Dun Fionn 8 June

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul

 

At the highest point of the day wishing for a cool pint

The glorious spell of weather was to continue but, with the prospects of some thundery showers, weatherproofs had been packed. Thankfully, they were not needed.
The crossing was done on a flat clam with the only issue being a misty haze which was to restrict views until lunchtime.

On the path up to Dun Fionn

On leaving the ferry terminal and noting good progress being made on the new one, we made our way up the Lamlash road before turning off left towards Dun Fionn. Looking for the turn-off from the lane to the hill, a path was noted, and we took it only to realise quickly that we had chosen the wrong path. If we had followed Holly we would not have erred. In any case we had only gone about twenty yards before turning back and rejoining the track. A chap at the farm confirmed that the path we were looking for was a bit further on and before long we had found it and were on the steady climb to Dun Fionn. Coffee was called for but Davie Mc said it was only ten minutes (Davie minutes, mind you, something akin to Jimmy miles) to the trig point. The advanced guard did indeed make it in ten minutes with the rest a few minutes behind.

For once Davie Mc is obscured. Is this a first?

Coffee was taken here whilst taking in the hazy view and considering how lucky we were not to be at our work! Soon we were joined by four schoolgirls from Kilwinning Academy who were on their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. As we left them we came across three of their teachers who were meeting up with the girls on the Dun. One, Garry, was known to some of us, but we couldn’t remember his second name. Where is Gus when you need him? (By the way, Gus’s excuse for not turning up did not pass the adjudication board. It was felt that a couple of hours of recovery should have been plenty after surgery. He has been sentenced to write out ‘I must not lead my fellow Ooters into strange curtilages again’. He has to do this using a quill and in joined up writing).
In half an hour we had gained the high point of Clauchlands Hill and decided that we would stop here and take in the views up to Brodick Bay and down to Lamlash Bay and the Holy Isle. There were no objections to this proposal as it was getting hot, hot, hot, and a leisurely lunch was much enjoyed.

In the shade of the trees heading for the main road

As we descended towards the main Brodick/Lamlash road it was noticed that Holly was taking every opportunity for a lie down in the shade of the trees, not so daft! The trek from this road to Glencloy using the quarry/timber road was a slog in the afternoon sun with comments like ‘I don’t remember this part of the walk as being so long’, and so it was a relief when the burn was reached and we moved into the shade. The walking was easier now, although we still had some way to go. Leaving the path we crossed a couple of fields before finding the road down to Auchrannie and then back along to the Douglas in Brodick for FRT where ten wabbit Ooters enjoyed that ‘Ice Cold in Alex’ moment. It did become a three pint day, until, of course, we got on the boat!

Passing Auchrannie

The walk had taken four hours, the time at the sit-ootery was well-earned, and, all in all, it had been a great day out.