Rabbie Burns From Outer Space

[Hughie]

I just had another look at the satellite photo's of the three towns area and at the Dynamite Factory at Ardeer in Stevenston in particular. You can see there is what appears to be a portrait of Rabbie Burns on that large sloping seawall. It would be easily seen by air traffic into and out of Prestwick as well as passing ships on the Firth of Clyde. Could it have been part of a local project?

We called this area the Irvine Bar and I can recall at the top of that sea wall inside the factory there were trenches with sand bags - that was in the 1960s. I suppose they were there in case of invasion from the sea during WW2.

[Mitchy]

Hi Hughie,

Believe it or not that area is now a designated nudist beach !

[dreamer]

Hughie you're exactly right, it was part of a local project. There's a better picture and a little bit of info about it here.

Can't remember how long it's been there, at least 10 years anyway, could be a lot longer.

[Hughie]

Hi Dreamer,
Thanks for that. I knew Gavin McInnes was into such community stuff as he's a family friend on my wife's side. Had a few nights out with him and wife Sadie on our last visit - sadly sadie has now passed on.

That site you gave has some rare photo's of Ardrossan Castle - worth a look.

Hi Mitchy, when you mentioned it being a nude beach I thought that that would be the ideal spot as you can only enter it from each end of the beach - well I'm unsure about the Irvine end. Onyway this damn thing wont zoom in close enough

[dreamer]

If I remember correctly there's no way to access the beach from the Irvine end, so if you want to visit that part of the beach it's a 45 minute walk from Stevenston!

[Jimbo]

Just to thank "Dreamer" again, for giving me a lot of pleasure I visit the three towns every day on a flying visit via dreamers site avoiding deep vein thrombosis, and expensive air fares. incredible photoes of Troon harbour in the last post , thanks again.
jim.

[Malky]

The original plan was to do the whole wall, but Gavin couldn't get permission. I was part of his youth group the first time he tried.

[brvhrtjimmy]

hi hughie you can only enter that beach from the stevenston end,when the big idea was on the go i suppose you could have entered it from the irvine end,but as that is now closed and the bridge is closed ,then i dont think u can.
brvhrtjimmy

[Pedantic]

Like Mitchy said, it is a nudist beach. I wouldn't go during the nice weather as you may encounter a nudist, naturist, whatever. They're usually geriatric weirdos that can't be botherd with gardening or bingo.

Anyway, you can see it from the car park at Stevenston shore, and it's not a long walk from there.

[Davy Maclean]

Like Mitchy said, it is a nudist beach. I wouldn't go during the nice weather as you may encounter a nudist, naturist, whatever. They're usually geriatric weirdos that can't be botherd with gardening or bingo.

Anyway, you can see it from the car park at Stevenston shore, and it's not a long walk from there.

Aways been a nude beach along there as long as I can remember as for crossing from the Irvine side no chance unless it's over a bridge. Garnock was swept a few folk out over the years strong currant for the size of the river.
I can remember years ago loads of scrap motors at the start of the wall in Stevenston. Used to run up it and slide down it on the fish crates courtesy of Ivan Boardman

Big Gavin who sorted out the mural was also responsible for a few others in the Bronx, painting the Kiosk, and the front of the community center he was also responsible along with the unemployed club for building the islands next to the golf course/driving ranges which have been successful attracting birds found loads of golf balls as well which got flogged off

[joan]

yes Gavin did an awful lot with the kids from ardeer he always had the time to try and make things better for them and the community,he was sadly missed when he retired but everyone still has a story to tell what gavin did for us all, the place just wasnt the same when sadie died and he retired.

[Aulyin]

Looking at the image, it made me wonder if this idea could be used to promote Burns Corridor and the airport.
I've seen images of people, animals etc made out of flowers, coloured stones, various crops and so on recently.
Imagine seeing an image of Robert Burns in a field (as he often was) as you fly into The Robert Burns International Airport, Prestwick.