Adventures of the Early Ooters

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Arrangements for 16th July

Prestwick to Troon and back

Meet at the far away car park (nearest Troon) in Prestwick at 10am.

Darvel to Loudoun Hill 9th July

Allan, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

Many thanks to Davie and Kay for providing coffee and scones for a small band of Ooters on an overcast July morning. It was a thought to have to leave the comfort of their house and get underway, but we are a walking group, aren’t we?

Anyway, we started walking at exactly ten o’clock in what was not even a fine drizzle but just a smirr, and we crossed Morton Park before heading out beside the river to the A71. By the time we reached the start of the path to Loudoun Hill we were beginning to feel the warmth, although it was still overcast and with the smirr coming and going jackets were on, off and back on again before it finally dried up halfway along the track. The path itself, as has been mentioned before, could benefit from some maintenance to curtail the vegetation which is narrowing the walking area.

As we walked on, Allan realised that he had dropped his phone somewhere along the route and turned back to try and find it. Fortunately, he found it on the path about thirty yards from where he discovered his loss. Crisis averted! Soon we were off the old railway line and down on to the tarmac for the trek up towards Loudoun Hill. This is a steep road, and all were glad to make it to the path that skirts the hill. No-one was for climbing it today, so we walked round and down and up to the benches above the Spirit of Scotland monument where lunch was taken.

Davie had done enough for the day, so he phoned Kay who came and picked Isla and him up whilst the rest made the return journey by the same route as last October. Namely, having crossed the main road and having made a wrong turn, quickly rectified, we set out on the Long Cairn Path before veering off it down the minor road which would take us back to the A71, but turning off this road and crossing the field and onto the road into Priestland. By this time there was some concern as the Good Ship Gus was listing to starboard, but he said he was fine and marched on.

We chose not to go to the cars first but walked straight to the Black Bull in Darvel for FRT meeting up with Davie who had just arrived before us. The walk had taken three hours and forty minutes for about nine miles, and it felt like it. We had come back from our lunch stop in an hour and twenty-five minutes which all agreed was a good effort. A relaxing hour was spent before heading back to Davie’s to pick up the cars and setting off for home. By this time Gus was thankfully back to normal, whatever that is!

Thursday, 3 July 2025

Croy to Maidens 2nd July

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Eleven Ooters met up at the car park at Croy shore on a rainy morning but, with blue skies in the distance, and a promise of sunshine within the hour, we set off on the beach towards Culzean. By hallway the light rain had just about gone off and by the time we took the steps up off the shore and into Culzean it was warming up nicely. At this point we met Derval Davie and Isla who had walked from Maidens to meet us and, after a short stop to exchange pleasantries, we marched on to the shelter at the battery to have coffee. It has to be said that Culzean’s current theme is ‘Alice in Wonderland’ with large Lego models of the characters dotted around the park. This certainly pleased the kids amongst us!

Having refreshed ourselves the next stop was at the far end of the algae-covered Swan Pond at which point Alan, Allan and Johnny decided that this would be their turning point whilst the rest walked on to find the steps down to the beach and thence to Maidens for lunch at the harbour. The three walked up the avenue and took in the walled garden which was in fine fettle with a particularly nice wildflower border. Some tourists, mainly from the far east were being given a tour after which they got into executive transport and were whisked off – how the other half live! After having explored the bookshop, the threesome took lunch on the adjacent bench in what was now glorious sunshine.

Moving on they passed through the very busy visitor centre before taking the steps back down to the beach and re-tracing their steps back to the cars arriving back at quarter past one having covered, we think, six and a half miles. Whilst waiting for the main party Derval Davie arrived having driven from Maidens to meet us and when he saw the guys coming into sight, he took Isla on to the beach and walked to meet them.

The others arrived back at two o’clock having followed a similar return journey through Culzean and having done nine miles or so.

FRT was taken at the Dunure Inn/Anchorage where we enjoyed a good hour and were surprised and delighted to be given two complimentary portions of chips. A grand day out!