Ailsa Craig from Ballantrae Bay I, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Entrance to Snib Scott’s cave, Bennane Head, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Ailsa Craig from Ballantrae Bay II, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Wayfarer Snib Scott’s cave. Nearby a cairn reads ’Henry Ewing Torbet (Snib) of Bennane Cave 1912-1983 Respected and Independent’, Bennane Head, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Ballantrae Bay, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Inner chamber of Snib Scott’s cave, Bennane Head, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Disused section of the A77 around Bennane Head, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Ailsa Craig (from the Gaelic meaning fairy rock) has been a constant companion on today’s walk up the Ayrshire coast. A granite volcanic plug, the source of curling stones and surely a contender for the most beautiful Scottish island, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Milestone, Lendalfoot, Ayrshire, Scotland.
A77 towards Lendalfoot, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Fishing hut, Carleton Bay, Ayrshire, Scotland.
A glimpse of A77 from Pinbain Hill, Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Ayrshire Coastal path on Pinbain Hill, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Triangulate, Ardwell Bay, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Ailsa Craig from Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Signal, Ardwell Bay, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Girvan beach, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Last light, Girvan beach, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Top quality fish and chips in Girvan. When I bought this I met the inventor of the Blaggis: half haggis, half black pudding, sliced lengthwise and battered.
No rain in the shots!
hard to believe huh!
The local MEP recalls Henry Ewing Torbet (Snib) of Bennane Cave:
http://www.struanstevenson.com/news-and-views/articles/caveman-christmas
Nearby, entrance sealed at high tide, is the cave of the notorious Sawney Bean. His grisly tale inverts every principle — including architecture as an outward expression of the human organism.
(Beginning on page 72 of: John Nicholson (possibly Willam Mackenzie?], “Historical and Traditional Tales in Prose and Verse, Connected with the South of Scotland” 1843; at https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Historical_and_Traditional_Tales_in_Pros.html?id=BfUvAAAAYAAJ&redir_esc=y or https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qskHAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA72&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false . )
What a wonderful story, thanks for sharing that
It did feel archetypal.There is a peculiar pleasure to walking along a disused section of road when you relax into the fact there is no traffic coming.
From worlds beyond horizons and pebbles on the shore,
by strange familiar ways revealing new and ancient signs,
toward low windblown plateau beneath steep and rocky rise –
through stern facade and roiling passage into deeper secret space . . .
– – – –
Every element – stalwart wall and open door,
beating storm and pulsing tide, bearing land and seeking mind,
each hermit and wanderer, the foolish and the wise –
is always leaving and returning in the breathing chant of place . . .
beautiful again!
Thanks, Quintin.
There’s poetry in, through, and between your pictures.
And thank you for introducing us to this archetypal place, and bringing it alive.
I had no idea what this huge yellow and red ferry/ ship was for at least 3 minutes! Oh shit it’s a sign haha. Your journey is inspiring! Amazing mate
gotcha! Glad you’re enjoying it