Coast & forest
The photograph above shows Culzean Castle nestling in its shroud of mature woodland, part of a 600 acre country park with a visitor centre comprising food and gift shop, toy shop, second-hand bookshop, exhibition and auditorium. There are miles of woodland walks, colourful terraced gardens, a Victorian walled garden, charming follies and inviting bays with gently shelving beaches. To the south lies Turnberry Golf Resort with its famous lighthouse just visible on the left of the picture. While out at sea, the familiar bulk of Ailsa Craig maintains its dominance of this part of the beautiful Firth of Clyde.
This stretch of coastline with the magnificent backdrop of the island of Arran is particularly well-known for its sunsets. In midsummer that means 10 pm! On cloudless evenings then, the sky barely darkens for sunrise is only about three hours away.
The smaller picture is of Martnaham Wood, a special nature reserve in the Kyle district of Ayrshire. This area is best left to nature alone, but it serves to remind us of what we have lost through urbanisation and intensive farming.
Galloway National Forest Park
In recent times the Forestry Commission have made great strides forward in redressing the dismal Sitka Spruce plantings that disfigured so much of the country, destroying wildlife habitats in the process. Bordering on the south-east boundary of Ayrshire is the edge of Britain's largest forest park, covering 300 square miles. Its heart is within a one hour drive of Baltersan. Apart from sedentary pleasures such as wandering woodland trails or bird watching (they have a famous Red Kite trail), there are facilities for camping, fishing, watersports, horse riding and cycling. Further information: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/gallowayforestpark