Images from Durisdeer Walk 23rd November 2016

More images from Durisdeer

What a fabulous day.

Some images from Durisdeer

Durisdeer is on

Forecast very good for Wednesday. Meet Durisdeer at 10.00a.m.

Whitelee Windfarm 16 November

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

We took coffee and scones at the Visitors Centre and watched the weather change by the minute from sunshine to showers, from bright skies to dark wintry ones. Eventually, Robert got us moving despite a suggestion from Derval Davie to go straight to Wetherspoon’s for lunch. Yeah, the times they are a changing!

The Lochgoin circuit would do us today and the first section saw us chilled by a bitter wind. This would be a day for heads down and get the walk done. After an hour, we encountered a five-minute shower with a hint of hail, but nothing drastic. The circuit is eight miles in length or seven if you cut across the wee dam and it was the shorter option that was opted for. As we approached the access track up to the Lochgoin monument another decision was made in that we would give the monument a miss today and head straight back to the shelter of the centre. On our final approach (sounds like an aircraft) the rains came again but we were close enough not to let it bother us and we took shelter in the toilets to get changed. The centre allowed us to have our pieces in their café if we bought coffees and so today’s lunch was taken in relative comfort.
The walk had taken two hours and ten minutes, not bad for seven miles, and FRT was taken at the Kings in Fenwick.

Pictures from the walk round Whitelees Wind farm.

Arrangements for Wed 23rd Nov

Meet Durisdeer at 10.00.a.m. The walk will be circular from Durisdeer taking in Morton Castle ruins.
In the event of a poor forecast meet at the bowling green in Annbank at 10.00.a.m.

Change to arrangements for Wed 16th Nov

The forecast for Wanlockhead for tomorrow is colder,wetter and windier than Whitelees. Therefore, meet at the visitors centre at 10 a.m.for a walk round Whitelees. The walk can be as long or as short as you want depending on how bad the weather is. Bring a change of clothes.

Browncarrick Hill 9 November

Alan, Allan, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Kenny R, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

On the morning after the night before, when the Donald was elected, most Ooters had elected to do the alternative walk.

The forecast for the west coast was for showers, but it was dry, a bit cold, and bright, as we assembled at Greenan. Indeed we fortunate in that the weather stayed dry for the whole day. Browncarrick Hill had a topping of snow, so we were well wrapped up as we walked along the beach towards Craig Tara. The tide was receding and therefore this stretch provided no difficulties meaning good progress was made with us reaching the top of the access road in about fifty minutes.
A wee stop here allowed some layers to come off, as we were well warmed up by this time, before we engaged the road section up to the sign for the Carrick Hills. Turning up left we stopped for coffee at our usual corner. At least most of us did as Allan and Kenny decided to plough on at a moderate speed up the drag.
Most unexpectedly, they reached the masts without being overtaken, and, for once, Allan could look down on the others - physically, not metaphorically, although…

One disappointing aspect of the climb was the debris that had been left, even a fire extinguisher, following a recent fireworks event. Can people not tidy up after themselves?
Despite some low misty cloud, good views were to be had whilst awaiting the rest catching up, before lunch was taken.
Half of the company decided to go up to the trig point after lunch whilst the rest retraced their steps and reached the cars three and three quarter hours after having set off. Four of the others arrived twenty minutes later, but Kenny R and Paul were posted missing with various suggestions postulated as to what they were up to! As a search party was about to set off, they appeared muttering something about the wild life.
Kenny R didn’t join us for FRT at the Abbotsford saying that he had ordered a flat-pack nuclear shelter from B&Q and had to go and pick it up!
The apres walk, as usual, was most convivial, although the barmaid could have been more welcoming.

9 Nov - Brown Carrick

Images from Brown Carrick Walk 9th Nov. 2016