Chased by cows and hiking in heavy rain on Day 6 of the Ayrshire Coastal Path (Dunure to Ayr) 😬
My plans for capturing beautiful coastal scenes as I hiked from Dunure Castle to the ancient town of Ayr were thwarted by constant heavy rain, but instead, I gained valuable experience for backpacking in bad weather. My hiking gear was tested, I was chased by cows, my morale was up and down and my dog Coops, well, he loved every minute!
The Ayrshire Coastal Path has been designated as one of Scotland’s Great Trails, forms part of the International Appalachian Trail and in this section I begin at Dunure Castle, make my way north to Bracken Bay via clifftops and remote beaches, before heading to the lighthouse at Ayr Harbour via Greenan Castle.
The Ayrshire Coastal Path also features a 3+ mile diversion from Greenan Castle to Alloway, where iconic historic landmarks made famous by the poetic work of Robert Burns can be found. I didn't walk this diversion due to the heavy rain, but I returned via car to capture a couple of clips for you.
Notes;
Hiking in heavy rain made certain things quite difficult, for example, my movement was restricted by wet shell clothing, access to sensitive technology (camera gear) was limited and finding a sheltered spot to have a break was tough. Experiencing this on a section hike meant that I could take notes for potential solutions (a tarp, umbrella or similar) on future long distance walks.
Being chased by cows is a bit of a risky situation, especially in more remote areas wherein any accidents can become much harder to overcome. Whether solo hiking or hiking with a dog, care must be taken around these animals as they move as a herd and often don't know their own strength. The females can become protective of calfs and male bulls can actually be aggressive. Avoid where possible and if not, keep to the edge of fields.
My Proposed Routes
1. Mull of Galloway Trail - 59km
2. Ayrshire Coastal Path - 148km
3. Clyde Walkway - 65km
4. West Highland Way - 151km
5. Cape Wrath Trail - 378km
Other Routes
1. Arran Coastal Way - 109km
2. River Ayr Way - 65km
3. Southern Upland Way - 338km
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#longdistancewalking #ayrshirecoastalpath #heavyrain
16 апр 2022
