by Gillian Craig | Mar 28, 2023
The big annual beach clean takes place over up to twenty beaches on the Ayrshire Coast. Most of these are managed and led by Ayr Rotary Club/Ayrshire Coastal Path but other beaches are organised by the Rotary Clubs of Prestwick and Alloway, and a diverse range of other community groups, farmers and landowners all give their time generously. Volunteers will be provided with bags but please bring your own litter-picker if possible since these will likely be in short supply. Please also wear stout shoes/boots and gloves Saturday 29th April 2023 BEACHES AND ASSEMBLY DETAILS Please go direct to Assembly Point on day – or contact the named Team Leader for advice. Basic safety instructions will be given on the day but you will be responsible for your own personal safety. AYR ROTARY CLUB Ayr South Harbour Extent: Harbour to Blackburn Assemble: 09.30h at Blackburn car park (Ayr India end) Leader: Kenneth Dickie (Ayr Rotary) 07864097237 with SAC Ranger Service Seafield Extent: Blackburn to Doonfoot bridge Assemble: 09.30h at Blackburn car park (Ayr India end) Leader: Charlie Steele (Ayr Rotary & ACP) 07880554614 with SAC Ranger Service Bracken Bay Fully subscribed James Edwards (18th Ayrshire Scout Group) Fisherton Bay Fully subscribed Dunure Extent: to be decided on day. Assemble: 09.30h at Dunure Harbour (Do NOT cause obstruction) Leader: Helen O’ Conner, (Dunure Community Volunteers) 07710533306. Croy Extent: Caravan park north to Drumshang Assemble: 09.30h at Croyburnfoot NTS beach car park (NOT on verges near caravan park entrance) Leader: Gus Iannotti (Ayr Rotary & ACP) 07769635572 Culzean Bay (Maybole Shore) Extent: Caravan park south to Culzean Castle Assemble: 09.30h...
by Gillian Craig | Mar 26, 2023
Some walkers might experience difficulties as the result of sand erosion at the Pow Burn (Prestwick-Troon section of ACP), in particular at high tide. A combination of the recent High Spring Tides and gales has exposed the gabions, causing some rough underfoot conditions. At the top of a High Spring Tide walkers may only have a narrow shoreline to negotiate over the flat-topped gabions – however as the tide goes out or comes in, a large expanse of sandbank will be available to walk along safely for most of each day. You can check tide times at https://easytide.admiralty.co.uk/ Although this is unsightly and difficult at present, it will eventually be covered by windblown sand and will form a matrix to consolidate this sand and allow marram grass to establish itself. Last week The Ayrshire Coastal Path Management Board had had a very constructive meeting with Royal Troon Golf Club officials to discuss possible solutions to be implemented. Stay tuned for more details and in the meantime please take care when walking in this...
by Gillian Craig | Feb 16, 2023
The Ayrshire Roads Alliance will be carrying out essential maintenance works to the A719 Dunure Road – Burton Underpass between Monday 13 February and Friday 6 April 2023. Both carriageways will be closed from 7.00am on Saturday 25 February for two weeks and a section of the cycle route will require to be closed at certain periods. We understand that diversions will be in place. These works are being carried out to create an underpass which will replace the unsafe road crossing over Dunure Road. When the work is complete the underpass will provide a much safer route for anyone following the Ayrshire Coastal Path branch de-tour to/from the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway. If you require further information please email the Ayrshire Roads Alliance...
by Gillian Craig | Jan 22, 2023
Back in February 2020 one of the Ayrshire Coastal Path’s metal signage posts worth £130 went missing at the Pow Burn following Storm Jorge. Despite the best efforts of our volunteer Angus and his metal detector, we never found it. Assumed washed away, we gave up hope of ever finding it….. Fast forward almost exactly 3 years to yesterday, 20th January 2023: after the big storm of last week, we were down at Pow Burn on a site visit. We found that the big NW gale had scoured out a new deep channel and must have removed many thousands of tons of sand from the gabion reinforced area which was exposed right down to the channel. As we walked along, we were talking about how we had even lost a signpost here some years back, and then pointed down to a post lying deep in the channel and said “Look someone’s lost another post!” Going down to check it, we saw part of a green sign sticking out of the sand. It was ours – and after three years the signs were still in perfect condition!!! We managed to drag it a few feet out of the water, but with its heavy concrete base, we knew we would probably need four bodies to shift it up the bank to safety and remove the signs. So our volunteers Bob, Chris & Mike returned on a rescue mission! The post was carried above the high water mark for future removal and re-use, and the two green Ayrshire Coastal Path signs and fixings were removed and returned to storage. Miracles do happen…....
