Dougarie snowbound

Dougarie under snow

The west side of the Island is under snow and like the rest of Arran and Kintyre has now power.  Also there are no phone lines and the water ran very low, until we managed to get a generator attached to the pump. The snow ploughs didn't reach us until late on Sunday and we were very isolated.

The Boathouse

The national news has done a good job in making everyone aware of what's going on, and the problems on the mainland,,,, however, news trickles in slowly here as we have no means of accessing the information.

Digging out road and sub stations

We can clearly see our own power lines are down and the telephone lines are strewn across the road, encased in ice, the telegraph poles are snapped like matchsticks.

The tractor cleared the drive, watch out for snow falls off the roof!

Fortunately as we have a tractor we were able to clear the drive, so at least when the snow plough arrived we could get onto the road - not that we could really go anywhere, but the Kinloch Hotel was the designated refuge point.

Snow on the beach, snowmen not sand castles!

But there really is too much to do, the electric board need access with very wide diggers onto the hills and that means either taking down walls / fences or trying to find a route round.  Sounds easy, but when everything is covered in 6 - 10 foot of snow, finding a gate way can be a little challenging.

Now, where did that golf ball go?

Needless to say, everyone is frozen and managing as best they can. Convoys of emergency electric board personal are hives of activity, and helicopters keep buzzing by.  I even heard they brought supplies in by boat to Lochranza.

House of Machrie looking fabulous - but not accessible!

Well its strange and challenging times, and we hope everyone else is surviving.

House of Machrie

The weight of the snow has forced doors open.

The drifts are only 3 foot deep here.

No access to the barn

Machrie Farm Cottage - exhausted after walking up to see this!

Pretty - lets hope it just melts away with no damage

Bridge and stepping stones

Clear blue seas and white... snow!

Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus
( Posted remotely from Lamlash)

Auchagallon Stone Circle



Auchagallon stone circle

The stone circle at Auchagallon sits south of Dougarie Lodge near the junction of the Shore Road and Machrie Moor Road.  Although it cannot be seen from the road, due to its elevated position, about 100 foot above sea level, it is well signposted.
 

Kerb stones

 It is believed to have been built in the Bronze Age (3000 – 4000 years ago / 2000BC) as a burial chamber (cist), similar to others around Arran.  Cists were stone lined chambers that housed the bodies and precious objects, sometimes with items for their ‘journey’.  The cists were covered with stones and the area defined by a stone kerb.


View over to Kintyre

The location of the circle on the edge of the ridge, with fabulous views, suggest that this may have been the burial place of some prestigious person.

Sandstone and granite

The kerb stones are mainly of red sandstone but a couple are of granite.  There is nothing to suggest this has any significance, or information as to if these are original stones. The circle is approximately 45 foot across and has about 15 stones.

Clearly shows the centre mound

The centre of the circle is now raised to a much higher level than 100 years ago, when it is documented as being quite flat and the kerb stones standing much taller.  This is because the farmers threw all the loose stones and boulders into the centre of the circle off the cultivated fields over a number of years.  These raised the level and became covered in grass, now giving the appearance of a mound.  This similar appearance can be seen in other stone circles.

Peeping out from behind a standing stone, evidence of loose stones

It is also believed that the raising of the ground level now obscures some of the original standing stones.  It is also documented that this cist was excavated in the 1800’s but there are no records of what was found – if anything. The raising of the ground level would now make any excavation more difficult. Also worthy of note is the change of spelling, from Auchnigallan (c. 1830) to Achangallon (c. 1900) to the current Auchagallon. 

Top of one of the standing stones

The Circle is easy to get to, up the zigzagging farm track, please make sure you shut the gate, so the sheep don’t escape!

   

Sign at the beginning of the track



A hasty correction to the sign!

Very triangular?

Classic red sandstone

 Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus

On the road to Dougarie

 

When travelling to Dougarie, or anywhere else on the West side of Arran it is likely that you will travel over the String Road.  Speedy travellers may miss the post box that sits where the Machrie Moor Road meets the String road if they are travelling straight through, but those stopped at the Machire Moor junction cannot really miss it.

 

The story goes (and there are some variations around) that sometime around 1850 – 1870, Lord Overton, believed to be staying at Dougarie Lodge, was thrown from his daughter’s horse after being frightened by the original white post box.  After this he gave a sum of money for a stone box to be built and David Wilson was duly commissioned to build it.  David’s first attempt was considered a little plain and he further adorned it with stone masons marks, albeit larger ones than would generally be found on their tools – another story is that he felt he had been paid too much to do the job and therefore spent time decorating it!

 

The red Permian sandstone came from a local quarry and is common in Arran buildings.  The post box has not been without incident since, and it was knocked down by a vehicle in the 1990’s and rebuilt with the original materials.  

Nowadays the post box is not only used for mail but is a geocache site.  A small box lies at the rear of the box under a few stones.  There are quite a few Geocache sites around Arran – an outdoor treasure hunting game -  and this can be a fun activity for all the family. 

Geocache

For those wanting to take a closer look, or even post a letter, there is space to park at the end of the Machrie Moor Road.

 

Tartan and tweeds

Alastair wearing the Dougarie Estate Tweed

Originally tweeds were associated with Scottish or Irish clans and was made of a very rough, and almost felted, woven wool material. These tweeds associated to names are known as tartans. This later developed into a hard wearing cloth, generally for the working man, and was used to identify groups of people linked to a particular land owner or Estate (it could be compared or considered the forerunner to denim!); when the owner couldn’t claim a right to use a tartan they designed their own tweed. Many modern tweeds have developed into a more refined cloth and include luxurious wools such as cashmere and mohair.

Dougarie Estate Tweed

The name ‘tweed’ is thought to have been derived from the word twilled or tweeled (the Scottish version of twilled). Twilled is a method of weaving where the weaves are stronger and create a diagonal pattern in the cloth. The conversion of the name from tweeled to tweed appears to originate from a London Merchant in 1830 who misread some handwriting and advertised the cloth as ‘tweed’.  The name has stuck ever since.


A more colourful tweed

Tweed continues to be favoured by Scottish Estates and provides a tough, wind and water resistant fabric for anyone involved with country sports. Water resistance is provided by the outer part of the fabric absorbing a small amount of water and swelling, hence keeping the inner dry. The designs are created so that they blend with the mountain surroundings, providing camouflage for stalkers and shooters alike. Despite the need for camouflage there is an amazing array of colours used in the weaves. The Dougarie Estate tweed was designed by Haggarts of Aberfeldy for Mr Gibbs in 1974. This tweed blends well with the mountain surroundings encountered during the main sporting season.  Bolts of fabric are made up into traditional sporting clothing of jackets, breeches, waistcoat and hats.  The breeches are known as ‘plus-fours’.  Plus fours extend 4 inches below the knee and give a greater freedom of movement, particularly when climbing upwards, than plus twos (2” below knee) or knickerbockers (knee length).

There are over 200 different Estate tweeds most of which are detailed in a book by Johnstons of Elgin.

 

Machrie Bay Golf Course - After the fire

Machrie Bay Golf Course enjoying the winter sunshine

It's hard to believe on a beautiful day like today what we all woke up to on January 5th this year.  The morning was cold and wet, befitting the atmosphere of gloom.  News quickly spread around the island that there had been a fire at Machrie Bay Golf Course and the greenkeepers sheds had been raised to the ground.


Nothing but smoke and ashes left

It is hard to comprehend the damage that was caused by the fire and the total devastation that was left.  Nothing could be recovered from such an intense fire as the metal was warped and twisted by the heat. The remains of the roof draped over plant and machinery allowing items such as fertilizer to smolder for hours (actually days!).  Little could be done and the long process of recovery began.

Remains of the tractor

First there were the police enquiries and then all the dealings with the insurance company.  David the greenkeeper was totally devastated by the loss.  It was not just the machinery but all the things he had collected over years, including comprehensive diaries on the greens.  Other clubs on the island rallied with spare equipment to make sure the greens stayed open and fit for use, and the tearoom, which fortunately was undamaged became the bolt hole during the worst of the weather.


Remains of two mowers



Progress is slow as a full new build needs to go back through planning permission and building control to ensure it meets with any new legislation so it will be a while before everything is back to normal.  However, we are confident that the greens will stay open and in great condition - mainly due to David's expertise and the continuing support from other clubs on the island.

Remains of oil filled radiator

Machrie Bay Golf course is one of 7 on the island, there is also a driving range.  More can be found out about the golf courses at Golf on Arran, which also has full details about the Arran Golf Pass.



Crossing the Clyde

Caledonian Isles coming into Brodick

As the Isle of Arran is a true island, the only way to reach Dougarie is by boat or helicopter, unlike some other Scottish islands which have airports or bridges.

Late afternoon sailing with Arran in the distance

 It has to be said that there is something special about getting on the ferry, whether it’s to return home or for a holiday, cares melt away once that gangplank is crossed.

Looking back towards Ardrossan on a clear calm day

The main ferry service runs from Ardrossan with 5 return crossings from Monday to Saturday and 4 on a Sunday.  In the summer an additional ferry runs on Friday evenings. 

The late ferry berthed at Brodick in winter

Foot passengers do not  have to book, but vehicles should book in advance, especially in the summer when the peak time journeys get booked up.  We always remind people who are coming to stay at Dougarie to make sure they remember to book.

A cold winters day keeps the passengers inside

The Adrossan to Brodick ferry is the Caledonian Isles, a large ferry with a café, coffee shop and, in the summer, a staffed information desk.  The journey takes about 55 minutes, so plenty of time to have a walk around the decks.

Disembarking from the smaller ferry at Lochranza

There is a smaller ferry which runs to the north of the island, also run by Calmac, between Claonaig and Lochranza.  There is only one crossing a day in the winter but there are 9 in the summer (8 on a Sunday).  This crossing only takes about 30 minutes and usually there is no requirement to book.

The snow capped mountains of Arran in the distance

Full information on the ferries and services available can be found here.

The bells gets it's daily polish

Red deer on Arran

Red deer stag

There are 4 species of wild deer in Scotland but only one on Arran – the Red Deer. The red deer is easily recognisable and can be found on the open hills throughout the year and is often seen from the String Road.

Deer roaming through the glen 

Since the native wolf population disappeared there are no natural predators of deer, but numbers do not range out of control as Mother Nature naturally culls by providing harsh winters and limited food supplies.  In addition, there is an active Deer Management policy across Arran. Deer on Arran are counted every March, using helicopters to access more remote glens, and these numbers help to determine management policies

A Hind  

The stags weigh around 150 – 240 kg, and the hinds 110 – 170kg.  Stags are typically around 4 foot tall at the shoulder, but the neck, head and antlers make them appear much larger.

The velvet covering on new antlers

The antlers are shed each year at the end of winter.  New growth is covered with velvet, before this is shed to reveal the calcified horn below. October is the time of the mating season, known as the rut.  Bellows ring out through the glens and stags can be seen pacing parallel to each other as they assess their components size before either retreating or fighting to secure harems of hinds. If a fight does happen, serious injury can be inflicted by the antlers.  After the rut, at the start of winter coats become thicker and in stags a ‘mane’ can sometimes be seen.

Stags often collect branches and other debris on their antlers during the rut - it may be an attempt to make the antlers appear larger and therefore be a more formidable opponent. 

Brodick Castle has an amazing collection of 87 mounted stag heads adorning the walls of the main hall and staircase. These show off the antlers and just how lethal a weapon they can be.  A stag with 14 points is known as an Imperial, and one with 12 points a Royal.  Large numbers of points are only found in mature stags.

2 Stags in winter coats

Red deer, as wild animals, belong to no-one, however, the right to shoot an animal lies with the owner of the land and this is done through stalking, usually with a trained gamekeeper and only at certain times of the year.