A hidden gem on the Ayrshire coast.

I thought this would cheer up those of you who live in Scotland. We’re coping with rain, rain and more rain (which we’re grateful for on the one hand and depressed about on the other), while the Continent copes with heat, heat and more heat.

Way back when, there was a sunny day (May? June?) and we went to one of my favourite places on the west coast of Scotland, Culzean Castle (pronounced cull-ayn). The bluebells were very late this year and there were a few still hanging on in the wooded walkways.
I’d heard about a labyrinth nearby and we set off to find it in the late afternoon. You have to take the lovely coastal road north from Culzean and watch that you don’t shoot past the left turn down to Dunure.

In the village’s recreation area, we were astonished to come upon a ruined castle at the edge of the sea with a strange beehive-shaped dovecote next to it. But no sign of a labyrinth.
It took a few minutes and a few questions to learn that the labyrinth is down on the beach, under a steep cliff. None of the other visitors, picnicking next to their cars, seemed bothered to go down and walk it. But we did, of course.

Sea, rocks, castle ruins and blue sky. Twisting and turning around the labyrinth’s path all on our own.

Bliss.