by charlie | Feb 28, 2019
Sat 30 March 2019 is the Big Annual Beach Clean, organised by the Rotary Club of Ayr in association with other Ayrshire Rotary clubs. This event has grown year by year and now makes a substantial difference to the quality of our local beaches. Please come along and help – everyome welcome. Download a full list of beaches: List of Beaches, Meeting Instructions and contact phone numbers ...
by Ron Ireland | Feb 26, 2019
The Ayrshire Coastal Path is sorry to announce the passing of one of its founding members, Ayr Rotarian Willie Watters, who died recently at the age of 83. A keen, life-long walker, following his retirement as Chief Works Analyst at ICI Explosives, Ardeer, Willie became a weel kent figure as an OIR Walk Leader for many years. From a farming background, he was also a very practical man with the tools, not only on the Coastal Path, but also as a Kirk elder and Fabric Convenor at Newton Wallacetown Church. He was also instrumental in setting up our first Ayr Rotary Website. For this work, he was elected Rotarian of the Year by our Club. His walking experience, practical skills, and companionship were a huge help to Jimmy Begg when setting up the Coastal Path from 2005-2008, when they tramped its whole length together, identifying the route, and meticulously recording the locations for all the signage, kissing gates, and small bridges. Subsequently, Willie served on the ACP Management Board till 2018 and was a stalwart on our work parties – and his annual Beach Clean patch at Bracken Bay – till about 2015, when his health started to deteriorate. But he still kept a keen interest in what we were doing – even when in hospital recently. He enjoyed Rotary, but over the past year poor health greatly limited his opportunity to attend. All those who enjoy the Coastal Path, have profited from Willie’s great contribution to its success. RIP Willie and many thanks from us all....
by charlie | Feb 15, 2019
Whotter Day! You otter been there! Guess what we saw? Notter too difficult! About an hour after we started work, a big dog otter swam ashore from an offshore reef, and trottered up the beach (into the sun) towards us. With the wind behind him, the sun’s glare, and his natural poor eyesight, we asked everyone to stay still and quiet. As a result, he didn’t see the crowd of folk gawping at him and taking photos, till he was about 25 yards away, when he sensed our presence, turned left and ambled along the beach and into the dunes. Made our day! Pictures by ACP Staff Photographer Euan...
by Ron Ireland | Feb 7, 2019
It’s that time again! The Big Beach Clean is a great profile raiser for Rotary and the ACP, and we all want to build on its success as a great annual community effort. The 2019 Ayrshire Rotary Beach Clean is to take place on Saturday 30 March 2019 between 9.00 and 12.00 hours. Many beaches between Girvan and Troon will see parties of willing volunteers participate in this event which is open to all organisations and individuals.. For the past 13 years now, our activities have been well ahead of the environmental curve, and it is good to see the UK and Scottish Governments – and members of the public – now beginning to take positive action. Our 2019 Beach Clean is an ideal opportunity to further this momentum to promote public awareness – and action – in tackling plastic pollution. Join in the fun and do your bit for the local coastal environment. All equipment will be provided and you will be guided by a team leader on the day.Register your interest by emailing us on the feeback form on the contact page. ...
by Ron Ireland | Feb 2, 2019
Yesterday afternoon, while walking the Coastal Path between Girvan Mains and Curragh cottages, two walkers encounter the potentially ‘fiercesome’ sight of several large Charolais bulls lounging on the foreshore path.. Using commonsense, and aware that these huge beasts are usually fairly docile, they took avoiding action by sensibly moving down along the beach to.bypass them. Not sure whether the bulls were there to graze naturally, they took some photos, and continued north to Maidens, before notifying the ACP by email (with photos) about 10pm . Knowing that the bulls must have escaped from their winter pens on the foreshore, we immediately contacted the farmer at Girvan Mains – since there was a danger of the huge animals wandering up on to the main A77T road – or being encountered in the morning by weekend walkers.He received the email about 11pm – too late and too dangerous to do any more than check that all roadside gates were secure.The bulls were returned to their foreshore pens this morning, but the farmer said that it’s always much better to get an immediate warning of the strayed animals, to let him deal with the situation straight away. As this policy may be vital in securing the safety of fellow walkers as well as animals, we fully support this plea and would ask all walkers, anywhere along the ACP, to play their part in reporting strayed or injured animals to the landowner – even if it means retracing their route for a mile or so to get...
