Thursday 20 October 2016

Benbeoch 19 October


Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

The day’s plan was to meet at the entrance to Chalmerston opencast mine on the outskirts of Dalmellington and climb Benbeoch (464m). We were graced with good weather for the third week in a row and soon were on our way, led by Derval Davie, resplendent in new boots.
There was a steady relentless climb up the mine roads (the mine is now disused and so other than a farmer in his 4x4 we had no traffic to contend with) and soon, as tradition dictates, we were strung out over a fair distance. Those with cameras took time to stop and take in the ever-improving views as the early morning mists and low cloud cleared from the distant hills. When our chosen track ran out we took to the open ground and made our way up a rough overgrown path which followed a stone wall. Care had to be taken as there were holes and wee gullies hidden underfoot, but we reached the base of the summit relatively unscathed. The final leg led to a schism with most taking a leftward turn to make the steep climb and the other a right. This section was harder going over the long grass but all made it to the top, eventually, with those taking the sinister route just beating the dexters.*
At the cairn, coffee was taken whilst the panorama was enjoyed. Over to Loch Doon, Carlin’s Cairn and Shalloch on Minnoch and beyond, across to Mochrum Hill, Maybole, Ailsa Craig and Arran, round to Whitelee and much to Jimmy’s annoyance, Auchinleck! We obviously had a bird’s eye view of Dalmellington and Burnton, (or was it Craigmark?) and could see the mine workings in all their glory.
When it was time to move off, the main group decided to go down the side of the hill and extend the walk, whereas Allan and Johnny retraced their steps and were back at their car three hours after setting off.


The Irvine boys made the right decision for sections of what followed would not have been to their liking at all. We decided to drop down in a north-easterly direction following Davie Mc’s instructions; ‘We’ll make for that road for it looks as though it will take us back to the opencast road we came up’. So make for the road we did. We came down a steepish slope of lank grasses and deep moss.  This should have been easy enough but the moss held hidden boulders and holes lying in wait to trap the unwary.  And some of us fell into (literally) the traps. But we all made the bottom of the slope eventually with only the occasional expletive uttered.
How come things that look close from height somehow move further away once you lose sight of them? Once we had reached more level ground it seemed ages of trudging through tussocky moorland before we reached the comfort of the road. But make the road we did, a broad road and fairly level, and the walking was easy.
Any thoughts we might have had that our leader for the day knew exactly where he was going were dispelled at the first fork in the road. ‘Which way?’ we asked. ‘That looks as though it will take us round to the trees and the road we came up’ he tentatively suggested.  We took his advice and took the left hand branch. It ran out after half a mile or so. But, and it was a ‘but’ that saved our leader from utter ignominy and the gibes of those who know better, another ‘road’ was spotted barely four hundred metres away. Another yomp was called for. It was a harder yomp than the first and considerably wetter but we all made the safety of the 'road' and with comparatively dry feet. Again the going was easy.
Once again the ‘road’ gave out and another trudge through the moor grasses was needed for we could see a much broader and more substantial road not too far away. We made that road without incident. Well most of us did. Barely ten metres from safety Rex decided to do a summersault and landed spread-eagled on his back in a hollow. Lying there like a stranded sheep, Rex could only call for help while those of us with him stood around and offered advice. The poor soul was eventually rescued by the compassionate Robert and Rex was soon in the upright again none the worse for his mishap.
Our new road proved to be the one we should have been on in the first place and it did take us down past the opencast workings and back to the start. What a delight it was walking downward into the late October sunshine.
There was no sign of the Irvine boys and we guessed what had happened to them. However, even without them, an enjoyable recovery was made in our usual howff in Dalmellington where we were treated as long lost friends by the hostess. Our thanks to the Dalmellington Inn for the snacks provided.

 * the benefits of a classical educashun

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