I spent Saturday afternoon with my family at Dumfries House, Cumnock, Ayrshire. This is old pastures for me. I used to walk through the grounds here very regularly when I still stayed with my parents in Cumnock. In fact most weekends were spent in the woods and on the trails. However it was the first time in a long time since I had been there. In fact it was the first time since the estate was bought from Johnnie Dumfries by Prince Charles and his trust. The house is famous, well famous locally and to those that know for being one of the Adam Brother's first stately homes. Both John and Robert worked on and oversaw the construction from 1754 until 1759. It is also known for it's unique collection of Chippendale furniture. Much of it designed specifically for the house.

Not much has changed other than you can now actually have a tour of the house, by appointment and they have a tea room where you can enjoy a high tea at a reasonable cost as well as the ubiquitous gift shop. There is evidence that they are trying to improve things and make the place more accessible. There is scaffolding up around the Carriage houses, which were falling badly into disrepair. It will be interesting to see what use they will make of the Carriage houses when they have been repaired. Holiday cottages or something I should think. Also during my walk along the trails I notice a lot of woodland management going on with the felling of trees and the marking of the trails with posts. Though not all the trails are marked yet but hopefully that will change. The grounds are full of architectural surprises most of them in ruin after years of neglect. There are wall gardens, estate house and the saw mill to name but a few things to stumble over while you wander.

There's not much evidence of the earlier house, Liefnorris, apart from the doocot (the photograph above). It has the coat of arms above the door and a date on the door lintel of 1671.

The photograph is of the stained glass window of the lady chapel, it looks to be the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. The tea room is now in what used to be the private chapel but you can't actually see the window from inside the tea room, it's behind a rather large set of double doors. It's a shame as it would be really nice to see it in full glory rather than from the back.

The photograph above is looking down 'The Avenue' towards the bridge designed and built by the Adam Brothers. Just one of the many walks start from about here. One of the longest and well marked trails goes from here all the way up to the Barony 'A' Frame, which is a walk of about 6km. The estates is rather large and most of the paths are either estate roads, gravel paths or muddy trails. 

A view a long the Lugar water back towards Cumnock on one of the many trails. However this one doesn't go far but it's an enjoyable walk all the same.

So if your down in sunny Ayrshire why not pop in for a couple of hours and enjoy a good walk. Any questions or if you think I've omitted something glaringly obvious that would be of interest then leave a comment.

It was a fine day if a little windy yesterday and my parents were up visiting from Cumnock. They were really only up to see my daughter, I'm second best, probably actually third behind my wife. They brought the dog with them, Breagh an Irish springer spaniel. They wanted to go out somewhere with the buggy and also somewhere they can take the dog. We've now, in the last 9 months or so exhausted all of East Kilbride's parks and walks that are suitable for both the dog and the buggy. Having enjoyed myself so much the last time at the windfarm, I made the suggestion. However I did prefix it with a warning, once we're out on the moss there's just the walking and the views. My mum asked can we get a coffee near by and I told her about the cafe in the visitors centre. That settled it, we were off. Somewhere to get a coffee seems to be the clincher for my parents these days.

We arrived and got parked. It was really busy, the car park was almost full. Visitors ranging from families, casual walkers, Mountain bikers and dog walkers were all about. After that we headed over to the visitor centre and my Mum got the coffees in while Dad and I fed Rowan.

I was much better organised this time and we took the Lochgoil curcuit as recommended by Phil Turner, @PhilOutdoors. It was a cracking walk and we took it at an easy pace. I'm going to have to go back again, as about half round, near the control centre there's a monument in the middle of the field but I didn't want to enter the field as it was full of sheep. Never a good idea regardless of how well your dog is trained. I'm thinking its probably a covenanter memorial. There's plenty of them dotted alround this area and I've visited a few. I'd be very surprised if it's not. I'll need to get up close to know for sure.

I really need to get myself a decent camera. My photographs really are not doing the views and justice what so ever.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the dog got a good run out. Two new converts to the wonders of the Windfarm. 

I was really looking forward to writing this up but now I'm full of disappointment. Yesterday we decided to go along to the Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival. I really wish I had discovered their website before turning up. We had seen the signs up and around advertising that it would be on at the weekend. However never seen a balloon as there all up at the crack of dawn and there in lies my disappointment. Still had a good day out the weather was fine and there was other stuff to see and do. Lots of stalls selling local jams, jewellery, bags and the like as well as the Hamilton Classic Car Club.

The club had a good selection of cars on show including a couple Trabants from East Germany as well as some old Royal Enfield motorcycles. 

Ah well there's always next year. Now that I know the timetable.

Spent the afternoon up at the Whitelee Windfarm (UPDATE: you can also follow them on Twitter at Visit_Whitelee) with my 8 month old daughter, she was in her buggy, I was on foot. I really do wish I had a better camera as the few photographs I took don't do the place justice. We had such a great day out and would thoroughly recommend it, especially if you like being in the outdoors, either walking, cycling or even running. There's over 90km of well marked hard packed gravel trails that I had no problem pushing our super duper all terrain buggy over. I would recommend that if you are pushing one that it does have suspension and inflatable tires, if only for the comfort of your son or daughter.

We took a short option of about 6km as time was a bit short and there was a feeding to be had for my daughter, she is a growing baby after all and these things can take time in the outdoors. Too much going on. However the walk was a good one plenty of wildlife and views to be had. We had a couple of wagtails fly past, well I think it was, I'm no ornithologist. We also saw a Kestrel hovering among other things. All in all a great walk in the fresh air. Great access to the high moors & mosses that you just don't normally get.

The photographs taken with my iPhone make it look like a very dull and overcast day but it really wasn't that bad, yes it was pretty bright and the clouds were well above 3000ft, so much so that the vast majority of Ayrshire was laid bare to the south and offered great views all the way to the Ailsa Craig and the Kintyre Pennisula as well as Arran. I would wager on a really fine and clear day you may even be able to see the Merrick away down in the Galloway Forrest.

It's a bit disconcerting the first time you stand next one of the big turbines. They are massive and strangely quiet for the size and speed that they are spinning at. I can imagine that they could give some people the fear. Yep they are that big.

There's excellent car parking and a brilliant visitor centre with toilets and showers should you need one. They also have a cafe should you want a feed as well as an excellent exhibition space explaining everything that goes on there and the wildlife you can expect to see. For the less active you can take a bus round, that stops at some of the great view points. If you get a chance and it's a dry day, give it a go you maybe surprised. Oh and it's free, no charge.

If there's any questions then leave me comment and I'll try my best to answer it.

Visited Rosslyn Chapel yesterday and was a bit disappointed. One, we somehow managed to pick about the one historic monument we can't get into for free. We have family memberships for both Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Two, you are not allowed to take photographs on the inside (managed to sneak a couple in the crypt but there not great) and as you can see its not the best for taking photographs on the outside either. And three, the pain in the arse tour guide, who basically told us all to be quiet if you weren't part of the tour. I have a 6 month old daughter who the concept of being quiet hasn't registered yet. Apart from that I still had a good day out.

Spent the day out yesterday at Craignethan Castle. It's a Historic Scotland property. We had a great day. The weather helped. It's a very good place to visit if history or castles are you thing. It's a bit off the beaten track and you have to drive a couple of miles on a single track roads to get to it. Worth it in my opinion. Not sure of the entry price as I have a membership so its free for me.

Next time when we go back, we'll be taking a picnic and sitting out in the inner courtyard.

Finished off the day of with a cracking meal at the Tillietudlem Inn and a couple of pints of best.

Spent a great day walking round ChatelHerault and it's park on Saturday which includes the ruins of Cadzow Castle. It's the first time I've been to the park and I was impressed. There was tons to do. Play parks, plenty of open spaces and a museum to boot. I never had a look round the museum, far to nice a day for being inside.

I'll go back at some point when the weather isn't so good and have a look about the museum.

The picture above is of the Duke of Hamilton's hunting. Very nice for a hunting lodge, would love to have seen his palace.

The view from the front of the 'lodge' is impressive. The vast majority of Lanarkshire/Strathclyde laid out in front of you. Not that you can see from the photograph but you could see as far as Ben Lomond and the Trossachs. You can also see the Duke's mausoleum way down in Hamilton itself. 

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Went and spent an afternoon on Saturday at another National Trust for Scotland (NTS) property. This time it was the turn of the Museum for Rural Life in East Kilbride. It's an interesting property, split between a, as the title would suggest a museum. This houses loads of items chronicling the development of farming and rural living through the ages.

The other part, if you can call it that, is a working farm with a small dairy heard that gets milked daily. The farmhouse is also a great example some fine Georgian architecture and the interior and the rest of the farm is of the 1950's era.

The farm is about half a mile from the actual museum building and can be reached by walking along the footpath or my getting the 'farm train', basically a carriage being pulled by a tractor.

Plenty of animals to see, like the big Clydesdale horse. You can also see the dairy heard being milked, most days, that's around 3pm.

If your not interested in farms or rural life in general then this is not the place for you but if you've got kids of a young age they'll love the farm with all the animals.

Had day out at another NTS (National Trust for Scotland) property, Greenbank Gardens. Determined to get value from my £6.50 a month memebership this year, it would seem. This one is only about 20 minutes from my front door.

Can't really say much as the garden is still pretty bare with spring be very late for a change. I do imagine the gardens will look great in full bloom. All we seen was daffodils, thousands of them and cherry blosom. The gardens are well laid and easy to access, ample parking and we were able to push the pram round with out a problem.

I was disappointed that there is no access to the classic Georgian house. Closed to the public. Hopefully that's something that the NTS will look at. Would be great to see a wealthly Glasgow merchants country house was like. Shame. I stand corrected. The good people at @N_T_S have responded to my tweet. They informed me that the Georgian House is indeed open to the public but only on a Sunday between 2pm and 4pm. 

If your into your gardening then it's definitely good place for you to visit. I will go back but probably later in the year to see the place in a bit more colour.

Spent a great day on Saturday up at Calderglen Park. The sun was out and I was pushing the pram. Happy days. Took it a bit off road and up round one of the many nature trails. Not something I would recommend but the big inflatable tyres and sprung suspension coped well.

Took loads of photographs or so I thought. Having now looked back most of them were of my daughter so my post of great the park is, and being able to show it has been tempered slightly. I've included what doesn't have baby Bunten in. Not much.

The photograph above is the from the bridge over the weir.

As you can see from these photographs Spring still hasn't quite sprung yet despite the last few days of cracking sunshine. The branches are still bare and not much signs of buds.

This photograph is not so great, this is a waterfall, one of a couple through the park but it wasn't flowing in it's full glory. The dark bit in the middle is where the water usually runs. Wasn't much volume probably due to the weather.

Next is a trip back to get more photographs and a visit to the bird and animal enclosures as well as having a look round the big house. If you get a chance give it a go for a couple hours. You might enjoy it.