by Ron Ireland | Nov 25, 2019
This month the Pathminders managed to address a longstanding problem and get the three extant kissing gates on the Glenapp estate restored and back in working order after their 10 or so years of being battered by cattle and weather alike. Well done the team. So the section between Glenapp Kirk and Ballantrae is now in good order with the exception of an occasionally flooded bit of estate road on the plateau near March Burn. This has been brought to the attention of the estate factor and we hope to see the situation improved...
by charlie | Oct 20, 2019
Change of Management Structure With the Path growing greatly in popularity from year to year, there’s been a developing discussion that in the future, Ayr Rotary Club might struggle to maintain, fund and manage the Ayrshire Coastal Path from within its membership. Jimmy Begg continues as Trail Manager Over recent years, with many volunteer non-Rotarians joining the Pathminders group, and several of them now active members of the Management Board, it was felt that this influx of younger people with a variety of skills needed to be developed further to secure the Path’s future. It was decided that Ayr Rotary Club should step back from running the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Consequently, from 1 July 2019 under its new Constitution, the Ayrshire Coastal Path is being managed independently by an Ayrshire Coastal Path Management Board comprising both Rotarian and non-Rotarian members. Ayr Rotary Club will continue to give its full support and active backing to the...
by Ron Ireland | May 12, 2019
Further good progress was made on the bridge construction this week. Jimmy and Gus made up the template and drilled the sleepers, which pleasingly slid over the dowels without snagging. The rest of the team gathered loads of stones and filled the gap under the hut (will this one day be the ACP bothy?), and also backfilled behind the abutments. So all ready for the bridging part of it, with the telegraph poles ordered, the angle brackets ready, and the decking purchased and due to be cut to size this weekend. Continuing the recent international encounters theme, volunteers had a friendly chat with a Dutch couple who are thoroughly enjoying walking the ACP before going on to Bute. Perhaps we should all start brushing up on our foreign language...
by Ron Ireland | May 3, 2019
More good work on the bridge abutments today with all dowell bars set in place ready to receive the sleeper bearings. Much mixing of the fast-setting concrete exercised the enthusiastic work party. North abutment South Abutment The day was brightened by the appearance of some rare visitors : a couple of Brent geese on their way home to Greenland and two walkers – Ken Andreson and his partner, from Connecticut in the US. The latter pair were on a week’s holiday to walk the length of the ACP and were heading northwards for an overnight stay at a Turnberry B&B. No such luxury for the geese though. Jimmy and Ken have spotted the geese! Also today, our very own trailer was initiated into the weekly work party routine. A great addition to our equipment and one that makes the transporting of tools and materials much easier. Great...
by Ron Ireland | Apr 24, 2019
Last week saw further good progress while the sun continued to shine. Amphibious Barrow Messing about on the River The Growing...
by Ron Ireland | Apr 11, 2019
Heavy work started Last week we made a good start to our bridge at Balkenna and have dug out the base for the north abutment, getting the first base level fixed. This will let us speed on with laying the concrete slab flat bed for our byre-slats abutments this week. Opportunity has been taken to finish of the cleaning of the Dowhill beach which it was not possible to complete on the day of the official beach clean. Plenty willing pickers still keen to do a good...
