The Source of the Nith: Recce No.1

BEING WRITTEN

6.15 miles 2h 36m ascent 215m (707 feet)

El Sub Sta-source of the Nith-El sub Sta

The Nith, till after it gets away from Ayrshire, is one of the most cheerless of streams, sluggish and shallow, seldom more than 15 feet wide, deeply tinctured with moss, and rarely graced with plantation, greensward, or even a bold bank, to relieve the dreary monotony of its moorland landscape.

Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland

El sub sta, South Kyle Wind Farm, Under the “tori gate”, Wee quarry, The quarry (Meikle Hill), distant turbine in the mist, probably A02, Valley of the Loup Burn, Beside/above a young Nith, Another set of buildings, substation compound,  Guys moving rocks, JCB man, H01, Source of the Nith a hollow at about 440m, Moved a bit, log for coffee, 180 and back

The Romans would nod with appreciation

This was a wee walk to find the source of the Nith amongst Ayrshire’s mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles. We parked near what the Ordnance Survey labels “El Sub Sta”. Electricity Sub Station rather than a Spanish outpost. We waved to the man in the “All visitors report here” hut and gathered from his lack of interest that a couple of dog-walkers fell outside the parameters of those who concerned him.

Lichen laden larches and sheepfold

A century ago this would have been an upland moor. Grass, mosses and heather in waterlogged peat with the odd stubby tree in sheltered hollows. An old sheepfold sat in one such hollow, beside the Powkelly Burn.

Smell of pine

But what we saw was mostly extensive felled forestry. Half a century ago it was probably dense forestry commission plantating, but there has seen widespread felling and areas replanted with saplings. The smell of pine reached our noses before we came to the stacks of logs beside the track.

We were not walking forestry tracks. These roads, built for the construction of the turbines on South Kyle Wind Farm, would make a rural “A” road envious. The massive quarries we passed along the way presumably provided the rock base. But it meant easy walking for us and kept us out of the marshy ground around us.

H01 Turbine ahead, The Nith to my left

There were still some trees awaited the loggers but stands of dead larch, heavily laden with lichen told us that larch disease has reached here.

So what would have been a forest walk a few years ago is now on road through wild upland. A wilderness that could easily be mistaken for wasteland but a close look soon shows it is not. We had a misty day so you tend to notice stuff close at hand.

Mucilago crustacea – Dog sick slime mold

The slime holds were an interesting find. These are neither animals nor plants. Nor are they fungi. Talk about not fitting in. The balance of opinion on the internet seems to be that they are inedible, according to some, edible according to others, not flavourful, suggesting someone has tried them, but not obviously poisonous. The “dog sick” alludes to its appearance rather than its action. Mind you, the internet also says the literal translation of Mucilago crustacea is “great lime foam” which is clearly not correct. Though “great lime foam” is the translation of its name in Dutch, Groot Kalkschuim. The Latin name, though, is more about mucus and encrustedness. Gelatinous material produced by plants is apparently called mucilage whereas it is mucus in animals. Another day, another pearl of knowledge discovered. Vocabulary = Vocabulary + 1.

Eyes up from the ground we could see a wind turbine ahead in the mist. I thought at first it would be the turbine close to the Source of the Nith but that proved to be a little further along.

Source of the Nith (as shown on the map)

The wind farm construction has included two roads on embankments crossing what would have been the fledgling Nith. There are drainage pipes but they were above ground and presumably only operate if there is flooding.

The source of the Nith, as marked on the OS map is in the marshy ground behind me in the pho above. The Prickeny Burn, which flows south to the Water of Deugh drains the land where there are still trees.

Actual source of the Nith

The source of the Nith has been moved north about 100m. Certainly that is the first recognisable channel.

Some kind soul had left a log in front of turbine H01 so we had somewhere to sit for our coffee.

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Great Trossachs Path: 4 – Ancient woodland, Roman forts and saintly mounds

6.91 miles 3h 44m ascent 233m

Glen Finglas Visitor Centre-Callander

A great walk. Autumn colours, good paths through woodland and moor, with views down to Loch Venachar, a disused railway through the farmland and marshes of Leny Meadows to end at wee mound of Tom ma Chisaig. And all on a dry day.

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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Great Trossachs Path: 3 – Twa Brigs, Forestry and Goats

5.56 miles 2h 31m ascent 178m

Trossachs Pier-Glen Finglas Visitor Centre

“There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”

Alfred Wainwright

Wet ground, wet air, wet shoes, wet jacket, and wet hair. Constant rain, heavy to start with and then drizzle.  

Rain. The shortest of our Great Trossach’s Path outings, this section took us from Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine, through the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Gleann Riabhach, the banks of Loch Achray, the woods of Bad Biorach, Brig O’ Turk, and the wooden walkway into Lendrick Forest.

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Great Trossachs Path: 1 – Glen Arklet, the Garrison and Inversnaid Falls

10.21 miles 5h 7m ascent 359m

Stronachlochar-Inversnaid (and back)

What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet;
Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

The Great Trossachs Path runs from Inversnaid on the banks of Loch Lomond, to Callander, of Dr Findlay’s Casebook fame. That’s thirty miles according to the official website but a tad longer according to my GPS tracker.

We decided to walk from Stronachlochar to Inversnaid and then retrace our steps. It proved to be quite a walk. The GTP crosses the hillside above Loch Arklet following the route of the old military road that served the Garrison at Upper Inversnaid, then climbs through the woodland above Loch Lomond before plunging past Inversnaid Falls to the Lochside.

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 6 – Sandblown beaches, a Brig o’ Doon and Ayr’s Esplanade

9.12 miles 4h 58m ascent 109m

Dunure Harbour-The River Ayr

Yonder are the heights of Arran towering from the glistening bay; nearer are the Heads of Ayr, and the old Castle of Greenan standing out on the verge of the wave.

A Adamson. Rambles through the land of Burns 1879.

This was to be our final section of Ayr’s Coastal Path since the aim was to plug the gap between our Galloway Coastal Walk and the River Ayr Way which we had done in 2023 and 2020 respectively. Autumn was upon us, the weather wetter, the winds more chill, so we decided to get on with the walk before things got worse. And it would be a day to remember. The day I used my bus-pass for the first time. We drove to Ayr, parked up then took the 361 to Dunure. Because of this we didn’t take the dogs with us.

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 5 – castles, cephalopods and country parks

6.99 miles 3h 37min ascent 208m

Maidens-Dunure

Be ye Man – or Bairn – or Wumman,
Be ye gaun – or be ye comin,
For Scotland’s Pride – no Scotland’s shame,
Gether yer litter – an tak it Hame!

The Ayrshire Coastal Path

Beaches, two castles, an archaic doocot and Victorian limekilns, a summerhouse, walled garden, alpacas, swans, a ringed plover and a willow kraken, standing stones, sunshine, a race with the tide, and no main roads. What a day.

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 4 – beaches, burns and bull pens

8.24 miles 4h 46min ascent 68m

Girvan Mains – Maidens

Much of the 8.24-mile journey from Girvan Mains to Maidens is actual beach walking and offers ample time to soak in the beauty of the Ayrshire coast, with its dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, and vast stretches of sandy beach. Keep an eye out for Ailsa Craig, a volcanic island that rises majestically from the sea, and Turnberry Lighthouse, a historic landmark that has guided ships for centuries. Pause to reflect at the Turnberry War Memorial, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime. And don’t miss the ancient Standing Stone on Bain’s Hill, a mysterious relic that whispers tales of the past.

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 3 – a very British picnic

7.58 miles 3h 55m ascent 153m

Lendalfoot-Girvan Mains

Many years ago, a small island was discovered off the south west coast of Scotland by a group of fairies who were on their way to the mainland.

The fairies were blown off course during a fierce storm and found shelter on this small island.

The Queen fairy, who was called Elizabeth. loved this island so much that she asked the other fairies if they would like to make the island their new home.and of course they all agreed! The Queen fairy named the island ‘Ailsa Craig’ which also means Elizabeth’s rock or fairy rock.

During this storm, a small group of fairies also made it to the mainland and stumbled upon some magic steps at McCreath Park. The fairies decided to make this area their home as they too fell in love with this beautiful place.

Legend has it that the fairies can be seen in the dark of the night. glistening in the moonlight. flying back and forth to the Ailsa Craig to visit their friends..and if you are very lucky. you might hear them chatting and giggling on a still summers day as they secretly go about their business.

South Ayrshire Council
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