On a bright summer morning, it’s difficult to imagine a better place to be than St Ninian’s Point.  Surrounded by sea on 3 sides, it’s almost an island (in winter storms it can actually become one!) with wonderful views across Inchmarnock to Arran beyond.  The Point is a mixture of flower-bedecked short grassland, rocky outcrops and sandy/shingly shoreline with occasional saltmarsh.  Add in the remains of a 6^th century chapel and an 18^th century herring smokery and it’s not surprising that it has a timeless feel to it.

Approach it from the car parking area by the shore at Straad (GR NS041618).  The shoreline has an interesting though limited range of vegetation as you start your walk.  Note the delicate patterns that Silverweed makes with its bright red runners.  Sea Mayweed is now in full flower, while the pink flowers of Amphibious Bistort are only just beginning to show.

Silverweed

Amphibious Bistort

Sea Mayweed

Keep to the seaward side of the fence as you cross the isthmus and pass in front of the cottages before squeezing through the gate onto the grazed grassy area.  All the species listed below (and more!) can be found here, but why not start by visiting the remains of St Ninian’s Chapel, the first of the ‘humps’ that you see on your right as you look towards the Point.  There’s a seat just beyond it.St Ninian's Chapel

This western side of the peninsular has a series of rocky outcrops which afford a different, and much drier, habitat than the grassland and shore area to the east.  Both Bell Heather and Ling grow here.

Bell Heather and Ling

Cattle on the saltmarsh to the north

But for me the biggest attraction lies in the miniature ‘gardens’ that can be found on any of the smaller undulations.  Pictured below is one such;  within an area less than a couple of feet across, you can see Wild Thyme, English Stonecrop, Lady’s Bedstraw, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Yarrow – several more species if you include the grasses and mosses.

 The list: