Tee and Tea time (not forgetting the cake)...

Lunch on the decking

It has to be said that 2013 is going to be a year that we remember and we are only just over 3 months in. The opening of the tearoom at Machrie Golf Course, is as much a harbinger of spring and the coming summer as the daffodils; so 3 foot of snow, no power or telephones was not the start they wanted.

Clearing the snow away from the tearoom and creating a parking area

Machrie Bay Tearoom is under new management this year and Claire has given it a lovely makeover with pretty tablecloths and a bright atmosphere.

Cooked to order

But let’s be honest it’s the food that counts and the fresh menu, using local produce and homemade food where possible is all cooked or prepared to order.  This may mean a little wait, but it’s worth it.

Just a selection of the cakes on offer

 The large selection of cakes, scones and tray bakes can make for difficult choices (or several visits) and these can be washed down with speciality Twinings teas, Lavazza coffee or a selection of soft drinks including Fetimans pop (proper old fashioned stuff)! But one of the favourites is the hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows on top.

Yummy hot chocolate

Since the tearoom has been open, every day has been bright and sunny so sitting out on the deck with the fabulous views over to Kintyre, makes for a perfect rest stop.

Fabulous views over to Kintyre

The golf course is now fully operational, with the snow cleared and we welcome everyone from beginners to experienced players.  Well behaved dogs can even walk around with their owners, but they are not allowed to steal opponents golf balls.

The snow has now cleared

Like the tearoom the course didn’t have a good start when we lost all the greenkeepers machinery in a fire at the beginning of the year but thats another story (read it here).

Open for business

Arran Dairy Icecream is also available

Fentimans Pop

 



Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus.






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.