Smugglers' Trail 20 May

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Ian D, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Peter, Rex, Robert

Thanks to Anne and Malcolm for providing coffee and bacon rolls prior to the walk, it was very much appreciated. Welcome also to Ian who was joining us for the first time.

Setting off from the car park at Dundonald Castle we soon came across the signpost telling us to go left to follow the Smugglers’ Trail. We went right! No worries though, as this was familiar territory and the path led us past the ruins of Auchans Castle and continued up as far as Hillhouse Quarry. The path came to an abrupt end with a warning sign indicating danger ahead. We wouldn’t be the Ooters though if such warnings were heeded and some of us went up to peer into the abyss which is the quarry.

Who remembers 'Young at Heart'?

We had little option at this point than to retrace our steps as, since the quarry was expanding, the path we had intended to take was now inside the fenced off area. And so we followed path after path trying to regain the correct trail and ultimately were in touching distance of our starting point before we eventually found ourselves heading in the right direction and finding the Smugglers’ Trail. The diversion had taken us over half an hour but no harm was done since the walk through the woods was very pleasant with the bluebells out and with the trees sheltering us from the wind. Following the Trail, we made our coffee stop at Collennan Reservoir, as we always do.

From there it was down to the main road which we followed up to Loans. Davie Mc suggested a slight deviation here and so we turned right and headed towards Troon rather than continuing up the main road and turning off towards Fullarton Woods. However, his memory is beginning to go (it comes to all of us), and the path he thought we could follow did not exist. Again no harm done as we turned up Wilson Avenue and entered the woods from there. Lunch was taken on the park benches in front of Fullarton House.

The route then took us down to the remains of Crosbie Kirk and over into the South Wood emerging, as we did, next to Lochgreen House.  It was then straight on and over Royal Troon Golf Course to meet the beach. The walk up the beach was bracing with many a cobweb being blown away and we were mindful that Peter was lagging behind. Not the corn this time, but the wrong boots. Sounds like a cue for a Wallace and Gromit film.

I see three ships....and a dug!

Arriving in the town, we had plenty of time before our bus back to Dundonald, so we partook of FRT in McKay’s very excellent beer garden.

Our evening out to celebrate Johnny’s 65^th was a very convivial affair indeed. Thanks again to Johnny and Davie C for buying rounds and congratulations to Davie’s daughter on her recent exam success.