Farland Head. Portencross and Goldenberry Hill.

                                                ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.

 

The second small but beautiful hill walk that we (Alan and myself) were saving for a fine late spring day was Goldenberry Hill. Dedicated trig tickers will just go straight up and down it with no variation at all but I've always preferred a circular route for a much more immersive and pleasurable experience. This is a really great day out of only 3 to 4 hours duration.

 

You can get a bus or train to West Kilbride and walk from there along the beach at low tide ( or most tides except full high tide when it would be harder) but as we arrived by car we parked at Portencross. ( a reasonable free car park there for around 20 cars or so) we started there and then walked along the grassy shoreline to the beach ( seen here) in the direction of West Kilbride. This gives you a lovely beach stroll to start the day.

 

 On the OS Landranger map Sheet 63 Firth of Clyde two tracks lead inland from the beach. One to Ardneil farm and one further along to Yonderfield farm. Usual story with routes you've done before a dozen times, but not for five years, then assume you know it just as well today as we went too far along the beach because we were enjoying it in the sunshine, so it was only when we turned inland and up the track to Thirdpart that I realized we were going wrong and got out the map for the first time that day to refresh my memory of the route. 

 

It did get us a good photograph of this farmer preparing the fields for crops though and no hardship as we backtracked slightly then took the connecting minor white track directly to Ardneil which put us back on course again and is also a pleasant rural way to avoid the B7048. Although the B7048 is a quiet road anyway.

 

Back on the right track again we could enjoy the full beauty of Goldenberry Hill. No berries that I've ever noticed growing on it but yellow gorse is in visible abundance so maybe in spring/ summer it has a golden crown around it from afar.

 Gorse and the island of Arran. It's another hill I don't do too often as it is very special. Two other hill-walkers here the only ones we spotted that day.

 Looking back at the beach from halfway up the hill.

 Very green and lush farming country. Used to do a lot of cycling around this district.

 West Kilbride back country and a wind farm.

 

A Cowslip on the way up. In Late April and May loads of wild flowers adorn this walk, especially on the descent, through the woods.

 

A fern unfolding and some wild garlic.

Views out to sea from the summit are not too shabby either. A lone small yacht off the island of Arran here. Makes the Firth seem huge by its size in the landscape.

 A ruined castle and several buildings /houses on the private island of Little Cumbrae.

Great Cumbrae and Millport from Goldenberry Hill summit.

Goldenberry Hill. Summit view looking inland. An electric fence blocks the last 20 feet to reach the trig so as both of us had done it before we never bothered going to it this time as it looked a bit tricky unhooking the clips to allow you to reach it without getting a shock. Instead we had lunch this side of the fence.

 

It's an excellent viewpoint over the various islands in the Firth of Clyde, the UK's largest enclosed estuary. The white houses above are on Bute at Kilchattan Bay and you can see the sand.

 

Solo Square. A ship passing Arran.

The Clyde Coast looking towards Hunterston and Fairlie.

 

On the way down you can either return the way you came up, via the same track, or head down the stone wall towards the coast a short distance to where a small metal gate is protected by an electric fence. The gate is kept locked but it is easy enough to climb over it once you have crawled under the electric fence ( not hard to do at time of posting) You then find yourself descending diagonally in the direction of Hunterston Power Station. This path, seen above, disappears in a few places but don't be tempted to cut straight down to the coast as steep cliffs are in the way. Keep going diagonally towards Hunterston and you will find it again which brings you out safely at the bottom.

 

This is why you should not cut straight down to the coast but follow the path. The band of cliffs, including the Three Sisters set, seen here, which used to be where the sea crashed into this rock wall in the distant past... and may yet again at some future date with rising sea levels. 

 

Impressive cliffs, home to buzzards and jackdaws.

 

This easy flat scenic coastal track leads back to Portencross and ends a fantastic walk.

 The town of Millport on Great Cumbrae from Portencross.

 White Bluebells!?

 The B7048 and the drive back via West Kilbride. A fantastic day out with good company. Another walk anyone can do easily enough. As you can see here if coming by bus or train and the beach walk is gone due to high tide there is a pavement on the B7048 straight down to Portencross and the Goldenberry Hill track.

Found this girl online when I was looking for new music or artists around a year ago. You will know the tune. You might not know her but she is a real street star on the violin with loads of videos of popular tunes which are worth checking out. Shows how good a melody this is when stripped of it's original wall of grunge noise back to a pure template of notes. Also demonstrates how good a musical instrument a violin can be . A fitting end to a great hill walk.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8l67t2