At the bottom there are links to web pages where more detailed information can be found)

Along the shore road is Lazaretto Point and the beautiful 35 ft high circular memorial to the dead of both world wars. It was designed by architects from Greenock and the work carried out by a Dunoon builder. The opening ceremony took place in 1922. The memorial includes a later plaque which commemorates the six submarines which left from the Holy Loch which, like its men on board, never returned.

The view at Lazaretto Point across Ardnadam Bay and the Holy Loch is really superb. The point takes its name from the quarantine station built in 1807 during the Napoleonic wars.

There was once a ferry which ran from here across the Holy Loch to Kilmun on the opposite bank. Unfortunately, it was discontinued in the 1970s

Geoffrey enjoying some welcome sunshine!

An interesting fact about this bench is that the wood was taken from the mast of the racing ship, Valkyrie 2, which sank in 1894 (killing a member of the crew) after a collision with another yacht. Later, she was recovered and broken up, the mast being used for many years as a flagpole at the Royal Marine Hotel. It was later removed for safety reasons and turned into benches around the memorial tower!

View across the water from the bench towards Kilmun and Strone on the opposite bank

Below: Near the tower, almost on the shore, are three metal benches in a row which commemorate three young people from the area who tragically died in a boating accident in 2005. The benches bear symbols of their combined interests including music and sailing.

My photos show only two of the benches; the third has musical notes set into the back

Below: Some hoverflies alighting on wild flowers beside the shore

A short video showing the Holy Loch from Lazaretto Point

I'm greatly indebted to a local resident, Robert Diamond, who, when he realised my interest, actually insisted on giving me three brand new books on the area, though we had only just met! I recommend all three:

Sandbank, Life and Times by Ann Galliard
Sandbank, War and Peace by Ann Galliard
Sandbank "Our Village", produced by Sandbank Community Council

I ought to add that, although I have included this blog for convenience under the heading of 'Dunoon' - as it is less than three miles away - Sandbank has always been very much a separate village in its own right.

There's more information about the Holy Loch on the Wikipedia page here and a page about the US Navy in the area here

Loch Eck

2009-11-07T16:15:00.003Z

Six miles north of Dunoon, this beautiful loch is part of the Argyll Forest Park and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. It is a narrow loch, seven miles long, which is surrounded by steeply banked forests and rugged mountain scenery. It has supplied Dunoon with its drinking water since the 1970s.

The rowan trees along the banks were laden with vivid berries when we were there last

I was fascinated to read that Loch Eck was once joined to the Clyde (via the Holy Loch) 14,000 years ago!

My photos were all taken at Jubilee Point beside the A815.

Dunoon: Around the Town

2009-11-04T20:12:00.011Z

Various photos taken in one of our favourite towns!

Argyll Street - a great little shopping centre

Bells of Dunoon - a fantastic clothes and souvenir shop! Website here

The Argyll Hotel is opposite the pier, and is one of Dunoon's distinctive landmarks.
The hotel website is here

Hillfoot Street and Argyll Vintners - the only place in the town (owing to new licencing laws) where you can buy gift packs of alcohol to take home (miniatures in tartan boxes etc).

Tourist Information Centre along Alexandra Parade - a great place for books, maps, gifts and good helpful advice

The Castle House Museum details the history of Cowal to the present day, the history of the Clyde steamers, the wartime years and the American Naval base at the nearby Holy Loch. It is one of Dunoon’s most historic buildings set in beautiful gardens - unfortunately I have not had time to go inside yet!

On the hill opposite Dunoon Pier and erected in 1896, the statue of Robert Burns' 'Highland Mary' Campbell stares sadly across the water. You can read the full story here

The Yachtsman Cafe - probably the best place to eat, such good food and so reasonably priced too!

Geoffrey listening to those lovely Clyde waves (they sound nicer than any other kind!!)

Below, the beach near the cafe - swans, gulls and the odd crow

Below: looking south from the same spot, and the road to Innellan...

...and across the water to the Cloch Lighthouse

There's much more information about Dunoon here

Ardrossan 2

2009-11-03T11:10:00.003Z

Just a few extra photos of the harbour and the new flats around the edge

My original blog and photos are here

Greenock: McLean Museum 2

2009-10-31T20:38:00.010Z

More photos and a couple of videos from inside my favourite museum! I love visiting this place whenever I'm back in Greenock, though never have long enough to browse thoroughly - there's so much to see, far more than my photos show.

Below: a private insect collection which was donated to the museum

The link to my original post and other photos from this museum is here

Dunoon: Bishop's Glen

2009-10-28T22:19:00.008Z

This is a lovely place to walk just inland from Dunoon on the Cowal, through the forest of birch, sitka spruce and Scots pine, at the heart of the Dunoon Woodland Park. Its original name was the Balgaigh Glen but it was changed in the 1950s, part of a tourist initiative by all accounts, and from then on took its name from the nearby hill known (for centuries) as Bishop's Seat (504m). This is a fair climb which we have not yet undertaken but there are apparently wonderful views of the Firth of Clyde from the top - it's definitely on the list for next year! For now, here are some of my photos from some of the woodland paths.

The Balgaigh Burn and rowan trees

In the middle is a beautiful reservoir which once provided Dunoon with its drinking water (before Loch Eck was used instead). Now a home for many varieties of wildfowl and also used for fishing.

It's a wonderful place for other wildlife too and one of the few remaining places in the UK where red squirrels can be seen. Alas, I didn't spot any!

A location map is here

Innellan

2009-10-27T10:51:00.010Z

This peaceful and pretty village on the edge of the Clyde is on the east shore of the Cowal peninsula, just four miles from Dunoon. All my photos were taken from Shore Road.

I thought this gate was very attractive!

The view across the Clyde towards Inverkip

We came across this tub of apples on a public bench - such a friendly idea to offer them to strangers!

The post office/grocers is the only shop left in the village now although there used to be fourteen

I hope to be back there next year - the whole of the Cowal is delightful

Greenock: Brisbane Street 2

2009-10-24T15:36:00.003+01:00

On a personal level, a few photos of my childhood home - 47 Brisbane Street (first floor, to the right of the door) which I revisited a little while ago - and some views of the street itself.

Above, from the front steps, looking west. Below: the Greenock Westburn Church of Scotland at the east end of Brisbane Street - the block of flats behind spoiling the view!

There are some old black and white photos taken in the back garden of our flat here

Greenock: John Galt

2009-10-20T13:26:00.006+01:00

The prolific author, John Galt (1779 -1839), was one of the most famous and successful businessmen and Scottish writers of his day. He was born in Irvine but moved to Greenock when just ten years old. From 1796 - 1804 Galt worked as a junior justice clerk in Greenock before moving to London to study political economy and commercial history. He began to write in his twenties, trying his hand at verse and then, more successfully, essays and novels. In 1809 Galt spent a period of time travelling on the Mediterranean and he became acquainted with Lord Byron, which led years later to his great biography, The Life of Byron. He returned to London, married, and wrote many successful works, including The Ayrshire Legates, The Steamboat, Sir Andrew Wylie, The Gathering of the West, The Provost and Lawrie Todd. After several years spent in Canada, he was then forced to return to Britain under a charge of debt which led to a prison sentence. He continued to write many books, including his autobiography, and eventually retired to Greenock in 1834.

My photos of the John Galt memorial fountain on the Greenock Esplanade are below.

More information about his life here

Greenock: Birdie Bowers

2009-10-20T05:29:00.011+01:00

The Antarctic explorer, Lt. Henry Robertson (Birdie) Bowers (1883-1912 ) was one of the group of four who trekked with Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole in March, 1912. All five tragically died on the return journey and the bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers were found in their tent in the November of the same year, eleven miles from their supply camp.

He was born in this house at the corner of North Street on The Esplanade in Greenock. It was known as 'Bower's Folly' as it was set well apart from the other villas.

Bowers was brought up by his mother after his father died in Rangoon. He went to sea first on the Worcester and sailed around the world five times on the Loch Torridon. He was then in the Royal Indian Marine Service, commanding a river gunboat on the Irrawaddy before serving on the H.M.S. Fox in the Persian Gulf. Although Bowers had no previous polar experience, he met and impressed Sir Clements Markham who recommended him to Scott for his next exploration.

Bowers was a short man, only five feet four inches high, and had a distinctive beak-like nose which gave him the nickname of "Birdie". The English explorer, Apsley Cherry-Garrard said that his "capacity for work was prodigious", and that "There was nothing subtle about him. He was transparently simple, straightforward, and unselfish". Scott wrote in his diary of Bowers: "As the troubles have thickened about us his dauntless spirit ever shone brighter and he has remained cheerful, hopeful, and indomitable to the end".

When I visited the Esplanade last and took these photos, I could see no plaque or other memorial to Bowers there. However, there is an impressive memorial to him in St. Ninian's Church, Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute, where his mother later settled and where he spent much time.

There's more detailed information about his life in the Wikipedia entry here

Since I wrote the above, I have heard from Robert of Greenock who has told me that there is, in fact, a plaque which I had missed!

At the bottom it can just be seen that it was donated by John S Thomson and placed there by the Cloch Civic Society in 1973. Many thanks to Robert for this information and for allowing me to use his photo in the blog!

Greenock: Hamish MacCunn

2009-09-30T16:49:00.008+01:00

Hamish MacCunn ( 1868-1916) was a romantic composer, pianist and conductor who lived in Thornhill, Ardgowan Street, Greenock. He was the second son of a merchant and shipbuilder and went to the old Greenock Academy. He has been described as the "most Scottish of Scottish composers", wrote many orchestral and choral works and was quite famous in his day. Probably his best known work is the magnificent, "Land of the Mountain and the Flood" overture which was used in the 1970s as the theme tune to the television series, "Sutherland's Law". This was an amazing achievement as it was completed when MacCunn was only eighteen! It can be heard here.

Below, Thornhill in Ardgowan Street which I photographed when I was in Greenock:

The Wikipedia entry about his life can be found here

and there is another page at the Greenock Town website here

Greenock Esplanade 4

2009-09-27T15:22:00.003+01:00

Another batch of photos of taken on The Esplanade which remains one of my favourites places in the whole area! These haven't been enhanced - the blue sky and water are completely natural.

Greenock: Well Park

2009-09-26T11:51:00.014+01:00

I've been meaning to add a blog about this delightful and interesting little park for some time. I've only been there once (as far as I can remember) but it's well worth a visit. It was presented to the town in 1851 by Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart (1826–1903)

The main gates, looking straight towards the War Memorial

Children's play area

The Victoria Tower as seen from the park, part of the impressive Town Hall (which was built in 1886 at a cost of over £100,000) and which must surely be one of the finest municipal buildings in Scotland

Below: Some of the views over Greenock from the park, many looking towards the Clyde and the mountains of Argyll

Below: The War Memorial

Above: The well which gave the park its name, placed there by by the local laird John Shaw. There is a faded inscription, '1629', with his initials and those of his wife (Helen Housten). It was the original well for the residence of the Shaw family who were very influential on the development of the town; their mansion house was at the bottom of Lynedoch Street but demolished in 1886 owing to railway tunnelling.

T.G. Snoddy wrote in his book, 'Round About Greenock' in 1937, "It is curious how both the retrospect and prospect of Greenock's life seem to take centre in the green open level which we call the Well-park. This spot after all was the cradle of local history. Here stood the old castle stead and the later mansion. From here the Galbraiths, the Shaws, and the Shaw Stewarts looked over the village or the growing town and guided the community's development."

Loch Loskin

2009-09-22T11:44:00.009+01:00

This small and attractive 6 acre loch is in the hills a mile above Dunoon (beside the A885 Sandbank road) and seems to be used mostly for freshwater fishing these days, although it's also nice just to sit on the banks!

I very recently found out that my favourite pipe tune, 'Lochanside', which I've loved for many years, was named after this loch! It was written by Pipe Major John McLellan remembering his time spent along the attractive and secluded shores. McLellan (born 1875), a multi-talented man by all accounts, was from Dunoon.

Lochanside is played on You Tube here.

There is another interesting arrangement here - this time a song by Jim Malcolm, the Scottish folk music artist and songwriter, set to the same tune and sung by Tich Frier (words below).

Come the winter, cold and dreary
Brings the hawk down from the high scree
to the whins where snowy hares hide
All around the Lochanside
Come the spring the land lies weary
Till the sun shines out so cheery
Brings the bloom, for all of June's pride
All around the Lochanside
If you'd been you¹d have seen the scatter
O the peezies o'er the machair
When above the tawny owl glides
All around the Lochanside
And the heron he comes a-creeping
Through the rashes so green and dreeping
to the pool where wily trout slide
All around the Lochanside

Aye if you ever have a reason
To be here in any season
Come and try the barley bree in
Round the fire on Lochanside
Summer time the fish are louping
Dippers in the burnies couping
Swallows fly from dawn til evens-tide
All around the Lochanside
By the autumn the pinks are winging
Blaeberries o'er the moors are hanging
Salmon through the surging spate fight
All around the Lochanside

If ye'd been ye'd have seen the scatter
O the peezies o'er the machair
When above the tawny owl glides
All around the Lochanside
Aye if you ever have a reason
To be here in any season
Come and try the barley bree in
Round the fire on Lochanside
Aye if you ever have a notion
To be welcomed with devotion
Travel home o'er any ocean
To be here on Lochanside

However, the words I know best were written and sung (to the same tune) by Andy Stewart many years ago and can be heard here.

By The Lochside

In the spring when the world was young, then,
And the sweet songs of youth were sung, then
By the lochside I met a maiden,
And my heart longed to call her mine.

She was fairer than words can say, man,
And her smile made the world gay, man,
But like springtime, she would not stay, man,
Though my heart longed to call her mine.

But I would wait a thousand years, now,
I would shed a thousand tears, now,
No more sadness and no more fears, now,
If the lass lets me call her mine.

Summer came with her million flowers,
Summer time that was made for lovers,
Hand-in-hand, strolling through her bowers,
But my love would not walk with me.

Warm the day when the sun is shining,
Warm the love when in love reclining,
Cold the heart that for love is pining,
Cold the love that can never be.

But I would wait a thousand years, now,
I would shed a thousand tears, now,
No more sadness and no more fears, now
If the lass lets me call her mine.

Summer's gone and the Winter's cold, now,
With his grey hand has laid his hold now,
And the story of love is told, now,
But the story can never end.

By the lochside a bird is singing,
Sad the song from his heart is ringing,
Now he leaves and is swiftly winging,
Leaving me waiting here alone.

But I would wait a thousand years, now,
I would shed a thousand tears, now,
No more sadness and no more fears, now
If the lass lets me call her mine.

Loch Tarsan

2009-09-18T17:31:00.005+01:00

Loch Tarsan is a 273 acre Hydro Electric loch, formed by the flooding of part of Glen Lean. It is located beside the B838 about eight miles north-west of Dunoon; there is a dam on the west side and it is stocked with brown trout for fishing. From here the road drops steeply down towards Loch Striven. A breathtakingly beautiful area, I love it!

Loch Striven

2009-09-18T16:26:00.009+01:00

Loch Striven is a beautiful sea loch not far north of the Isle of Bute and about 8 miles long, extending north into the Cowal. It is very unfortunately being used as an anchorage for unused large vessels owing to the fall in world trade. (Loch Striven was also used to park ships during the oil crisis in the 1970s) There has been quite a local outcry, all to no avail of course - see "Anger at Striven ships" in the on-line Dunoon Observer. Click on "News Archives" for 3rd July 2009 - it's impossible to make a link here to this page but you can go to the main website here.

Two of the moored ships in the loch

There are so many pheasants around the whole area. If you drive up the road alongside the loch they will often run in front of the car as in the video below:

Looking back down this lovely loch from its most northerly point on a brighter day:

Toward: Rhanna

2009-09-17T21:47:00.009+01:00

Just around the corner from Toward Lighthouse on Cowal in Argyll, stands Rhanna - the house where the popular novelist, Christine Marion Fraser (1938-2002) lived. Her books (22 in 18 years) outsold even Catherine Cookson's and were translated into many languages at the height of her success. Although she grew up in Govan, Glasgow, she moved to Toward with her husband, naming the house after her successful Rhanna series of novels. She suffered from ill health all her life, being confined to a wheelchair for most of the time.

I enjoyed reading the two volumes of her autobiography ('Blue Above the Chimneys' and 'Roses Round the Door') a few years ago, and it was quite a moving experience to see this lovely house where Christine lived so happily.

Rhanna

The attractive gates at the front

The road immediately outside Rhanna

Looking straight across the field to the Clyde

Flag in the sky!

There's an obituary here

Toward Lighthouse

2009-09-17T11:38:00.010+01:00

This attractive lighthouse was finished in 1812 on Toward Point, about seven miles south of Dunoon on Cowal, and is one of 18 Scottish lighthouses which were built by Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850). It still works with a white light which flashes every ten seconds.

Ferries seen from beside the lighthouse, travelling between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay

Toward Lighthouse seen from one of the ferries

The adjacent Foghorn Building - built in the late 1880s to look like a small chapel! The foghorn itself is situated on the top of the tower but the horn is no longer used

The photos were taken on a drizzly day unfortunately but the visibility wasn't too bad. A lovely area and there are beautiful walks from Toward Point in either direction

Ayr

2009-08-27T16:30:00.018+01:00

A few photos from a brief visit to this lovely old town in 2008

The Wallace Tower in the High Street

Built in 1833 to replace the previous structure in which Sir William Wallace is said to have been imprisoned for setting fire to a barn with 500 English soldiers inside. This is a Neo-Gothic clock tower, 113 ft high, with a statue of William Wallace carved in the facade.

The Town Hall spire beside one of the main roads

The 'New Bridge' across the River Ayr

The Fort Wall is very interesting to visit - I came upon it by accident when walking around the harbour area. This ruin is part of the citadel built in the 17th century on the orders of Oliver Cromwell. The round turret overlooking the street and harbour was constructed in the 19th century by John Miller and is known as “Miller’s Folly”. When Miller returned from India he acquired the Citadel and actually lived inside. It’s less than a mile from the town and worth seeing.

A few more photos from around the harbour area

Although we started off with nice dry weather, it didn't last and later in the afternoon the rain poured down. We escaped for a while to the Costa Cafe inside Waterstones (above!) but it was still very wet by the time we went over to the Esplanade. Our plan to have a walk was shattered despite waiting in the car for some time. As with so many other places, it's somewhere to return to in future...

A video from inside the car, windows firmly shut!

Largs: Water Courses

2009-08-12T22:11:00.012+01:00

I thought it might be interesting to put together some photos of the various burns which flow down to Largs, starting with these scanned pictures from my old copy of 'Round About Greenock' by T. G. Snoddy (published in 1937) which is now out of print:

The Greeto Burn (sometimes called Greeto Water) flows into Gogo Water opposite Rigging Hill

The Gogo Falls are about 35 feet in height and fall into a deep pool. The Gogo continues through Gogo Glen and flows into the Clyde south of the pier, near to the Putting Green

There is a modern day photo of the Gogo Water flowing under a road bridge in Largs itself here

This is the Coalpit Burn which reaches the Clyde near to the Pencil Monument and which flows down from the Haylie Reservoir further inland. Two more photos of it below:

Noddsdale Water above, near to where it flows into Largs Bay, flows down from Outerwards Reservoir. Another branch of it a short distance inland is called the Noddsdale Burn. The name Noddle Burn is sometimes used too and I have also seen Noddsdale spelt Nodsdale!

There are also the Routenburn which flows into the Clyde slightly further north than the Noddsdale (unseen and under the road next to the Underbank flats), and the Kel Burn which is south of the Yacht Haven. There's a nice photo of the Kel Burn here.

A few of these water courses can be seen on this map of walks around Largs.

Largs: Modern Day 2

2009-08-10T20:21:00.008+01:00

Some photos of Largs taken from the ferry coming back from Millport the last time we went over there!

Cardross and A. J. Cronin Part 5

2009-07-18T21:10:00.008+01:00

In honour of A J Cronin's 113th birthday (19th July) , I've copied a photo of him from an old magazine which I bought recently (printed in 1952) and here are also a few of my own photos which I haven't included before. I hope it won't be too long until I can revisit Cardross and the surrounding countryside.

One of the lanes near Rosebank Cottage...

...and some views across the fields and the Clyde to Port Glasgow

Wemyss Bay Station

2009-07-11T15:49:00.005+01:00

This beautiful station and pier bring back many memories for me, although we never took a ferry from here! (That came much later with my first wonderful trip across to Rothesay). We just used to drive down here from Greenock to have a walk and to admire the glorious architecture and all the floral displays which used to adorn the concourse and facade in the spring and summer months. Sadly, I don't think it is ever decorated in that way these days. My photos are from 2008.

The pier and station from the ferry on its way back from Rothesay

The Undiscovered Scotland page about this station does it far more justice than my photos - you can see it here. The Wemyss Bay website here is also very interesting with more about the history of the station.

Largs: Haylie Chambered Tomb

2009-07-10T16:33:00.005+01:00

In 2008, we climbed up the hill at the back of Douglas Park to visit this Neolithic tomb which was built around 3000 BC. It stands in a field close to the path and is very interesting to see. It was discovered in the 18th century by James Wilson of Haylie when the cairn (known as Margaret's Law) was removed to be used for building on his estate. The remains of five people were found.

View across to Cumbrae from the path near the Haylie Tomb

Greenock: Princes Pier

2009-07-09T20:01:00.005+01:00

I remember this attractive old pier in the west end of Greenock with great affection. Work on it began in 1862, finished in 1870 and an extension was then added in 1921. It had its own railway station too and interesting photos can be seen here. In its day the pier was incredibly busy with many visiting craft, not least for all the thousands of passengers to be taken to, or brought back from, the huge liners sailing to and from America and Canada. Eventually, the pier at Gourock proved too much competition, Princes Pier began to be used less and less and unfortunately it was demolished in 1965 - what a waste!

Although it was somewhere we often walked I only have one personal photo, so I'm including a couple of old pictures from my collection.

Here I am with my Mum and aunties in 1961

Greenock: Bowling Club

2009-07-09T14:29:00.005+01:00

The Bowling Club grounds were right across the road from where my aunts lived in Ardgowan Square and, as the gate was usually open, it was where we sometimes went to take photos!

An old photo (not mine!!) of the Bowling Club from Ardgowan Square, around 1906

This is me in Ardgowan Square with the Bowling Club in the background, 1959

Inside the Bowling Club grounds in 1961..

...and again in 1969

Auntie Lett outside the gates in 1966

You can find the Bowling Club website here
(there is a detailed history of the club and many old and new photos)

Greenock/Port Glasgow New Developments

2009-04-09T19:03:00.012+01:00

Thanks very much to my friend James Anderson for these very recent photos of some of the changes around the area

New housing built in a previous water basin for the shipyard

New flats at the Kincaid site

A nearby plot for sale next to the Kincaid site

The proposed site for the new Arts Centre

The old Ropeworks, now luxury flats

Cardross and A. J. Cronin Part 5

2009-03-18T14:55:00.007Z

I was so delighted to hear from Corrie recently who actually knows the people who live in Rosebank Cottage! She was even able to take some photos for me a few days ago to add to this continuing blog. Here they are below, showing far more detail than my own few snaps. (My other Cardross and A. J. Cronin blogs can be found in the right hand margin under 'Labels')

Please visit Corrie's wonderful Lomond Soap blog here

Isle of Arran: Lochranza

2009-03-11T21:50:00.009Z

Some photos from October 2008

It rained for most of the time we were there but I managed to take a few photos during a dry spell! I have a video clip I'll add another day too. I really loved Lochranza and would love to return in better weather...such a beautiful and remote spot.

The ferry to Claonaig on Kintyre

The Undiscovered Scotland web page about Lochranza can be found here

Isle of Arran: Brodick to Lochranza

2009-03-05T14:11:00.008Z

A few videos taken on the bus from Brodick to Lochranza.
They're a bit shaky (and noisy) but give an idea of the views along the way..

Photos of Lochranza to follow!

Isle of Arran: Brodick

2009-02-21T14:23:00.008Z

A visit to Arran in October 2008

Sadly it rained most of the day but I managed to take a few photos during the dry bits!

View of Arran from Ardrossan before we took the ferry across

On the ferry

Getting closer - a wonderful experience!

Brodick Castle and rainbow only just seen through some misty rain

Brodick Harbour - almost every kind of transport!
Below: Some views from Brodick shore

Goat Fell, the highest mountain on the island at 2,867 ft

Click here for more information about Brodick

...and the Isle of Arran here

Irvine

2009-02-11T15:03:00.002Z

A couple of photos from a visit to Irvine in 2008

Trinity Church in the middle of the town. You can see my Qype review here

Where we had lunch - another Qype review here!

Saltcoats

2009-02-01T21:47:00.005Z

Just one photo from our visit to Saltcoats in October, 2008

The Town Hall and Clock Tower

Ardrossan 1

2009-01-30T20:49:00.006Z

Six photos from our visit to Ardrossan in October, 2008

The South Beach

Geoffrey on the promenade
and below, the harbour

You can find hundreds of photos of Ardrossan here
and the Wikipedia page here

Cardross Part 4

2009-01-21T16:16:00.013Z

I recently heard from Michael MacDonald who was brought up in Cardross in 'Ruanaich', a white house next to the railway bridge. Below, some of his photos including some beautiful and impressive ones taken around Cardross (click to enlarge).

Michael MacDonald

Michael's childhood home, 'Ruanaich'

Above, Cardross fields in winter and below in summer

Below: Cardross shore

Cardross shore at dusk

Cardross shore at sunset. Greenock/Gourock on horizon

Michael also told me about Percy Sinclair Pilcher (1866-1899) who was a pioneer of unpowered flight. (I must admit I'd never heard of him) His first machine, 'The Bat' flew successfully from a hill at Cardross. In Michael's words,

"Although not a native, Percy Pilcher made great leaps and bounds (literally) in flight, before the Wright Brothers. He did this on the hill behind the village near my brother in-law's farm, Cairnadrouth." See this link:

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/pilcher.html

I must thank Michael very much for his interest and for allowing me to use his marvellous photos and other information in this continuing and evolving blog about Cardross! His own personal websites can be found below (and more of his photos too) -

www.ruanaich.com

www.ruanaich.blogspot.com

Greenock Esplanade 3

2009-01-14T11:51:00.014Z

Another batch of photos taken on the Esplanade - this time in the autumn, 2008

The first flashing buoy used to aid navigation and the plaque on the side (below)

The Ocean Terminal at the east end of the Esplanade

My previous Esplanade photos are found below:

1957-1980

2006/7

Helensburgh

2009-01-09T10:50:00.010Z

October 2008: A brief trip to Helensburgh after our longer visit to Cardross (described in a previous blog!)

Below, the West Kirk in Colquhoun Square

'Cafe 19' in West Clyde Street (which we discovered was a good place for coffee and cakes!)

Looking back towards the town from the pier in the evening

At the end of the day

More about Helensburgh on the Undiscovered Scotland page here

West Kilbride

2009-01-08T16:46:00.016Z

We visited West Kilbride late on a rainy afternoon in October 2008. Not much time for anything other than a quick walk around the town and some coffee! Known as the 'Craft Town', we didn't see any crafts on our hasty visit that day; that will have to wait till the next time we go there.

Looking up the main street

The surprisingly upmarket restaurant, "Chu Chus" in the old station building, where we had coffee (and the best, friendliest, service you could find anywhere!)

(Their website is here )

Inside - one of the ornate fireplaces

(The only place where we've been given some butter tablet free on the side too!)

Some gardens near the station - and a small amount of sun (it didn't last long!)

Geoffrey on the bridge above the Kilbride Burn

The Wikipedia page about West Kilbride can be found here

Cardross and A. J. Cronin Part 3

2009-01-03T14:55:00.034Z

I have recently been in communication with Douglas Lockhart of Airdrie who actually lived in Rosebank Cottage as a child! His grandfather had bought the house for about £200 and continued a correspondence with A J Cronin for some time afterwards. Needless to say, Douglas has many memories (and a few photos) which he is kindly allowing me to reproduce here – which, I am sure, will be of great interest to many people.

In Douglas’s own words:

“Rosebank has a lot of significance for my family- some happy memories, some not so. We joke that it was haunted - my grandmother spoke often of seeing a 'tall man'!

My grandfather, Duncan Lockhart, who corresponded with A J Cronin

My grandmother

A distant view of my grandparents together in the garden at Rosebank

Rosebank about 1960 - maybe the first colour photo of the house!

“This photo shows me outside the house with my grandmother's labrador, Rannoch. He was a good pal and adored the bagpipes, usually howling along in sympathy. I'm wearing the uniform of the Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band (long gone). The photo was taken around 1961 or 1962, when I was 12 or 13 years old.

Just to the right of the bench you may be able to see a vertical line in the wall - this marks a room that was added to the house by my grandfather. At first it was roofed in corrugated iron, and you can still see the join. It was the posh room, so posh in fact that it was never really used after my grandfather's death. It was known as the 'End Room', and was reputedly the most haunted. I suspect I was told that story to discourage my expeditions there.

The large ornamental flower pots were important to me. I was interested in astronomy very young, and set up my first observatory by driving a post into the leftmost pot in the picture and fixing a set of binoculars on top of it. The binoculars were German Deinstglas instruments, in desert khaki finish as they had been scavenged from the corpse of an officer.

Other war relics: at the east end of the garden is an air raid shelter. My father built this by obtaining a gigantic water tank from the local farmer (Rennie at Geilston), rolling it into a hole in the garden and partially burying it. This was some years before the war started, and the villagers considered him mad. He was assured there would be no war, and even if there were, who would bomb Cardross? He was right of course, and Cardross got bombed more than once (they were aiming for the shipyards on the other side of the river). A large landmine came through the cottage roof and split my granny's big mahogany sideboard in half. Fortunately the landmine was a dud, and the damage to fabric and furniture was repaired, but always afterwards if you mentioned Germans or Germany, granny would scowl and tell the awful story of her sideboard.

The house was divided in two; we lived in end nearest the village and rented the other. The house was sold shortly after my father's death in 1967 and we moved into the village - to Barrs Road.

Taken from the 1901 census it appears that the Cronins had moved to 'Tighanachen Villas'. As the name has apparently been changed years ago, it is believed that this must be the villa adjacent to Cardross Station (shown below)."

Below: a copy of a letter written by A J Cronin to Douglas’s sister, (Mrs McInnis), written in 1979, two years before his death. Mrs McInnis had written to him about his time at Rosebank.

A newspaper obituary of A J Cronin from the Lennox Herald (click to enlarge)

I extend great thanks to Douglas Lockhart for all his help and time given to providing me with so much valuable information for this blog. I am sure there will be many people who would like to know more about him and his own life. His websites are therefore given below:

Graupius

Airdrie Guitar School

(You can also find Part One of my previous A. J. Cronin blog here

and Part Two here)

McLean Museum, Greenock

2008-12-20T15:14:00.019Z

I was completely fascinated to visit the new McLean Museum in 2008. It's in the same building as the Watt Library; in fact, as a child I used to go up the old stone stairs at the back of the library which would take me to the gallery where the natural history museum was in those days. Usually it was deserted and I would wander round and round for ages looking at the stuffed animals, birds' eggs, butterflies, insects and many other interesting things. Now the building has been renovated and modernised and it is quite different. The old staircase isn't used any more (though it is still there behind a door - I was shown where it was when I asked where it had gone!) Some of the old features remain (and some of the original stuffed animals too) but there are many new categories - not just natural history but collections from many cultures across the centuries, industrial, marine, local and social history. There is a great deal to see and I need to return when there is more time (and my poor husband isn't having to wait for me in the car)!

Here is the link to the McLean Museum website