Present: Bob, Davie M, Ian, Jimmy, Paul and Peter and eventually Gus.
The above 6 met chez Davie in Darvel to partake of scones and coffee prior to doing an Irvine Valley walk, the rest of the Ooters attending the pantomime at Oran Mor. Jimmy entertained us by reading out Kay’s Scottish quiz which she had made up for the Cumnock History Group party the following night. All acquitted themselves fairly well, even he from south of the border coping with words like taigle, shilpitand shelfie.
Eventually about 9 40, minus Peter who had a cold and a sore back, the legs were set in motion and we proceeded through Darvel Park and entered Lanfine Estate via the gatehouse at the east end. (There are three gatehouses to the estate, the middle one being kept private by the owners.) We continued up the ”avenue” towards the big hoose but there was no sign of the wild boar which normally inhabit the woods hereabouts. Ian postulated that they might have been turned into Christmas sausages!
Having passed Lanfine House we continued down the other avenue towards Newmilns, crossed the main road and went up past the Newmilns Tower. This was probably erected around 1530 as a temporary home for the Campbells of Loudoun after the Kennedys destroyed Loudoun Castle in an attack.
Proceeding up the High Street past the ski slope we started the long slog up Dalquhatswood brae. Once at the top, we were grateful that it was a lovely winter’s day, perfect for walking, for the views over the valley now opened up before us.
Once we had reached the crossroads at Knevocklaw Farm, three of our number decided that, due to time constraints, and the fact that they would have to get home to put their make up on for our pending night out, they had better quit the walk here and return to Darvel via Temple Hill.
Bob and Davie, and Holly, reluctantly, as she didn’t want to leave her pals, now continued on the “Five Miles” as it is known in the Valley although it is actually a 6 and a quarter mile walk. We passed the old country schoolhouse attended by Alexander Fleming and as we sat down on a bench by the Glen Water we were met by Gus who had been doing his grandparental duty by attending a nativity play.
The rest of the walk was a dawdle with the three of us arriving back in Darvel roughly three and three quarter hours after setting off. However the so called short walk actually turned out to be 17 km long, Davie ending up with a blister because of the hard road surface.
As a winter walk this was an excellent work-out.
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