Thursday, 28 September 2017
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Arrangements for Wed 27th September
Meet at 10.00.a.m. in the car park at the foot of Tinto Hill.
In the event of another wet forecast Davy Mc. will decide an alternate walk and publish details on the Blog after 6.00.p.m. on Tuesday
Update: Weather is set fair for tomorrow so see you all at Tinto, Tonto! DM
In the event of another wet forecast Davy Mc. will decide an alternate walk and publish details on the Blog after 6.00.p.m. on Tuesday
Update: Weather is set fair for tomorrow so see you all at Tinto, Tonto! DM
Monday, 25 September 2017
Failford Gorge - Ayr River Walk and Back. September 20th 2017
Present: Ian, Malcolm, Paul, Davy C, Jimmy, Gus, Davy M, Rex & Kenny T.
For the third time this month our planned walk has been altered due to wet weather forecasts, so the decision for an alternate walk was given to Davy M and he decided on a walk along the Ayr River Walk from Failford which would be just as wet as walking up Tinto Hill but closer to home.
Nine Ooters set out just after 10.a.m. heading west along the trail in dry-ish overcast conditions, the first stop was at a bench on the edge of the wood where the stragglers had a chance to catch up. While we were all assembled Davy M and Paul were discussing which route was best to take, Davy M suggested going a longer way thru Enterkine Woods onto Daldorch and back. Paul quickly agreed and strangely for the Ooters no one else objected so off we went, as always Holly taking the lead.
About ten minutes later the rain started, wet weather gear was needed, hoods went up and stayed this way to the end of the walk. About twenty minutes on, the trail disappeared due to a land slip and a sign recommended that this area should be avoided. As we had crossed this section before it was agreed to carry straight on and not use the detour. The path across was extremely muddy and made worse by all the rain and in one section rucksacks had to be removed to get under and over fallen trees. Coffee/Tea stop was taken at the usual spot on the stone wall (for those fit enough to get there first) at the start of the Lade.
Lunch stop was at the Bridge near Gadgirth, where a few of the Ooters huddled under a large tree beside the riverbank for cover and the others sat or stood trying to withdraw into their jackets as they ate their piece (lunch). After lunch (piece) we left the river walk and headed for Enterkine Estate. Once thru the Estate we made our way to the B730 where we discovered a herd of llamas in a field who appeared to be just as interested in us as we were in them. At this time Davy M realised Holly was nowhere to be seen. After a few minutes they both returned this time with Holly on the lead looking miserable, Davy M not happy either. Once we reached Daldorch and re-joined the river walk Hollys’ spirits picked up as she was let off the lead and we all made our way back to our first stop of the day and the final section thru the woods back to Failford.
The walk took us 4h 48m. 11.5 miles A good walk despite all the rain.
FRT was taken at the Failford Inn, coffee, crisps and other refreshments much enjoyed as well as the crack.
For the third time this month our planned walk has been altered due to wet weather forecasts, so the decision for an alternate walk was given to Davy M and he decided on a walk along the Ayr River Walk from Failford which would be just as wet as walking up Tinto Hill but closer to home.
Nine Ooters set out just after 10.a.m. heading west along the trail in dry-ish overcast conditions, the first stop was at a bench on the edge of the wood where the stragglers had a chance to catch up. While we were all assembled Davy M and Paul were discussing which route was best to take, Davy M suggested going a longer way thru Enterkine Woods onto Daldorch and back. Paul quickly agreed and strangely for the Ooters no one else objected so off we went, as always Holly taking the lead.
About ten minutes later the rain started, wet weather gear was needed, hoods went up and stayed this way to the end of the walk. About twenty minutes on, the trail disappeared due to a land slip and a sign recommended that this area should be avoided. As we had crossed this section before it was agreed to carry straight on and not use the detour. The path across was extremely muddy and made worse by all the rain and in one section rucksacks had to be removed to get under and over fallen trees. Coffee/Tea stop was taken at the usual spot on the stone wall (for those fit enough to get there first) at the start of the Lade.
Lunch stop was at the Bridge near Gadgirth, where a few of the Ooters huddled under a large tree beside the riverbank for cover and the others sat or stood trying to withdraw into their jackets as they ate their piece (lunch). After lunch (piece) we left the river walk and headed for Enterkine Estate. Once thru the Estate we made our way to the B730 where we discovered a herd of llamas in a field who appeared to be just as interested in us as we were in them. At this time Davy M realised Holly was nowhere to be seen. After a few minutes they both returned this time with Holly on the lead looking miserable, Davy M not happy either. Once we reached Daldorch and re-joined the river walk Hollys’ spirits picked up as she was let off the lead and we all made our way back to our first stop of the day and the final section thru the woods back to Failford.
The walk took us 4h 48m. 11.5 miles A good walk despite all the rain.
FRT was taken at the Failford Inn, coffee, crisps and other refreshments much enjoyed as well as the crack.
Tuesday, 19 September 2017
Catrine to the Haugh and back 14 Sep 2017
Present: Jim, Ian, Paul, Jimmy, Gus, Peter, Dougie, Robert, Davie M, Rex, Kenny R, Kenny T
For the second time our planned traverse of the Four Tops at Glenafton had to be postponed because of the prospect of heavy rain. As it turned out, there was only one shower, albeit extremely heavy, during our walk from the old bank car park opposite Peter's house to the Haugh at Mauchline and back.
We did the wee loop through the wood that runs parallel to the road before heading past Kingencleuch Farm and down to the river just east of the Haugh. The path was in a frightful state due to the amount of rain that had fallen; indeed it was in the worst condition your scribe has ever seen in decades of walking in this area.
Lunch was taken under the Ballochmyle Viaduct with Davie mentioning that if you visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow you will see a fair-sized painting of the viaduct. This painting was commissioned by the Glasgow and South West Railway Company to celebrate the viaduct's opening in 1850, it having the longest single masonry arch in the world at that time.
We arrived back at the cars roughly three hours 15 minutes after we had set out.
FRT was as is our wont taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where there was plenty of the usual gay banter. Sincere thanks go to the barmaid for serving up pizzas which disappeared like snaw aff a dyke.
For the second time our planned traverse of the Four Tops at Glenafton had to be postponed because of the prospect of heavy rain. As it turned out, there was only one shower, albeit extremely heavy, during our walk from the old bank car park opposite Peter's house to the Haugh at Mauchline and back.
We did the wee loop through the wood that runs parallel to the road before heading past Kingencleuch Farm and down to the river just east of the Haugh. The path was in a frightful state due to the amount of rain that had fallen; indeed it was in the worst condition your scribe has ever seen in decades of walking in this area.
Lunch was taken under the Ballochmyle Viaduct with Davie mentioning that if you visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow you will see a fair-sized painting of the viaduct. This painting was commissioned by the Glasgow and South West Railway Company to celebrate the viaduct's opening in 1850, it having the longest single masonry arch in the world at that time.
We arrived back at the cars roughly three hours 15 minutes after we had set out.
FRT was as is our wont taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where there was plenty of the usual gay banter. Sincere thanks go to the barmaid for serving up pizzas which disappeared like snaw aff a dyke.
Tuesday, 12 September 2017
New arrangement for Wed 13th
Meet at 10.00.a.m. in the bank car park in Catrine. The walk will be along the river from Catrine to the Howford viaduct then right towards Mauchline and right again back to Catrine.
Thursday, 7 September 2017
Car parking in Glen Afton
Hi Guys,
Just checked the car parking at the head of Afton. The wee park at the trees is OK and, according to the chappy who was working there, it is never busy. He even offered to park his van elsewhere on Wed. There is no parking at the waterworks itself - the area where we have parked before is fenced off for the workers - so we have to park at the trees.
Be careful driving up the road for the wind farm workers are wheeching up and down faster than they should on such a narrow road.
J
Just checked the car parking at the head of Afton. The wee park at the trees is OK and, according to the chappy who was working there, it is never busy. He even offered to park his van elsewhere on Wed. There is no parking at the waterworks itself - the area where we have parked before is fenced off for the workers - so we have to park at the trees.
Be careful driving up the road for the wind farm workers are wheeching up and down faster than they should on such a narrow road.
J
Christmas Panto Wednesday 20 December at 12.00
Yes, it's that time again. Oh no it's not. Oh yes it is...
This year it will be up to each individual Ooter to book his own ticket i.e.
Go to Oran Mor's website
Select What's On
Select A Play A Pie and A Pint and the Christmas Panto. Cinderella 2: I Married A Numpty.
Book Tickets for Wednesday 20 December at 12.00. Pay online.
Be careful, there are two performances on this day. Choose the right one.
A Glasgow walk will be the alternative.
This year it will be up to each individual Ooter to book his own ticket i.e.
Go to Oran Mor's website
Select What's On
Select A Play A Pie and A Pint and the Christmas Panto. Cinderella 2: I Married A Numpty.
Book Tickets for Wednesday 20 December at 12.00. Pay online.
Be careful, there are two performances on this day. Choose the right one.
A Glasgow walk will be the alternative.
Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
30 August - Dumbarton - Lang Craigs circular
Paul, Kenny T, Kenny R, Robert, Dougie, Rex, Malcolm, Gus
We gathered at the garden centre below the Erskine Bridge (table service only) just as the heavens opened. Fortunately by the time we had supped our coffees, consulted maps and agreed on our start point the rain had stopped – it was to be the only rain of the day.
Satnavs were needed to find our point of departure at the Sports Centre on Dumbarton Common, but the technology was mastered and we soon reassembled there. At this point Paul realised his boots, socks and change of clothes were still at the foot of the stairs in Barassie – but undaunted he stepped out in the shoes he’d arrived in.
The start of the walk took us through suburban Dumbarton and we crossed the busy A82, passed the police office and entered Overtoun House estate. The house was built in the 1850s in Scots Baronial style and was designed by the father of the infamous Madeleine Smith. It was suitably gloomy. Kenny T raised our spirits by telling us a tale about suicidal dogs (confirmed by Wikipedia (not that we doubted him …much)) who have a propensity for leaping to their deaths from the adjoining bridge. Wikipedia claims that most of the dogs jump from the same side of the bridge, in clear weather and tend to be breeds with long snouts.
Don’t mention this to Holly.
From here we were soon on to open ground. Unlike on most walks we had an embarrassment of maps with us today. Maps are clearly grossly overrated since we still weren’t sure where we were, but a chat with a friendly dog walker soon saw us right. The route map suggested we should do a bigger circle around the back of the crags but we chose a shorter, steeper and more direct route. Rex and Robert then set off through the heather in search of where we should have been, but the rest of us just meandered along the top of the sheer drops and settled down for lunch, enjoying glorious views along the Clyde. We were joined a little later by the two intrepid explorers who had aborted their search for the summit.
After lunch we completed the fine walk along the tops and started our descent. Major excavations were going on and a boggy detour had to be followed which put Paul’s less sturdy footwear to the test. A sign proclaiming “The farmer is a **STAR*” suggested walkers were not too enamoured with his diversion.
Eventually we dropped back down to the A82, passed Jackie Stewart’s old garage and found a cycle route, following the line of the old Glasgow, Dumbarton & Helensburgh Railway, which took us back to the cars.
FRT was planned for the Milton Inn on the edge of the town but when we arrived we were notified that the pipes were being cleaned. Hmm. The Brown Bull in Lochwinnoch was an excellent substitute and a very convivial hour was spent at the end of a good day’s walking.
Footnote (geddit?) : Paul’s shoes survived the walk.
Distance: 9 miles
We gathered at the garden centre below the Erskine Bridge (table service only) just as the heavens opened. Fortunately by the time we had supped our coffees, consulted maps and agreed on our start point the rain had stopped – it was to be the only rain of the day.
Satnavs were needed to find our point of departure at the Sports Centre on Dumbarton Common, but the technology was mastered and we soon reassembled there. At this point Paul realised his boots, socks and change of clothes were still at the foot of the stairs in Barassie – but undaunted he stepped out in the shoes he’d arrived in.
The start of the walk took us through suburban Dumbarton and we crossed the busy A82, passed the police office and entered Overtoun House estate. The house was built in the 1850s in Scots Baronial style and was designed by the father of the infamous Madeleine Smith. It was suitably gloomy. Kenny T raised our spirits by telling us a tale about suicidal dogs (confirmed by Wikipedia (not that we doubted him …much)) who have a propensity for leaping to their deaths from the adjoining bridge. Wikipedia claims that most of the dogs jump from the same side of the bridge, in clear weather and tend to be breeds with long snouts.
Don’t mention this to Holly.
From here we were soon on to open ground. Unlike on most walks we had an embarrassment of maps with us today. Maps are clearly grossly overrated since we still weren’t sure where we were, but a chat with a friendly dog walker soon saw us right. The route map suggested we should do a bigger circle around the back of the crags but we chose a shorter, steeper and more direct route. Rex and Robert then set off through the heather in search of where we should have been, but the rest of us just meandered along the top of the sheer drops and settled down for lunch, enjoying glorious views along the Clyde. We were joined a little later by the two intrepid explorers who had aborted their search for the summit.
After lunch we completed the fine walk along the tops and started our descent. Major excavations were going on and a boggy detour had to be followed which put Paul’s less sturdy footwear to the test. A sign proclaiming “The farmer is a **STAR*” suggested walkers were not too enamoured with his diversion.
Eventually we dropped back down to the A82, passed Jackie Stewart’s old garage and found a cycle route, following the line of the old Glasgow, Dumbarton & Helensburgh Railway, which took us back to the cars.
FRT was planned for the Milton Inn on the edge of the town but when we arrived we were notified that the pipes were being cleaned. Hmm. The Brown Bull in Lochwinnoch was an excellent substitute and a very convivial hour was spent at the end of a good day’s walking.
Footnote (geddit?) : Paul’s shoes survived the walk.
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