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.

Winter Walking - not a miniature adventure!

Glen Iorsa and Loch  Tanna. Taken September 2012 on a clear day. 

The larger mountains such as Goatfell as Caisteal Abhail draw enthusiastic hill walkers of all abilities through out the year and the slightly lower fells on the western side often get overlooked.

Deer at Lochan a Mhill. The Loch was partially frozen. 26th January 2013. 10.00am

However, these fells provide challenges that can stretch any seasoned hiker and provide some stunning walking, not to mention the '4 seasons in one day' experience!!

Red deer are easy to spot for quiet walkers.

The majority of peaks / routes on this side of the island are pathless and require some navigational skills (unless you are remarkably lucky with the weather and have your crystal ball to ensure it won't change).

26th January 2013 - Reaching the snow line, Meall nan Damh. 10.30am

As the routes are pathless and through rugged terrain, the mileage takes a lot longer and saps energy as heather is battled with, boggy bits squelched through, and streams crossed.  Slopes are often steep, which is no problem going up, but fairly treacherous coming down, especially when its wet.  This year many a stream has turned into a raging torrent forcing walkers to detour or take risks they were not expecting.

26th January 2013 - Watch that cloud. 12.00pm

The Island does have a mountain rescue team (and a very good one), but these are not the catch all  and anyone making a foray into the hills should be well prepared. To start with why not fill out a 'going to the hills' form, which can be found on this link. A map and compass should be carried, the ability to walk on a bearing, a survival bag, extra clothing, food and having let someone know where you are going are fairly essential, not to mention having a 'plan b and c'.  A mobile phone may or may not be of any use as signal coverage is poor and cannot be relied upon. In some instances a text may get through, so have you registered your phone to enable 999 texting?  If not do so, the link is here for instructions.

26th January 2013 -  Gale force winds and severe wind chill. This was forecast and expected.  12.45pm.  

Visibility can quickly disappear and terrain become featureless.

For those wanting a good walk and not an epic, there are some paths at lower levels to places such as Loch Tanna and Loch Iorsa.  However, even the track to Loch Iorsa has a fairly deep ford to cross, but in reality this route could be done in wellingtons.  The path towards Loch Tanna has numerous wet and boggy bits, with a few streams as well and does really need walking boots due to the rocky surface.

26th January 2013 - On the way home, Allt nan Calman usually a trickle to be crossed on the Loch Tanna path.  3pm

Other routes slightly south of Dougarie Lodge include the Kings Cave, Machrie Moor standing stones, or further north there are numerous routes around the Cock of Arran and Lochranza.

Two of our holiday houses are particularly suited to walking groups as they have single and twin rooms. Details can be found on our website. 

Images courtesy of Arran in Focus.

Dougarie Lodge - Isle of Arran

Dougarie Lodge sits on the western side of the Isle of Arran, just north of Machrie.  The lodge was built in 1864/65 as a shooting lodge for William Hamilton the 11th Duke of Hamilton. The Duke was married to Princess Marie of Baden and they had three children, William, Charles and Mary.  Mary married PrinceAlbert of Monaco and later Count Tassilo Festetics of Hungary. It is thought that her European connections and perhaps the influence from Bavaria and Hungary gave the interior a uniqueness – certainly in Scotland – of deer skin panelled passages, windows over fireplaces and horn door handles.  The lodge can be seen clearly from the road however other aspects of the estate are not so obvious.

To the front of the lodge a lawn stretches to the banks of the River Iorsa, and to the side lays terraced gardens in a castellated folly designed by James Mather in 1905.  The gardens are opened to the public 1 day a year, and no doubt will be subject of a more detailed blog then!

Further away from the road and separate from the lodge is the Towers.  Plans for this ruinous castellated style, were drawn in 1875 by John Currie. Although the 1^st edition OS maps show buildings on this site in 1837 but these are presumed to be older parts of the present complex.  The Towers includes a domestic house, bothy, kennels and various outbuildings.

At the side of the Towers is the Game Larder.  This was built in 1883, but little is actually known about it as no plans have been found. It is a large dodecagonal building very similar to the Bavarian summer house at Brodick Castle (also formerly owned by the Dukes of Hamilton).

All the buildings mentioned are Grade B listed. Oh, and Dougarie is pronounced 'Doo gry'

House of Machrie - Royal Brush

The House of Machrie is located on the Machrie Moor Road about half a mile from the western shores of the Isle of Arran. This Victorian mansion is set in beautiful surroundings with fabulous coastal views towards the Mull of Kintyre, a stone walled front garden and tall mature trees.

The house belongs to and is part of the Dougarie Estate.  At one time it was owned by the Dukes of Hamilton and belonged to the principle farm on the Island.  There was even a brush with Royalty in 1904, when it is recorded that King Edward VII, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, 'took tea' here after a days deer stalking on Machrie Moor.

The building is very typical of 16th century domestic Scottish architecture with crow stepped roof gables and a circular tower with turret, which houses the grand staircase.

Nowadays the House of Machrie can be rented for holiday breaks or as a sporting lodge for larger parties.  The house can sleep up to 14 in two double bedrooms and 5 twin rooms.  It also has 2 large reception rooms and a large conservatory. 

Not to mention the reception hallway, drying room, outside pantry and games room with bar billiards and table tennis!

The large dining room can seat 14 comfortably. We even allow well behaved pets to stay!  Further information can be found on our website www.dougarie.com

 

Dougarie Shoots

Dougarie is a country sporting estate and as such runs a number of pheasant shoots each year.  Prior to me taking up a role within the Estate I had never been on a shoot and knew very little about the subject (I still don’t!) but I’m learning fast and have now been on several on the Island.

The beaters gather at a very civilised time just before nine, some with dogs who were busy introducing themselves and clearly eager to get going.  After some discussion with the gamekeeper, dogs and people are crammed into a variety of 4WD’s, and were dispatched to the start of drive.  

The ground is rough and challenging to move across, hence the need for the dogs to be able to flush the birds forward. Depending on the drive (and there are usually about 6 in a day), it can be across moor, scrub or through the forests.  Most of the beaters carried sticks, not only for support but also to lay across the top of fences that had to be negotiated (hence preventing barb wire injuries!).

After spreading out, a short wait and then the horn blows to indicate the start. What surprised me most on my first shoot was the noise – not of the guns, but the banging of sticks, clackers, chirping, whistles and the flags snapping.  And all the time the gamekeeper controlling the line moving forward, stopping it while birds flushed out and generally ensuring we were all doing what we should. Before I knew it the horn blew again to stop the drive (and more importantly the guns).  As I discovered, it is usually at this point a perfect bird flies across the guns, and lives to fly another day.

At the end of the drive we all gathered near the guns, some dogs panting and taking a rest, while others went off to ‘pick up’ the downed birds.  This is not always as easy as it sounds as some birds continue to glide and can be a significant distance away.

In some cases it seems that the bird is nearly as big as the dog!

Of course when the beaters set off to the start of a drive, the guns set off to their ‘pegs’.  Each gun having been allocated a peg at the start. 

Some guns also have their own dogs, which wait patiently by, ready to ‘pick up’ nearby downed birds on command. On one shoot I stayed with the guns and realised the importance of controlling the beaters to ensure a steady flow of birds and not a great flush all at once.

All birds picked up, everyone loaded back into vehicles and it was off to the next drive.  

And at the end, some very tired dogs.