Arran Coastal Way Pirnmill - Lochranza

Rest day of my short break on Arran. The good lady was joining me today so a short section of the Arran Coastal Way was in order.
We got the very busy bus from Brodick to Pirnmill to walk the section back to Lochranza. At Pirnmill a very interesting church not many like this around, a small corrugated iron building and sheep grazing.

Pirnmill Kirk

The down side of this walk was that most of it became road walking rather than coast walking. Sadly too much of the ACW is like this.

Typical boulder strewn coast

The tide was in but even if it was out very few sections are accessible. Those sections that are off road were boulder fields and unless you are a masochist there is no pleasure in walking on this surface. The good lady is not out for a walk to endure so more road sections for us.

One of the swan nests

One group not bothered with the terrain were swans as we went by at least four occupied nests some very close to the road.
Although we had blue skies the wind was full on but thankfully with it behind us for most of the walk it was comfortable. For the many cyclists going round Arran anti-clockwise a very different experience. As I know all too well a headwind cycling is a real strength sapper.

Old graveyard but grass is cut

Midway we came across this graveyard which, from the few stones we could read the markings, was circa 200 years ago. A long time since anyone was buried here but at least someone was keeping it in condition.

A rare off road section

Great views across to Kintyre for the whole walk were its redeeming feature.
I considered the postie path from Catacol to get away from the road but this was vetoed so I will do it myself on another visit.

Postie path hill at Catacol

The driving force for the good lady was the delicious home baking at the Arran distillery but the last mile or so from the ferry was a real walk of endurance as the wind howled down the glen. 

Lochranza castle

Nice views of the castle as people hugged the southern sections to avoid that wind.
Still the cake was excellent and only a couple more sections for me to complete the ACW so job done.