8 April Another Round of the Gogo Burn

Alan (the newby), Davie C, Davie Mc, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm & Robert

            If John Buchan had been on this walk today perhaps Richards Hannay’s adventure would not have been named ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ but ‘The Three Hundred and Seventy-nine Steps’ for, as soon as we left Largs’ Douglas Park, we were confronted by a Jacob’s ladder of wooden railway-sleepered steps leading heavenward. Half a million steps later (Scribe, I’ve told you a million times not to exaggerate – Ed.) we were seated or standing high above Largs overlooking the upper reaches of the Firth of Clyde. Cameras clicked, or whatever digital cameras do now, as we tried to capture the scene. While the photographers did their thing the brave changed into shorts for the first time this year before moving off again. (Davie Mc would like it pointed out that he had donned his three weeks ago – Ed.)

            Another sharp climb, this time without the aid of railway sleepers, and we found ourselves gathered round a viewfinder examining the view. Though the day was slightly hazy we were able to identify Hunterston Power Station, The hills of Arran and Cowal and the coastal towns of Innellan and Dunoon. And of course Largs was laid out like a map six hundred feet below. A superb view. Digital cameras ‘brzed’ again and continued to ‘brz’ for the rest of the walk (See photos below)

            Now the path sort of levelled out though, as Bob pointed out, it was still upward. A skylark sang somewhere above us and a couple of lost looking sheep stares at our passing as we followed the path gently upward. Coffee was called and we sat down to re-caffeinate. It was a day for taking it easy – the warmest walk of the year so far - but the itch-footed amongst us were desperate to be off again. So off it was.

            The path, or rather sheep pad, we had been following ran out and had to take to the rough stuff - the winter-dead tussocks of carex and the bright green, sodden sphagnum mosses that are typical of these Ayrshire uplands. We plodded on in single file trying to find the best way we could. Quad-bike tracks were found which eased the way for a while and allowed us to take in what view there was as the flat-topped hills closed in around us. Still we were able to pick out Hill of Stake that enigmatic top that we had tried so long to find. It was suggested that this might be a better route to this top but it was wholeheartedly agreed that that was for another day. Today we would follow our plan and the quad-bike tracks easing our way forward. They brought us round Feuside hill to a broad coll between Wee Irish Law and Slaty Law where came the first split in the ranks for the day.

            We had seen the waterfall, the Slatylaw Falls, from the other side of the valley but what was the easiest way to get to it? Jimmy struck off the quad tracks on a direct line taking Johnny and Davie C with him while the rest continued on the tracks. Jimmy’s group were first to find a crossing place on the burn just above the falls closely followed by the others and once we were all across, we settle down on a slope above the falls for lunch.

            Once again the itchy-footed didn’t let us enjoy the sun for too long and we were off sooner than some would have liked. Now the rough stuff came again; nearly a mile of untrodden tussocks and ditches lay between us and the roadhead. Some quad tracks were found as we approached the sheep fank that showed we were still on course and these were followed for a while. Then came the second split in the ranks. Once again Jimmy left the tracks and took a line for the north side of the sheep fank taking Robert and Alan with him. Davie Mc and the rest continued to follow the quad tracks round the south side of the fank. Jimmy’s team arrived at the bridge over the Greeto Burn and that’s where there awaited the arrival of the others. A short break, a laze in the afternoon sunshine was had before taking the road, an untarred, gravelled and grassy road, downward to Largs.

            The walk down that road in the afternoon sunshine was a delight, the yellow of the whin flowers and their scent adding to the pleasure. We ambled down the road and through the town to our starting point at Douglas Park having thoroughly enjoyed a great day out on the hill.

FRT was taken in the Village Inn, Seamill where the young barmaid made us welcome.