Ailsa Craig

[Brian]

Went up to Ailsa Craig last Saturday.
Its made out of ble hone granite, which is used to make curling stones from.

[spartacus]

Impressive.

[jambo]

Hi Brian you should have said you were going you could have come into Girvan for a dram with me. I look at the 'rock' everyday it is impressive and interesting apart from the granite. Next time give shout.
Cheers
B

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[Bigmuz7]

You didnt mention a steady 10 knots is required when circumnavigating to stay ahead of the gannet sh*te salvos

[tonto]

Originally Posted by jambo

Hi Brian you should have said you were going you could have come into Girvan for a dram with me. I look at the 'rock' everyday it is impressive and interesting apart from the granite. Next time give shout.
Cheers
B

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Is there any landing places on it?

Will probably take a trip out to there from Campbeltown later in the year when I visit there.

Gary

[Mr Flibble]

Originally Posted by tonto

Is there any landing places on it?

Will probably take a trip out to there from Campbeltown later in the year when I visit there.

Gary

Yeah there is a jetty (near the lighthouse I think), used to ship the curling stones out in days gone by. Nice view from the top of Ailsa on a clear day.

[jambo]

Yes there is a jetty to the north of the lighthouse but watch in a northerly wind as you are pushed towards to rocks.
Yes great view from top of 'the Craig' worth the climb.

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[Brian]

I will certainly give you a shout next time I am in the vicinity, Jambo.
There may well be the best view in the whole world from the top of Ailsa Craig, but you wont get me up there!
The "landing stage" looked a little, ehem, careworn. Is it safe? It was blowing too hard for me to safely get close to it to see.
I noted the pathway (in the last photo) running around the base of the rock. That looked "interesting" as well.

Incidentally, can I get diesel at Girvan? Er, easily?

[jambo]

Brian you are right the jetty will not be in a good state of repair as it was used by the people who use to live there, the lighthouse and the quarry unfortunately none of them left! Sorry fuel would have to be hand haul from garage even the fishing boats have to have tanker delivery. Yes even a wk around the bottom half is interesting.
Cheers
B

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[diverdad]

I ran a diving trip to the craig a few years ago, we ran oout of Girvan on a converted fishing trawler. We managed to dive Ailsa Craig on the first day.
It is an imposing rock sticking out of the sea!
All the shallow wrecks around it are smashed to pieces as you would imagine, just some lumps and jagged edges remaining. We did not get the chance to go ashore but I would like to just to have a look around.

Lee

[Boatnomad]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

You didnt mention a steady 10 knots is required when circumnavigating to stay ahead of the gannet sh*te salvos

Think i read somewhere,the Curling Stones on the Titanic came from here!

[willk]

Originally Posted by Boatnomad

Think i read somewhere,the Curling Stones on the Titanic came from here!

Curiously, the majority of the world's curling stones come from Ailsa - it's made of special stuff.

Picture the scene: The Creator's Workshop at the dawn of Time - he's dusting off his mitts and thinking "well, anything missing?"

"Oh yeah, I need to make a wee island of exotic granite, so that the descendants of the Sweaty Sock Tribe will be able quarry out big door stops and chase around them on ice with brushes...

...in case they won't look silly enough in skirts"

[jambo]

Originally Posted by willk

Curiously, the majority of the world's curling stones come from Ailsa - it's made of special stuff.

Picture the scene: The Creator's Workshop at the dawn of Time - he's dusting off his mitts and thinking "well, anything missing?"

"Oh yeah, I need to make a wee island of exotic granite, so that the descendants of the Sweaty Sock Tribe will be able quarry out big door stops and chase around them on ice with brushes...

...in case they won't look silly enough in skirts"

That's it your off the Xmas card list worst still the bottle list !!!! Jesus if your not careful you'll need the visa just like TT

[BruceB]

The path round was actually one of several railways on the rock associated with the lighthouse or quarries or both.
The wrecks are pretty smashed up, been once about 15 years ago, never been back.
We did go there after last years aborted IOM trip on the way back home but it was too rough to land, did a circumnavigation and headed back to Girvan getting a bit bounced about both out and back.
God it stinks downwind.........

[Boatnomad]

Place is up for sale apparently! (Wiki)
"In May 2011 it was announced the island was for sale; the current asking price is £1,500,000"

[willk]

Originally Posted by jambo

That's it your off the Xmas card list

Holy God, you too? Bruce already took me off his list! I'll not be needing the Visa just yet thanks, there's too many Camerons and Gilmores on the mammy's side for yiz to be disownin' yer own kith and kin out of hand...

[willk]

Originally Posted by Boatnomad

the current asking price is £1,500,000"

Thon's a bargain man! Just think - you'd have a Monopoly on Scottish Curling Tongs or whatever it was, and they can't manage wi'out them!

[kerny]

[jambo]

Originally Posted by willk

Holy God, you too? Bruce already took me off his list! I'll not be needing the Visa just yet thanks, there's too many Camerons and Gilmores on the mammy's side for yiz to be disownin' yer own kith and kin out of hand...

Ah sure now as you know I have camerons on my side too , so hi were damn near related We could really be close and be 42nd cuzons 500 times removed!!

[kerny]

hadd is half Scottish not sure if the curling tongs would be appropriate for him though