Tomorrow 31 May

Confirmation that the walk will be Conic Hill.

Arrangements for 31 May

Conic Hill
Meet at the car park in Balmaha at 10am. The preference is to have lunch in the nearby hostelry, so no need to bring your own, unless you want to.

In the event of a poor weather forecast an alternative local walk will be posted on the blog by 6pm on the Tuesday evening.
CHECK THE BLOG!!!!

Corsencon 17 May

Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Paul, Peter

From the car park at New Cumnock station we made our way up the long, and definitely not so winding road, towards Corsencon. Overhead conditions were reasonable and a good, sensible pace was set until coffee was called for after an hour. We continued up to the limestone mine and took time to do what the Ooters do best i.e. look in to a big hole.

There was a faint moisture in the air by this time so jackets were donned for the climb. Johnny and Allan, still recovering from ailments, decided that they would head back down the road leaving the rest to continue onwards and upwards. As they walked down the road and paused to talk to a local, they, with the help of Johnny’s telescope, could see the guys making excellent progress up the slope. By the time the twosome had reached the lunch stop at the communications mast, Jimmy had come down the hill, by the direct route, and was heading towards them. The others chose a more conservative route down and arrived in dribs and drabs over the next fifteen minutes or so. By this time, we were in warm sunshine, and a leisurely lunch was taken.
We were in shirt sleeves for the walk back down the road but Holly chose to give us a wee bit of excitement. Having gone into a field, she couldn’t find her way out over a barbed wire fence. Davie was shouted at, screamed at, whistled at, as he made his way, on his lonesome, down the road, but to no avail. He was oblivious to the drama behind. Our resident dog whisperer decided to climb over the fence to help her, and this was going well until Ian decided to ‘help’, the result being that the barbed wire attacked Jimmy in a very delicate area . Nonetheless, having regained his composure, he got to the other side and lifted Holly over the fence.
The rest of the way in was uneventful, although the walk in seemed a lot longer than the earlier walk out. Four hours for a walk of between eight and nine miles.
FRT was taken at the Royal in Cumnock

Coffee stop

Six on the skyline.

Dr Johnstone, I presume!

At lunch we were dazzled by the reflection of the Sun

Holly cools off

Footnote. New Cumnock was bedecked in red and white in support of the Glens bid to win the Junior cup. Your scribe did not pass through Auchinleck, but assumes black and gold decorates the town.

Some images from Corsencon

Walking away from New Cumnock on the Mansefield Road. Corsencon is in front of us.

Looking back toward New Cumnock.

The old Mansefield Mill sympathetically restored as a private house.

Looking back to New Cumnock from near the old lime workings.

Heading down to the old lime workings.

In the old workings looking out.

Paul points out some landmarks from half way up the hill.

Peter makes the final stroll to the summit of the hill.

Arrangements for 24th May

Since we are going out for a curry at night and don't want to travel too far afield, we will do the Sorn to the Haugh walk, meeting in Sorn car park at 10 am.

Arrangements for 17th May

Meet at 10.00 a.m. in the New Cumnock station car park. The walk will be Corsencon.

3 May - Bridge of Weir, Kenny's photos

Curry on 24 th May

Now provisionally booked for the above date at 7.00 p.m. I have booked for 15 after a quick survey on Wednesday. Anyone who can not attend please let me know by the 23rd at the latest.

Robert's pictures from Bridge of Weir walk

Some images from the Bridge of Weir walk

Davy C, Davie Mc, Doogie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Kenny R, Kenny T, Paul & Robert

The view up the Dryfe Water from the bridge where we started the walk in Bridge of Weir.

Starting off along the cycle track towards Kilmacolm.

See, there were clouds in the sky.

Our first view of Qarrier's Village.

Kenny examines one of the information boards that tells the history of Quarrier's Homes for orphaned children of Glasgow.

The bridge that would take us over to the Quarrier's Village

An escutcheon on the wall of one of the homes, Mitchell Powan Home.

The view of the green rom our coffee stop.

Walking down towards the church established for the religious instruction of the orphans

Kenny looks for fish from the bridge as we left Quarrier's grounds.

Strolling in the afternoon sun back along the cycle path towards Bridge of Weir

One of the art installations along the cycle path. This one represents the seventeenth legion of the roman army. Why? Who knows?

Arrangements for Wed 10th May

Meet in Wemyss Bay at 9.30a.m. The train to Greenock leaves around five to ten. The plan is to walk back to Wemyss Bay via the Greenock Cut. Park in  the station car park and get the train to  Drumfochers ( sounds like Dumbfo----ers ) so be careful .