Standing Stones.

Following our day spent exploring the southern beaches and coast of Arran we head inland to visit Machrie Moor and the stone circles. I'd heard about the stones here but had never visited before. I hadn't reaslised there were quite so many: you find one stone circle, keep walking and another appears, then yet more - there are the remains of six circles still visible on the moor. The stone circles are nearly 4000 years old and there is evidence of earlier life at the site. It is believed that the weather here used to be warmer and drier and the ground better for agriculture. An adverse change in climate resulted in the peat bogs which now cover the area and caused the departure of the people from the land.

The walk up to the stones from the car park is very pleasant - it's flat and well marked and altogether the round trip is about three miles. We spot a common orchid and masses of foxgloves. The children were fascinated by the sheep and lambs. There is also an old tumbledown cottage - a peek inside shows the remains of the old range. The setting of the circles is beautiful - wide open moorland ringed by distant hills. On the way back, towards the end of our walk a curlew crosses our path.

 

Did you spot A in front of one of the stones? I included the photo to show the scale - the largest stone is over 18ft high. Most of the stones though are only a few feet high. Still, I think the site is well worth a visit if you ever find yourself on Arran with a few hours to spare.

The wonderful places a ferry trip can take you...

Hello!

We've just returned from a short holiday to Arran.

The journey there involves an hour long trip on the ferry which just adds to the holiday feeling. 

We're on the old "Isle of Arran" ferry which is used to supplement the ferry provision during peak season (most Scottish schools finished for the summer last Friday so it's holiday time here now). We pass the newer "Caledonian Isles" ferry on its return journey half way across. 

 Getting closer...

...and we've arrived. Within ten minutes of leaving the ferry we've driven to Lamlash and are already on the beach admiring the views (here of the Holy Isle)... 

 ...and collecting shells.

 We travel a little further south, still in Lamlash, and have a picnic lunch.

 Umbellifer shot.

 Now we're at Kildonan. The triangular shaped island is the Ailsa Craig.

Boats above the beach.

 A & N looking from the rocks down to one of the bays.

We visit the main beach for some sandcastle building then we set of for a walk, there is something here we want to see...

En route we pass a monkey and dog attached to a tree stump.

 Soldier beetles.

 Thistle.

 A view of one of the gorgeous little bays that we pass.

The Ailsa Craig on the horizon with a passing sailing boat. And the blob in front is a seal hauled out on one of the rocks - just what we were looking for!

I sneak round the back of the rocks to get a closer look.

I'm momentarily distracted by an oyster catcher...

... then back to another view of the seal, I like his expression, he looks very content.

The beaches here are really beautiful. After quite a while playing on the rocks, watching the seal and admiring the views we return along past the bays to the car and set off for our final destination...

 ...which I neglect to photograph until sunset! We're staying in Blackwaterfoot and meet up with hubby who had cycled to Ardrossan to catch an earlier ferry to the one we took. He then cycled right round Arran and back over the String to Blackwaterfoot (approx 90 miles altogether). We also meet up with my parents who are holidaying here - the cottage they found was big enough to accomodate some extra guests (us!) for a few days.

So, umbellifers (or is it umbelliferae?) at sunset to finish our first day.

And, just look at the view from our bedroom window the next morning:-

Imagine opening you curtains to this every day! Of course, it doesn't always look like this - we were very lucky with the weather while we were there.

The morning was spent on the beach, hubby and the children went body-boarding while I paddled in the sea and pootled about on the sand.

More to follow...

PS Thank you to all who commented on my photos in the previous post. I'll update you with the results soon. The suspense... can you bear it!