Scozmo's Photery

June 27th, we headed off to Gourock on the South bank of the river Clyde. There’s a family run hotel we stay in fairly regularly, always a friendly welcome, a great breakfast and the view ………..

There are a few decent places within a short drive and a walk we really fancied doing, weather permitting; it’s around 110 miles away on mostly motorway but also involves navigating Glasgow, which can be fun, it was. Just volume of traffic I think, it ended up taking closer to 4 hours, with a pit-stop but no major hassles so, it was early evening when we arrived at the hotel, time to unpack and grab something to eat and who knows, maybe a drink? 😉

It was a pretty dank day, we’d been checking the weather for days leading up to this and it was supposed to clear up tomorrow, fingers crossed. Sitting up in the room just before 07:30 we heard the mournful call off a foghorn; yes, it was pretty foggy out there now.

There’s an ocean terminal in Greenock, just back up the river and we’d spotted two cruise ships tied up alongside, the Celebrity Eclipse was sailing down the Clyde, or doon’ra’water, and therefor passing by the hotel.

That was it, that was the excitement for Friday evening!

Saturday morning we were awake V early, strange bed etc but it looked like it was going to be a much nicer day. I was sitting at the window as soon as I’d lifted the blinds, the view out over the cloud can be wonderful, it wasn’t particularly special this morning but there were a few birds dotted along the shore.

I spotted a lone Guillemot preening on a rock a good way down the shore.

I was up, breakfasted and out for a morning stroll along the promenade just after 7 o’clock.

There were quite a few Eider females and young cruising up and down the shoreline, feeding.

Being down on the prom now, I could walk along a little and get closer and a better angle or two.

It was only when looking at these shots later, I spotted that youngster having a laugh! 😉

Back to the room with my haul. Did I mention Sea Glass? The shoreline here is awash with it so, I collected a few pieces 🙂 (a Lot)

Dropped off in the boot (trunk) of the car before we set off for a day out, down the coast to Largs

Largs is a great wee seaside town with a lovely prom, plenty of local shops & pubs as well as Nardini’s!!! We’d been planning a visit here for a while and it’s a real treat if you like Ice Cream Sundaes (other foods are also available) 🙂

Largs is worth the visit even if just for the ice cream 🙂 There’s also a pier where a ferry runs to Millport on Great Cumbrae. The paddle steamer Waverley also docks here on her round trip days out.

Here is one of the ferries that run to Cumbrae, the view being back up the river Clyde and along the prom on the right.

We walked the length of the prom, it had turned into a gorgeous hot day, perfect for a slow wander.

Looking back towards Largs from the North end of the prom, Cumbrae is the green island on the right, not far offshore at all.

Did I mention the Waverley already? Sure enough, she steamed into view coming down the Clyde and planning to stop off at Largs.

She is a beautiful old paddle steamer, the last sea-going example in the world!

After a good walk along the prom in hot sunshine, what else is left to do?

Nardini’s for a sundae!!!!!

Had to take a wander around town again to allow that monster to settle, then back to the car, which we weren’t actually allowed to move now!

I finally managed to shoo it off the roof but only after it deposited a reminder down the rear passenger window and door!!! 😦

A short drive back to Gourock and back to our room for a cuppa and a bite of the Gypsy Cream I had bought at the market in Largs; it was the size of a saucer and delicious!

Hardly any calories today at all!!!! Hah! So, a cup of coffee sitting in the bay window …..

Just look at that view! The sunsets can be amazing. Far left on the coast is Dunoon, far right is Kilcreggan.

Time for another walk I think, especially after all those calories 🙂

Along the prom to Gourock itself.

We came across the same? Guillemot resting on a slipway further up the prom. I’m assuming it was the same bird.

I never saw this bird again, to the best of my knowledge, hopefully it had swum off elsewhere to hunt.

The wind picked up by the time we’d walked into town so the walk back was a wee bit more challenging but bracing 🙂

Looking back down the Clyde towards the hotel, far left.

We were settled back in the room when the Waverley hove into view on her return leg back up to Greenock then Glasgow for the night.

Coming up the river, passing Dunoon, the entrances to the Holy Loch and Loch Long.

As the evening wore on, the clouds rolled in and I hoped for a cracker of a sunset but, it never really happened.

OK, no major sunset but it was wonderful lying on the bed, looking out at this ….. oh, and jumping up every so often for another photograph 😉

Hope you’ve enjoyed day one of our weekend trip away.

Part 2 – A Trip to Lunderston Bay

wanderings