Alloway
September 21, 2001
We returned from Brodick to Ardossan on the Cal-Mac ferry and headed south through the town of Irvine to Ayr and Alloway where we stayed at the Greenan Lodge B&B for two nights. The day was spent in visiting sites connected with Robert Burns, The National Poet of Scotland, including the cottage where Rabbie was born January 25, 1759, the Burns' Monument, Alloway Auld Kirk where his father is buried, the Brig o'Doon and the Tam o'Shanter Experience. The latter features a multiscreen film about Burns' life and a reading of his famous poem complete with scenes of witches in the ruined Auld Kirk and one of them called Cutty Sark chasing Tam and his mare Meg as far as the river flowing under the Auld Brig. Witches cannot cross running water so Tam escapes but Meg loses her tail in the process.
At the Brig o'Doon Hotel we had dinner that included cullen skink, haggis with neeps and tatties and wonderful salmon. The grounds gave great views of the lovely garden and the Auld Brig.
September 22, 2001
We drove south from Alloway along the coast with a brief tour of the ruins of Dunure Castle and dovecote to the magnificent Culzean Castle (pronounced Cul-lane) standing on the cliff's edge overlooking Culzean Bay. Robert Adam, the renowned architect, redesigned and converted the tower house (1590s) into an elegant residence for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis, between 1777 and 1792.
Upon entering the Castle one comes into the Armoury with a spectacular display of weapons arranged on the walls. These include Light Dragoon flintlock pistols, hanger swords, Heavy Dragoon flintlock pistols and sword and bayonet blades. Especially noteworthy among the many Adam's rooms are the Circular Saloon with its superb view of the Firth of Clyde and the magnificent Oval Staircase, both restored to their original colour schemes.
In 1945, the Kennedy family gave Culzean to the National Trust for Scotland and gave the top floor to General Dwight D. Eisenhower (for his use) as a token of Scotland's recognition of his role during World War II. The grounds surrounding the Castle include a walled garden, deer park and swan pond.
September 23, 2001
We headed south from Alloway, past Turnberry of golfing fame and through Girvan while trying to catch a glimpse of Ailsa Craig (Gaelic for Fairy Mountain) through the fog that covered the Firth. This interesting island, a volcanic plug, is noted for supplying the granite turned into official stones for the sport of curling.
We continued south through Ballantrae and then east to the ruins of the Cistercian Glenluce Abbey, which was founded by Roland, Lord of Galloway, about 1192. The present structure was built about 1500. We continued southeast along Luce Bay, past Whithorn then north to Wigtown for lunch. Our visit coincided with The Scottish Book Town Festival and we took the opportunity to check out the books in a few of the town's 22 book stores.
We drove north to Newton-Stewart and to the Corsbie Villa B&B. We were greeted by Charlie, a friendly orange marmalade cat with white feet. Our hosts directed us to the Galloway Forest Park with beautiful vistas, a field of goats and the chance of spotting deer.
