Читать книгу The Ayrshire and Arran Coastal Paths онлайн

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Continue along the verge past the Bistro @ Pebbles Spa, then cross the entrance of the spa onto a pavement. As you continue along the pavement the temptation is to head down onto the beach but it is very rocky and not ideal for walking along so it is best to stay above the shore. Great boulders can be seen sitting on the beach, while there are also very attractive cottages on view on the outskirts of Lendalfoot. These small, quaint and wooden dwellings are quite idiosyncratic. As you approach Lendalfoot these views enhance the pleasant walking along the pavement. Bear left away from the A77 at a lay-by and follow the road round to the Varyag Memorial.

The Varyag was an iconic Russian warship that was badly damaged and suffered many casualties in the 1904 Battle of Chemulpo Bay during Russia's war with Japan. A mismatched battle heavily in favour of the Japanese resulted in extensive damage and the ship became immobile as a result. In 1905 she was salvaged by the Japanese and, renamed Soya, became part of their navy. During World War I, however, Japan became an ally and many ships were returned to Russia, including the Varyag in 1916. She was brought to Britain under her reclaimed Russian name in the following year for repairs but, because of civil war in Russia, they never took place. The ship was eventually sold as scrap to Germany in 1920 but, ironically, sank during a storm when being tugged across the Firth of Clyde. The Varyag went down only 450m off the coast at Lendalfoot.