A place to play and pray.

Where to begin?  Its been an amazing few days here at Shore Lodge, with so much hard work and creativity from the team. The most appropriate place to start might be the end, as we have been enjoying an evening of exploring the life and work of John Muir. Luke, one of our participants put his thoughts into a poem, which he has agreed we can share with you.

The Celestial City- Luke Randhawa

When the mountains called he went, 

In search of a place to play and pray, 

And when the temple opened its doors, his pilgrimage began, 

And he never looked back. 

It was an empire of granite, 

A flurry of trees, 

Great wide valleys, 

Home to the birds and the bees. 

And with only his quill and an open mind, 

He carved from this wilderness a home for anyone to find, 

Still to this day he stands on Pacheco Pass, 

Looking over the disciples who wander in search, 

Of Yosemite- a place they call their church. 

Looking back, there has been a tremendous amount of work.  Yesterday we joined Jackie from the National Trust for Scotland for a day of clearing invasive Rhododendrons from Brodick Country Park.  This invasive plant is a bully that threatens the diverse, nature-friendly woodland around the park, and spreads readily out into the wider habitat of Arran. It was hard work, but there was time for some relaxing around the bonfire at the end, and marshmallows, of course. 

Today we headed to the beach at Kildonan.  This was the perfect opportunity to spot some wildlife, including seals, seabirds and a dog otter hunting in the shallows. After lunch, the team took on a Marine Litter Survey and beach clean, recording the plastic and other items they collected from the beach.  In all, 17kg of rubbish were recovered, including dozens of cotton buds, rope, and a balloon. 

Sunshine on Goatfell

Wow, residential 2 is in full swing and we have been blessed with some sunshine!  We took advantage of the good forecast yesterday and headed up Goatfell with the hopes of getting a view. It was hot and muggy on the way up, but thankfully not too midgey, so we were able to spend a bit of time exploring the flora and fauna of the mountain environment. One highlight was seeing a couple of  big fat juvenile cuckoos being fed by their diminutive adopted parents- little meadow pipits, working hard to feed their greedy charges. 

The team did well to get to the top in good time, and beat the encroaching clouds to get a misty view from the top. All in all a great day out on the hill. 

Conservation time

Our team members get involved in a range of different activities, discovering, and exploring Arran. We also do a fair amount of conservation work, and this week has been no exception.
Yesterday the team met Jeremy from the NTS in Glen Rosa, where he furnished us with some fairly mean looking tools, and we headed on to the hillside to an area where the NTS has been planting native trees.  The trees have been planted amongst dense bracken, which is both a blessing and a curse.  The bracken favours terrain with the deep soils and nutrients needed by the trees, it's often an indicator for areas where there used to be woodland, but bracken also shades out the young trees, competes for nutrients, and can smother them when it dies back. Therefore, our conservation volunteers have been working in this area for many years now, helping to control and beat back the bracken and encourage the young trees to shoot up.  There are real and tangible changes happening each year that we go back, and it is starting to look like a mini forest!

Adventure Expeds John Muir Award teams also have the chance to really get to know the flora and fauna of Arran, so we spent some time looking at the plants that are found in Glen Rosa. We love the midgie eaters (carnivorous plants) such as the round-leaved sundew and pale butterwort below. 

Pale Butterwort

Round-leaved sundew

Today we headed out of the mountains and to the coast, to meet Jenny Stark from the Community of Arran Seabed Trust for a beach clean and marine litter survey in Lamlash. Adventure Expeds teams have been cleaning this beach for a number of years. We find a range of fishing waste, and domestic refuse washes up here, including sewage-related debris. The coast here is also an important area for special breeding birds such as eider ducks and we are happy to do our bit to try and clean it up for them.

Misty Goatfell

Welcome to Adventure Expeditions Arran residentials 2019! We have three teams coming up to the island over the next three weeks and an action-packed programme as they work towards their John Muir Awards. Our first team is already here and have been keeping busy exploring Arran and finding out about the local environment. Today we all headed up Goatfell, in the mist and a few midges, which sounds tough but as the weather forecast was for rain, we were pretty happy to be dry.
Here's a photo of everyone on the top. Note inquisitive Herring Gull waiting patiently for someone to drop a sandwich...

Beach Finale

Lucy here. The youth have headed home, and the dust has settled at Shore Lodge once more, but they didn't leave before one final hurrah on the beach, a competitive map making exercise where they expressed their feelings about their adventures and shared the things that they had learned on Arran. Obviously everyone is a winner, so Rob and I came up with categories to suit each map ☺....

Massive thanks to the group for a phenomenal amount of hard work.  It was an absolute pleasure and honour to be part of their adventure while they "discovered, explored, conserved and shared" Arran- the four pillars of the John Muir Award.

An absolutely rubbish day.

Today we had an early start as we needed to beat the tide for a beach clean along a short section of nearby beach. We left the lodge, headed to the bus stop, and, upon arriving earlier than planned, played a game of Splat! whilst we waited.

When we got to Lamlash, we headed to the COAST (Community Of Arran Seabed Trust) centre, where we carried out an in-depth risk assessment and learnt about the history of COAST. After collecting our equipment for the clean, we walked a couple of kilometres along the beach, before turning back to begin picking up things. It was interesting seeing the range of things that washed up along the shore, as well as a variety of wildlife which we may have missed if we weren't looking as closely. Some of the more interesting finds were a grain sack from holland; a bottle plug from glasgow; and a message in a bottle. Amongst the wildlife we encountered was several sites of an otter's dinner (in the form of a smashed crab); two swans and their cygnets; and a gannet's skull.

Upon returning to the centre, we disposed of the collected rubbish and got ourselves a 'shellebratory' ice cream. We then headed back to Brodick where we had a little wander through the town; decided against a game of crazy golf; and had a thrilling tour round Co-op.

When we got back to the lodge, some chilled; some made brownies; and some tested the cleanliness of the carpet. We also finished off our floral research and presented it to the others. Who knew that the thistle was the national symbol of Scotland due to someone stepping on it, or that Foxglove means Fairy Bells?

After an experimental dinner of fajitas and brownies, we are going to have another attempt at spotting some badgers in the woods later this evening

Day of three halves

Monday morning started with a lot of rain. The mist sat on the horizon like a cat would on a mat. Today we volunteered with the National Trust of Scotland to do some conservation work in Glen Rosa.

At a speedy pace of 4 km/h we approached Glen Rosa. There we met a woman called Kate, who proceeded to ask us to act out an animal with the first letter of our name. We were then given bamboo sticks to beat back the bracken that was growing around the sprouting trees. This was to prevent the bracken from using up all the nutrients in the soil, and blocking the sunlight. At this time of the day it was dreicht and there was a lot of midges, though thankfully most of us were armed with midge nets.

Next on our to-do list was clear the path of heather. While we were walking to this path, after getting the loppers from our new friend Kate, we encountered some youths enjoying the Scottish weather. One of the group had become slightly colder than what is healthy. Our amazing instructor, Lucy, raced into action and pulled an emergency shelter out of her rucksack for the teenager to warm up in. With the help of Irn Bru, Jelly Babies and Mountain Rescue the girl made a quick recovery. We were on our way again.

We were each tasked with finding a flower to discover, identify and research. Later in the week, along with some illustrations, our findings will be presented to the rest of the group as part of our John Muir award.

As we approached the exclosure the sun graced us with its presence. The task here was to use the loppers and reduce footpath erosion by cutting back the heather and grass. This task seemed simple to begin with, yet with close encounters with flowing water and narrow path, it became difficult to get rid of all the hanging vegetation. After around some hard work, we called it a day.

On our return, we sighted two of Scotland's big five: the golden eagle and red deer. We returned to the bunkhouse slightly sore but satisfied with the outcome.

Split three ways

Sunday morning arrived fast and accompanied with robins singing by the window. some of us were out of the lodge before the dew had even risen from the grass in search the wonderful wildlife that inhabited the shores and forests in which we found ourselves surrounded. The colours were monotone due to the heavy cloud that settled upon our dwelling. we set out with a new hope and newfound determination to see what only few had the day before. our luck, which had been looking down in our desperate search for otters had taken a turn for the better as we uncovered the a squirrel hide cozied away in a quaint and isolated part of the forrest. Upon arriving we awestruck with the immense variety of birds enjoying their morning feed a mere 5 feet from where we were nestled in the hut concealed by nature itself. the intensity the moment was increased further and dramatically upon the arrival of the cheeky red squirrels. Their vibrant red colour made stark contrast with the earthy browns of the undergrowth. To soon came breakfast time and we trooped reluctantly back to the lodge.

After a hearty breakfast, the plans for the day were finally revealed. we were to be split, our group divided into three, each going their separate ways to discover a new territory in which we could indulge in everything it had to offer. Our mission? to bring back tales and stories of the adventures we had undergone and the rich history that enveloped the areas we were to uncover. Blackwaterfoot. Lamlash. Lochranza. Who knows the trouble we would find?

Our journey began with a trek through our very own eden in search of a new bus stop that remained unknown to us until then. And of course, the buses were late.

Blackwaterfoot:
Off we embarked on our epic journey,
we were unsure of where we may venture.
We passed new rocks and glistening water,
we could only hope to encounter an otter.

we first saw 3 little boats,
their only asset was their ability to float.
The vessels were small but the town seemed smaller,
At least it made us feel a little bit taler.

The gulls were screaming and the wind was fierce,
Through your boots the jagged rocks would pierce.
We walked the golf course and a man yelled,
Even though his terrible golfing was unparalelled.

We entered the dark and ate our scrumptious food,
it finally put the group in an uplifted mood.
It started to rain and so we tuned back,
little did we know there was more to the track.

Among the Bruceteres it became highly debated,
this could not be the cave that was so highly rated.
We turned on heel and squeezed through a crack,
the infamous cave was well worth the turn back.

The sea was disrupted by the tormenting rain,
We sought shelter to avoid further pain.
we were soaked to the bone, but the coffee was hot,
none of us wanted to be aboard a yacht.

It was with conviction that we returned home,
the ride was invited, no longer did we want to roam.
We shared the memories without the beating sun,
our bond was formed, it could never be undone.

Lochranza

Upon our arrival we decided to venture away from the village centre to go in search of the 'sailor's grave'.  the long and winding road led us straight to a cairn, dedicated to James McLean. A lost soul still in the sea. we headed back towards the infamous sandwhich station where we were greeted by a cheery woman. She explained the colourful history of the shop and the many uses that influenced the village greatly. After indulging in various beverages and snacks, we zig zagged towards the main pier, which housed the ferry terminal. We discovered a monument in honour of the many victims of the shipwreck the great storm of 1943. Turning the corner, we were presented with a magnificent view of an old ruined castle. the blackened walls told many a story as we ventured inside we discovered many different plants. travelling along the main road again, our sight drawn to the grand building that we now know as the youth hostel. As curious creatures, we decided to investigate and encountered a multitude of posters advertising the preservation of the island. Our last stop was the distillery and we were enlightened about the stages and processes of whisky tasting to create the well known taste.

This was a day to remember and we will never forget.

Felling the Goat

We opened our day by leaving at 7am to go to the coast, to look for otters. We saw one otter, and lots of harbour seals. We also learned about the wine port near Shore Lodge, which used to be where wine was delivered to the castle, but now is notorious for its rotting seaweed which gives off a sulphurous stinky smell.

After a brilliant breakfast, we explored the castle gardens. This included the Bavarian Summer House, which was built for a princess by the Victorians, the Walled Garden, which grew kale, quinoa, fennel, and lettuce, among other things, and the castle, which is currently getting a sparkling new sprinkler system to prevent fires. Similarly, the Great Redwood has fire retardant bark, which we discovered to be punchable. On top of this, we also saw a Bronze Age Roundhouse, which was built using bracken, reeds, and heather, to thatch the roof. Interestingly, it did not have chimney, as this is an area of great debate amongst historians. We then tasted some wild wood sorrel, which has the flavour of lemon or apple, depending on who was tasting it.

Following our busy morning, we were herded up Goat Fell, the highest peak on the Isle of Arran. On our way, we spotted many interesting things. For example, deer and badger tracks, the sticky Sundew plant, which is one of Britain's few carnivorous plants, some red deer, and a Hen Harrier. The walk up was long, but it was interspersed with many snack breaks and informative chats about the natural area with Lucy and Rob. We also looked at the rocks, which were predominantly granite, but some basalt had formed from quickly cooled lava during the formation of the mountain. We also saw some "nice" rocks, with their crazy colourful twisting features created during their formation as metamorphic rocks.

The view at Goat Fell's summit was breathtakingly beautiful. We could see many islands; these included the Holy Island, Ailsa Craig, and also the faint outline of the Irish coast. The wind was bitterly cold and we had to layer up, as shown in the picture below.

The descent was much quicker than the ascent, due to the assistance of gravity. However, we still had time to look at and debate the effectiveness of cairns.

When we arrived back at Shore Lodge, the cheerful chefs got to work creating a Thai Green Curry, whilst the rest of the dream team started working on their John Muir projects. After a delicious dinner, we then had some tantalisingly tasty traybake. This was complimented by dilutin' juice / squash / cordial. Now, all that is left to do is to present our findings on the life and legacy of John Muir.

Till we see you again...

Arriving on Arran

Today we arrived on the Isle of Arran. We began by meeting in Glasgow Central station and set off on our journey by train to Ardrossan harbour. From there, we caught the ferry across to Arran. It was freezing but the scenery was breathtaking. After reaching Arran we took the final step before reaching our destination by catching a local bus to Shore Lodge.

While our chefs were cooking in the kitchen, we took a stroll down to the beach. We spotted a couple of seals on the rocks and several seabirds. Additionally, we skimmed stones and paddled in the sea.

After we returned we had a lovely meal of spaghetti bolognese followed by rhubarb pie and custard. 

Beach Cleaning and Goodbye

Today, we were helping COAST, Community Of Arran Seabed Trust, in Lamlash to clean and record the rubbish we found on the beach. After eating breakfast, we donned our waterproofs and caught the bus from Brodick to Lamlash however we were missing Rob who had to go and rescue Wally after his van refused to start. 

We met Jenny from COAST at the tennis courts in Lamlash, the new offices of the charity where we were able to climb up a ladder to the attic to see amazing views of the Holy Isle across the bay. Jenny explained to us about the "No Take Zone" and the further goals and missions of the charity which has expanded in recent years and is trying to do more to preseve the unique marine life of the island. The No Take Zone was established to protect the fragile seabed by not allowing any marine life to be taken from the area which has allowed wildlife to thrive with larger lobsters having been recorded each year since the zone was created which was the first of its kind in Scotland. As well as this, they have created a Marine Protection Zone which encompassed the waters surrounding the southern half of the island where only sustainable fishing methods can be used.

When Rob and Wally finally arrived, we set off down the beach, armed with bin bags, gloves and litter pickers. After stopping for lunch and catching sight of a pair of otters swimming in the bay we began to clean. Undeterred by the rain showers we spent the next two hours picking up and recording litter of all shapes and sizes. Some of the best finds included a pair of comedy glasses, a makeshift anchor made of a brick in a bottle, and a single abandoned boot. 

Once we had finished our beach clean and had lugged the bags back to the office, we ventured into Lamlash to get some well earned refreshments. Half the group made a pit stop at the Co-op while the rest headed to a local ice cream shop for double scoop cones which were gone in minutes.

A short bus journey and a walk later we were back at the lodge for a highly anticipated meal of fajitas and nachos which was a great success even if the number of wraps was limited. 

Although we are sad to that our time in Arran is coming to an end, it has been an amazing and unforgettable experience despite the midges and the constant threat of being bitten by a tick. We have all loved getting to know each other and many thanks are due to Rob and Wally for all their organisation, encouragement and knowledge that we have benefited immensely from. 

So it is goodbye to Arran tomorrow but we'll definitely be back soon!

Monday 14th August 2017

Today, we were helping The National Trust of Scotland with conservation of their estate within the Brodick Castle grounds. We were clearing away large areas of gorse bush in order to allow the highland cattle more space to graze and move. The weather conditions were challenging with spells of heavy rain and wind. However we persevered through this and cleared two weeks of normal ranger work within 5 hours. This was a valuable lesson in terms of the rewards of determination and hard work. We are very proud of what we have achieved today and we have all gained new skills from the experience. We all enjoyed working as a team and helping to conserve the environment and are looking forward to supporting Arran's natural beauty further, later in the week.

This evening we are all very tired however are feeling well fed after a delicious chilli con carne that was made by one of our teams of three and we are now ready for a well deserved good nights sleep.

When 14 were let loose on Arran!

Today we were split into three groups and were let loose around three sections of Arran; Lochranza in the North, Lamlash in the South-East and Blackwaterfoot in the West.

The group sent to Lochranza, first paid a visit to the castle by the sea. it was a 12th century building that had been modified in the 16th century, making it more defensible and with more features on the inside. we then explored the church, which had been modified several times over its history between 1560 and 1918. One such building had the remains of its dead buried within the walls of the church itself which was interesting to learn. We then climbed the hill on the west side and walked past the oldest craft shop in Lockranza called The Stoneman, then continued on to look for Huttons Unconformity, a geological structure that at the time of its discovery, significantly changed our understanding about the true age of the earth. We saw a variety of wildlife including wildflowers, birds and insects such as butterfly's before we had to run back to catch our bus.


In Lamlash, we first saw the Clearances memorial, which was put there to remember the clearances which occurred between 1829 and 1840 where many people were forcibly removed from their homes to make room for livestock. As a result of this, many people emigrated to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. We then visited Hamilton Terrace, Lamlash Church of Scotland and then went to the beach to look at flowers. We then explored the pier and Lamlash Bay, looking over to the Holy Isle. Lamlash Bay is Scotland's first "No Take Zone" meaning that it is a marine area protected from human disturbance. After that, we went to the cemetery and visited the Chapel Ruins, before coming back to catch our bus back to Shore Lodge.

After taking the bus from Brodick Ferry Terminal Station, we walked along the beach at Blackwaterfoot and saw either a female or a juvenile otter! After this, we walked through the golf course and into a field of noisy sheep. We then joined the beach once more and found some natural arches and a bit further on was the King's Cave which has carvings inside which date back to the 5th or 6th century. Outside the cave were Buddhist meditation pebble towers as there is a large Buddhist population here on Arran. We traced back our steps and went through a jungle of ferns to try to find an iron age natural fort. We didn't realise, but we in fact walked all over it! After this, we walked back along the beach and as we walked quicker than expected, we stopped off in the Harbour Shop with Maureen and Ethel and got an ice-cream before heading back on the bus to Shore Lodge.




Later in the evening, we went for a walk around the grounds of Brodick Castle and discussed the different types of foliage the geology around the castle. We even saw the barn owl that nests in a tree on the grounds.

Goatfell

Today we all woke up early to start our day by having breakfast and making our lunch for the day. Soon after we tided out dishes and left to go and search for animals by the beach. We so many seals including the grey seal and common seal while we were watching through our binoculars. After about half-hour we headed back to the lodge where we got ready to leave and climb up Goatfell. We left to reach the bus stop to get the 11:00 bus to Corrie. The walk to the summit was 2 1/2 miles. We also started with high spirits as we went up the hill. As we were walking up we saw many different types of plants including the sundrew. At 13:45 we stopped for lunch on a large rock slab to stop the ticks however this did not stop the midges attacking us while having our lunch. We continued on after lunch and started the steep ascent towards the summit. Once we reached the summit we saw some beautiful sights around the Arran and we even saw Northern Ireland. After taking in the sights we started the steep accent of the hill where we jumped down the path to get back to the lodge. While jumping down we spotted some butterwart. We soon later reached the lodge where we all had a nice shower and had a great meal made by group 2 of thai green curry and ginger cake with custard. Also Rob got a tick today.

Arrival on the Isle of Arran

After travelling from around the globe to sunny Scotland, today marks the day that we all set off to start our Arran adventure.

Meeting at Glasgow Central station, it looked like a 14 year old's school disco, boys on one side, girls on the other. Following the grease mega mix + I got a feeling, Black Eyed Peas, we all hopped onto the ferry.

After surviving the choppy seas with luckily just windswept hair, we hit the shores of Arran. Following much deliberation with the bus driver Batman & Robin (Our Leaders Wally & Rob) managed to cram all 14 of us + our luggage onto the small island bus, much to the annoyance of all the other passengers.

Dumping all our wordly belongings in the hall way we were given the grand tour of our new home away from home.

All unpacked, beds made, tent pitched, introductions had, uno started w,e began our deliciously made evening meal. Some of us then bravely ventured out into the wild to discover two common seals tanning it up on a rock.

We are now waiting anxiously for our leader to tell us about the John Muir award and what crazy adventure we have actually signed ourselves up for!

Wish us luck!

Summary of the day: Train, Ferry, Bus, Bonding, Birds & Seals!

The Penultimate Day

On the penultimate day the group ventured across the Arran to the island's capital of Lamlash. Here they observed the non-native species which were taking over the land and choking the life out of Arran's humble plants. They spent the day measuring the invasive species, contributing to the aim of controlling their spread. 

The tired conservationists rewarded themselves with a sunny trip to the pier with the local delicacy- ice cream. 

After returning to Brodick the residential leaders decided these young explorers needed a new challenge- to make it across the bay to Shore Lodge, all alone. They forged new routes across the beach and terrifying golf course- careful not to annoy the locals. 

Finally, having successful navigated back to Shore Lodge, the general consensus was that a dip into the sea was a suitable reward. Despite the icy cold scottish waters they waded bravely into crystal clear waves. Slowly they got used to the chilly water (or perhaps their legs just went numb) and they showed off their prowess in swimming and a slightly dangerous game of catch the rock. 

Returning back to the lodge the soggy adventures enjoyed steaming showers and finally prepared the feast for the last night- homemade pizza followed by jelly and ice cream, a perfect conclusion. 

So now, as they gather and discuss all the information they have gleaned over the past 5 days, they reflect on their shared experiences. Another section of the Gold DofE complete- one step closer to the final goal. 

Monday 7th

This morning the group decided to not rise with the sun and search for elusive wildlife, but instead decided to catch up on much needed sleep and refuel for the busy day ahead - gorse bashing!

Gorse is a native (but invasive) species and was taking over the local growing field. We soon solved this as we set to work quickly with our bow saws and loppers, clearing the area from the prickly gorse. We were so engrossed with our tasks that the day soon disappeared and we left to go and fill our empty stomaches with lovely thai curry after well needed showers!

After dinner, the group then presented their very own findings about their chosen plants. 

Sunday

We saw an otter after rising early for the rare experience, previously missed the day before. Post breakfast a quick and decisive meeting was held in the living room to reassure ourselves the weather had forbidden the climb up Goatfell, instead the walk along Glen Rosa was announced.

The weather started out decent, but unfortunately turned within the first ten minutes. As we left the woods and headed through the valley, rain began to pour down like there was no tomorrow. Despite the horrendous conditions we saw a variety of plants, including the elusive butterwort that kills insects for food. We also saw some deadly enchanter's nightshade.

Following the exhausting walk, a lovely meal was shared between us all as well as some interesting stories and experiences of our instructors.

Saturday 5th, August 2017

 In the early hours of the morning the group awoke to go hunting for otters. Although no otters were seen some members of the group saw a seal and some gannets. They returned for a hearty breakfast before returning to the beach.

At the beach they were able to see lots of interesting wildlife including common gulls (which aren't that common), a grey wagtail as well as many different types of seaweed which they learnt how to identify through their appearance. They were also able to identify many species of crab that were seen.

After lunch, they went to the Brodick Highland Games where they witnessed Caber Tossing for the first time. There were also many stalls where you could buy anything from burgers to wool. They finished off the day with a wonder round the gardens of Brodick Castle.

The New Arrivals

A new group of budding conservationists have arrived on the Isle of Arran. They have gathered from across the British Isles, excited for the days to come. Having made their introductions, they embarked on the arduous task of getting to know each other. Faced with many awkward silences, it appeared that Uno was the solution. So far they survived the voyage from the mainland over mildly choppy seas and battled with the swathes of Brodick public on the bus. Now settled into their cosy cabin, tummies full of delicious homemade spag bol and garlic bread, they are now ready to face the oncoming challenges of the John Muir Award. Will they survive the week? Find out tomorrow in the next instalment...