Dailly and Barony Hill 1 April

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Jimmy, Kenny, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert

As we assembled for our annual Dailly walk (if that’s not a contradiction in terms) waterproofs were donned from the word go as the forecast was for frequent squally showers. But it was dry as we set off, only delaying slightly as we saw Kenny arrive. ‘It’s still only three minutes to ten’, he said and got little sympathy, remember the motto!

Anyway we headed up the track and turned off into Lindsayston Wood to follow the trail up to the road. There was some light rain for five minutes but nothing to worry about as we crossed Lindsayston Bridge and passed by the field with Sty TV. Unfortunately, the porkers must have had their bacon as the dish was looking in a sorry state as it languished on the top of the sty. Turning right we headed up past Whitehill Farm and left the tarmac at the farm buildings to continue on the farm track up to where we crossed over to the old ruins (yes Davie and Rex had gone ahead). Coffee was taken at this point and some fresh shirts were put on much to the amusement of the others. But Barony Hill (321m) beckoned and we were soon on our way up towards the path on the ridge. Our luck with the weather gave out here as we were greeted with a rain shower which soon turned to hail for our trek across to the trig point. By the time we reached the highest point of the day the hail was off and the sun was out and the conditions overhead were to remain favourable for the rest of our outing.

Who said it was time to go?

As usual we then headed down to the old limestone quarry and took lunch beside the burn adjacent to the limekilns. In the shelter from the wind, a very pleasant break was taken before we commenced our downward journey on the familiar track. (It has to be said that, from this point until we got to the main road, underfoot conditions were muddy to say the least, probably the worst we’ve encountered on this walk.) The trail took us down to Glengee Wood before we took the slippery path up to the left to progress to Poundland Wood skirting Falfarrocher Glen as we did. Emerging at the main road in to Dailly we crossed over and took the path down to the Water of Girvan and headed back to the cars along the riverside path, enjoying yet again the views of the Dalquharran Castles, old and older.

As we reached the cars our luck ran out again as it started to rain just in time for us to try and get into some fresh clothes.

The last time this walk was recorded, it took a leisurely five hours. Today, given the prospect of showers, it took us four hours ten minutes, not that we were counting of course! And to finish where we started, your scribe did the Dailly walk weakly! However, it has to be said that we were very lucky with the weather.

FRT was taken at the Greenside in Maybole where we had to compete with the noise of the jukebox to make ourselves heard. Hard to believe!