Arrangements for Wed 7th Nov

Meet in the Counting House ( George Square) at 10.00.a.m. where  the walk will be agreed upon depending on the weather. The possible walk will take in some of the murals around the city centre and a visit to the Winter Gardens - People's Palace.
Lunch will be taken in the Drygate Brewery around about  1.00.p.m. ( booking may be necessary ) Allan Sim will coordinate.

Ardrossan (or maybe closer to Seamill) to Portencross 24 October

Allan, Davie C, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

As we met at the car park on the coast road the rain came on, not heavy, but with a strong, chilly wind against us on the northward journey, waterproofs, hats and gloves were the order of the day. We hit the beach first, then followed the path, which was well marked, behind the Waterside Hotel and Seamill and on beyond the Hydro. By this time the rain had gone off and progress on the path adjacent to West Kilbride Golf Club was good. By about quarter past eleven we were at Portencross Castle, which was shut, and since there was little shelter there we walked back to the car park where the benches were well sheltered from the wind.

A leisurely early lunch was taken at which point we engaged with an American tourist, who had managed to trace his family back to Kilmarnock in the seventeenth century. Some people have nae luck!
The walk back was easier with the elements behind us and, as luck would have it, by the time we reached the cars, the wind had eased and there were patches of blue sky. The top of Goat Fell could even be seen!
Three hours in total and about six and a half miles.
FRT was to be taken at the Lauriston but, not for the first time, the bar was shut, so we motored on to Irvine and to Wetherspoon’s, where the banter was good.
One of our shorter walks, but we had the cobwebs blown away, got some exercise and breathed in some fresh air, not to mention partaking in the ever more important social aspect of the Ooters. A good day out!

Images and commentary of the walk along the John Buchan Way

featuring Alan McQ, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Ian D, Ian M, Robert and Rex.

    Had a look around the graveyard at Stobo Kirk following the bus journey from Broughton
     (which cost £3.20 for those of us who had to pay)

    A grim reminder of what lies ahead.

This stained glass window in the oldest part of Stobo Kirk

depicts Merlin being baptised by St Mungo

    The newer part of Stobo Kirk dates from the mid 1800s whilst the Ooters pictured date from the
     mid 1900s

Who can't resist pulling a bell cord?

Setting out on our way along the John Buchan Way

    We missed the company of Holly this week and thought that this collie could deputise.

    Mitch setting a good pace as the rain came on.

    Rain or no rain, it was time for coffee.

    However, the rain dampened Mitch's attempt to have a brew-up over an open fire.

    Revived after a welcome cuppa, we moved onwards.

    These Ooters are about to go round the bend.

    Approaching Stobo Hopehead bothy.

    Those Ooters enjoy a good natter so they do.

    Now more than half-way along the way

    Although only a small number of Ooters made the trip over to Broughton, all agreed it was a very
    worthwhile walk.

    Downhill to Broughton

    This is Broughton Place. Designed by Basil Spence, it was built in 1938 in the style of a 17th-century Scottish tower house.

More Images from the Broughton Visit

Arrangements for Wed 24th Oct

Meet on the 9.45a.m.ferry for Arran. The walk can be decided on the ship. 

The outing was very briefly discussed without a clear decision having been reached. This option should suit most but could be changed if anyone has a better idea. 

In the event of a very poor forecast meeet in the Portencross car park at 10.00.a.m. for a walk to Largs .( bus passes required for the return trip.)

pictures from Broughton visit

17th Oct Broughton .

Six Ooters made the journey to Broughton on Wed 17th ,Robert ,Davie, Gus,Rex ,Dougie,and Ian. We arrived in plenty of time to meet with Alan and Ian ( President of the Bothy Association ) and boarded the bus to take us to Stobo Kirk. We had a good look round the Kirk before setting off on the walk. The walk started a few yards down the road from the Kirk opposite the sign indicating 6.5 miles back to Broughton. The weather was dry but overcast and slightly disappointing considering the forecast. The scenery was very similar to Durisdeer,with gently rounded hills and plenty of autumnal trees.  The gradients were gradual without ever needing to get to an actual summit,instead winding this way and that way round the tops. We stopped beside a ruined cottage for coffee while Ian the President tried in vain to get a small fire going to have a brew up. The twigs were a touch damp and we set off before he had any joy with brewing up. The only two things of note en route were another wild bothy used by a local scout group and a big Scottish baronial style pile built for a successful professor in the 1930ies. Shortly after this Castle we arrived back where we had left our transport approximately 7 miles from the start of the walk although there were a few differing estimates of how long the walk actually was. After some people changed we drove the 6 miles to Alan's Bothy where we were given a conducted tour of the place. It could sleep about 12 comfortably with a solar panel to light the place up and gas fired cooking facilities . Although fairly small it heated up quite quickly as the wood burning stove made the place comfortably warm . We dined on assorted pieces of pies and beans washed down with local ales and or a glass of red for the Aussie contingent. The tastiest pie was probably the lasagne one ,a new one to most of us. To finish we enjoyed coffee or tea with a few local French fancies and biscuits. We enjoyed a very pleasant hour and a half  round the table before setting off back to Ayrshire.

Cumnock to Ochitree 10 October

Alan, Allan, Dan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Robert

The forecast was for a lovely summer’s day – in October – and it didn’t disappoint. Although there was a wee breeze as we left the car park, it wasn’t long before shirt sleeves were the order of the day. It was good to see Jimmy, having recovered enough to join us again, and young Dan, making his second appearance of the year.

The skeleton of the new school was soon well behind us as we followed the riverside path, and before we knew it, we were in the grounds of Dumfries House. Dougie, Jimmy, Kenny and Peter opted for coffee at the café whilst the rest of us made for the shelter in the arboretum, as we do!

Kenny and Dougie, both not feeling 100%, returned to the cars from here, whilst the rest of us walked through the walled garden before finding the path that would take us to the A-frame. Some of the autumn colours in the estate had been wonderful but would be even better in a couple of weeks, especially if we got some frosts.
Underfoot conditions up to our lunch spot were not as muddy as we had anticipated and nowhere near as bad as we have encountered in the past, so progress was easy and straightforward, and for once, there was no mad dash to get a seat in the wee shelter. The picnic tables in the sun gave us the opportunity to have a relaxing twenty minutes.
But we had a bus to catch, so we retraced our steps until we found the cut-off to Ochitree. Or did we? And did I say it was good to have Jimmy back? Unwittingly, we passed by the correct turn-off and turned right further on. Where’s Holly when you need her?  After a few minutes it became obvious that we had taken the wrong path, but, undeterred, Jimmy led us through some rough stuff in search of the right one, before coming to a near vertical twenty-five feet climb. “The path’s up there”, declared James, and so we followed him up, holding on to anything we could to stop us slipping back. What a scramble! But, we made it, as we normally do, and all was forgiven.
The problem now was we had lost some time and there was that bus to catch at one twenty-nine. The pace from there to the bus stop at Ochiltree was brisk and we made the bus by about two minutes. It is worth pointing out that the path we had followed was obviously under-used and was becoming narrower and overgrown. Maintenance was also required on the wooden walkways and bridges. We won’t hold our breath.  One bonus was that we caught a glimpse of an otter on the far side of the river. Thanks to Jimmy for pointing it out. We knew he was good for something.
No FRT today as we would be going out in the evening but, for the record, the walk had taken three and a half hours and was seven miles in length.

Alan McQ (the worker) and Davie Mc (still repairing) joined us at the Taj in Prestwick in the evening for a curry. This went down well, and a special award goes to the silver-tongued Alan for coaxing the establishment into giving us a liqueur on the house. Most then ventured to Wetherspoon’s where we were treated to a drink by Davie C, one of the birthday boys.

Arrangements for Wednesday 17th October

Meet in the car park behind Broughton village hall at 9.45am in time for the 10am bus to Stobo (remember bus passes!). Walk 8 miles back to Broughton along the John Buchan Way.

Otters at Ochiltreelast Friday morning

3 October - Erskine to Clydebank

A few images of the canal taken on the first (quiet and peaceful) half of my walk before meeting up with the rest of the group.