Cumnock, Lugar, Logan 6th August

Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Paul

After the recent storm (Storm Floris) it was a nice calm, dry morning as we met at Knockroon. Jimmy would normally have taken us up Rigg Road for today’s walk, but since he deemed part of the path to be too wet, he led us down to Woodroad Park where he pointed out where the swimming pool once was and the remains of the bandstand where the late queen attended in 1956 to meet her lieges. Passing under the railway viaduct, we started on the Broom Braes Woodland Walk noticing that work was taking place to upgrade the path. Having got so far along, the stone chippings surface ran out and we were onto a long section which had been dug out ready for the chippings. Given the recent rain, parts were muddy and slippy, particularly on the downhill sections where wooden steps had been torn out, hopefully in preparation for new ones. Care had to be taken but, glad to say, nobody landed on their backsides, and all made it out of the wood and on to open fields. Jimmy’s initial route from here was quickly curtailed and we turned left and followed a track which eventually emerged at the entrance to Lugar. Walking up through the village, we admired the housing and crossed over the A70 to the wee gardens that take you down to the outlet which was ‘the original source of Lugar’s water supply’. Being twenty past eleven, we took coffee at the benches there.

Walking over the wooden bridge, we immediately turned left to follow the path towards Logan viaduct (over Glenmuir Water), which we went under on another muddy, slippy path, and on to open fields again. We took time to look back and admire the viaduct and to look at the stone rockface across the water which Jimmy tells us contains Loganite, a rock only found here and at a site in Chile. Moving on through a field of sheep we found the track which took us up to fields of cows which we crossed next to the boundary wall and headed for Longmore Farm but took a left before it and followed the road down past Knocknaib Farm and on to Glenmuir Water Road. As we did so we admired the skill and strength of electricity workers who were climbing poles to sort the lines.

From here it was a walk down the road to Logan and on to the A70, which we crossed and headed back into Cumnock and back to the cars at Knockroon. Seven and a half miles in three hours and thirty-five minutes were today’s figures although, for some, it seemed longer. There had been enough wee, steep climbs to get the heart racing and it was good to sit down at the cars, get changed and have lunch. FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where, yet again, sausage rolls were the order of the day. Thanks again folks!

A most pleasant time was spent here, and some discussion took place about the proposed Ooters’ logo. It was decided to have the logo embroidered in gold thread onto navy blue polo shirts. The next step will be to source a supplier and to get the Ooters to provide sizes needed. Prices will also need to be ascertained.

 

Arrangements for 13th August

Meet at the bowling club in Hurlford at 10am for the Loudoun Kirk and Galston walk. There is a view to do the walk anti-clockwise this time.

Some images from the Cumnock/Glenmuir Water walk

 

Cumbrae 30th July

 

Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex

The overcast sky was lifting and with the prospect of a fine day ahead eight of us got on the 9.45 ferry to Cumbrae slip. Davie and Hugh had gone AWOL, but to be honest, in true Ooters spirit, nobody seemed bothered. However, the two of them were waiting for us as we left the ferry. Whilst the rest of us were buying coffees or whatever, they had got on a ferry thinking it was the 9.45, but it was in fact the 9.30, there being two ferries on today. Explanation accepted.

Johnny wasn’t feeling that great, so the decision was to head clockwise along the shore road and then up Ferry Road. Blue skies were appearing, and it was getting warmer, so it wasn’t too long before layers were shed as we approached the turn off to the Glaid Stone. Rather than continue down to Millport, Johnny felt well enough to do the climb up the hill meaning that we all turned right and by ten to eleven we were seated at the trig point having coffee and enjoying the excellent views afforded by the Firth of Clyde.

The walk down to Millport was easy and, although it was still quite early, we decided on lunch at the Garrison with some taking their pieces in the gardens whilst others bought a lunch at the café. For the second visit running Dougie’s meal failed to appear, but after he had complained, it eventually came and with a refund which he kindly donated to the kitty.

By the time we were ready to move on it was getting overcast again and with an unusual amount of compassion being shown to Johnny, it was decided to take the short way back i.e. going via Ferry Road and arriving at the slip just in time for the 1.15 ferry, the wee one this time. We reckoned about seven miles today in good walking conditions.

FRT was taken in the beer garden at the Drouthy Neebors until spots of rain were felt and we moved inside to continue our chat. The rain had come to nothing and after an hour we headed for home. As for Johnny, he still managed to make it a tpd!

Some images from the Cumbrae walk.