10 December - Gogo Glen

'Twas when the sun his westering course,
With rays of mitigated force,
O'er the blue hills of Arran held,
That Hako's fleet was first unveil'd
In many a tier with pendants gay
Anchor'd in Largs breezy bay,
Near to the thickly-tented strand,
Where rank'd the bold invaders stand,
All shining in the evening beams,
As down the opening vale the Scottish army streams.

The Battle of Largs – A Gothic Epic: John Galt


Six go to the Gogo Glen


Distance 9.3 km

For the second successive week, Thor and Odin smiled down from Valhalla upon the Early Ooters as another perfect winter’s day greeted their arrival in Largs.

Rex, Davie, Peter and Paul assembled at the seafront in Largs, whilst Alan and Ian waited for them at the agreed location. Eventually the two groups were united.

Once across the A78 we entered Douglas Park. The garden dedicated to Robert Burns looked a little bare, but perhaps it was the wrong season! As we left the Park a steep ascent began, for the most part up a long flight of steps; but as we stopped at the orientation table we were rewarded with fine views over the Clyde, with Cumbrae, Bute and snow-capped Arran looking resplendent in the morning sunshine. Upon closer examination, it turned out that the 3D outline of Arran on the orientation table had been placed there by a passing avian.

A well-defined path took us along the plateau above and to the right of the Gogo Water and Ian was soon being praised for his choice of walk. We were being treated to magnificent views, with the Clyde behind and snow-topped hills ahead. It was agreed that these hills would make a fine extended walk when there was more daylight to be had.

However, despite frost on the ground we soon encountered substantial boggy patches which had to be circumnavigated or traversed with care and the praise heaped upon Ian ten minutes earlier was unanimously withdrawn!

We continued heading east towards Rigging Hill and as we approached the hill made our turn to the north passing under its rocky ramparts as we made a beeline towards the Gogo Water. We were heading for a point below the waterfalls.

The descent was steep and over expanses of snow which had the consistency of Christmas cake icing. It soon became clear that the required technique for descending was to dig our heels into the snow. Nine times out of ten the snow yielded but the tenth step was likely to land us on our backsides. Still it was a delightful and speedy descent.

As we approached the Gogo it became clear, not just to Paul, that crossing it wouldn’t be a doddle. The boulders strewn about the river bed were icy and there was a considerable flow of water. The group fragmented with Alan heading upstream a little and crossing without much difficulty. Ian, Peter and Paul headed downstream, and goodness only knows where Rex and Davie were. Soon the three heading downstream were gazing up at the three who had crossed the river and ascended the steep slope on the opposite bank.

Ian, Peter and Paul assessed several potential crossing points and ruled them out and in time found themselves at the remains of a bridge bearing the warning “DANGER DO NOT CROSS” This might have had something to do with the missing 4 feet of bridge in the middle and the precarious angle at which it was perched.

Ian heeded the warning and crossed alongside the bridge. Quite a bit of splashing was involved in his crossing, but he safely reached the opposite bank. Peter and Paul chose to cross the bridge. Being lighter, Peter was sent on ahead and crossed uneventfully, and Paul then followed suit.

Only a sheer grassy slope now stood between the two groups, with Rex, Davie and Alan gathered on the high ground above them like a line of Apaches Indians, or native Americans as they must now be called. At length, we were reunited.

A short walk along a cart track (with Jimmy being absent, the significance of this track must remain a mystery) took us to Greeto Bridge and we stopped for lunch by a deep pool in the Greeto Water, just above the bridge. In summer this would have been an inviting spot for a quick dip but only Holly was tempted to take the plunge …again and again and again. It might have been December but our lunch spot was a suntrap and we were bathed in the gentle warmth of the winter’s sun.


After our relaxed lunch we investigated the waterfall which cut its way through rocks below the bridge. And then we followed the track west towards Largs – enjoying yet more breathtaking views across Largs Bay.

We entered Largs along icy roads which had to be negotiated carefully and passed Largs Academy before entering the town centre and discussing the events of 1995 when a train came to rest in the street outside the station.

This was an excellent walk, opening up a new area for most of us.

Refreshments were taken once more in McCabe’s Bar.