Castle Semple and Howwood 27 February

Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The last couple of days had seen record high temperatures for February. Today promised another glorious day, but cooler, which would make for ideal walking conditions.

Setting off in the clockwise direction we took the path by the loch up to where we met the cycle path at the sign for Parkhill Wood. Allan, Ian, Johnny and Malcolm followed the cycle path whilst the majority took the track up to the wood and then down to the Collegiate Church, before meeting up with the four, and then continuing up the cycle path to the cut-off point to the Temple on Kenmure Hill (the Folly). Dougie, Jim, Johnny, Kenny and Robert decided to give the folly a miss and walked round the track to the ‘globe’ for coffee, whilst the rest took coffee up top. The views were brilliant and by this time the early morning coolness had been replaced with pleasant warmth.

From there, we took the usual route up to Howwood and then up Bowfield Road to the Country Club at which point we turned right and went down the hill until we saw the sign for Newton of Belltrees (the Semple Trail). On this occasion we were most compassionate as we made sure Davie and Rex were with us!
The last time we did this walk the path was very wet, but today most of it was reasonable with only one wet patch. Emerging on to the farm track, we marched on to the customary lunch stop on the verge at the tarmac road, just short of the junction to Belltrees Road. Very pleasant!Next stop was at the entrance to Auchengrange House to view the snowdrops, which, as we had expected, were just past their best. It was then down the hill and across the main road before heading back to the cars at the Visitors Centre at Castle Semple. About nine mile in three hours and twenty minutes. Good effort!
FRT was taken at the Brown Bull in Lochwinnoch where an excellent day out was well rounded off.

Early morning mist on the loch

 
 

 

 

Banksy was here! Maybe not!

 

 

Past their best

Arrangements for Wed 6th March.

Meet at 10.00a.m.in the Gogo burn car parking area. The walk will be Knock hill as a special request from Derval Davy.

Sorn to Ballochmyle Viaduct 20 February

Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Simply hair-raising!

Ten of us met at the car park at the church in Sorn for our familiar walk up towards the railway viaduct. Peter joined us briefly to tell us that he would not be walking, given his sore back, but might see us on part of the walk.

The forecast was for rain, so some had donned wet weather gear from the start as we set off up the road to Catrine. As we reached the war memorial, we did in fact meet Peter who had come up from his place and he joined us on the way back down to his home. Kenny T met up with us in Catrine and stayed with us until we returned there later in the day.
From Catrine, we followed the riverside path up to the Howford Bridge, under which we took coffee, before moving up to the Ballochmyle Viaduct. Contiuing on the path for another ten minutes, there was then a choice to be made between going up to Kingencleugh and then back to Howford or going down to the river and following the path back up to the viaduct for lunch. The latter plan was accepted, and we had an early lunch about half past eleven.
On our way back to Catrine, layers were being removed as it was quite mild for the time of year, especially when out of the breeze. Returning to Sorn via the Voes and the River Ayr Walk past Daldorch School, we reached the cars at five past one, three and a half hours after having set off, and having covered the best part of nine miles, and with no rain at all.

In the evening we were joined by Davie C and Peter at the Jewel in the Crown, and later Wetherspoon’s, in honour of Jimmy’s seventieth birthday. Lang may yer lum reek, Jimmy!

We, also, took the opportunity to formally thank Johnny and Helen for hosting the Burns Supper. 

A guid night was had!

Approaching the viaduct

Taking the harder route down to the lunch spot

On the trunk road

 

Arrangements for Wed 27 th Feb

Meet in the car park of the Lochwinnoch visitors centre at 10.00.a.m. The walk will be a repeat of the Snowdrop walk of last year.

Glasgow Canal Walk 13 February

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Johnny, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

We assembled at the Counting House for coffee to prepare for the day. It was good to see Jim again and we were heartened to hear that Holly had escaped relatively unscathed after her escapade with a barbed wire fence. Having considered the options, most favoured walking along the canal, well the tow-path next to the canal, and on to Kelvingrove, so by half past ten we were on our way. Thankfully the light rain that had fallen earlier had stopped and the rest of the day was to be dry and bright for us.
Joining the canal at our usual point at Speirs Wharf, we made good progress up to the Maryhill Locks where we paused for ten minutes to allow Davie Mc to have his piece. On the way we had noticed some tree clearing on the opposite bank so it will be interesting to see what the finished article looks like the next time we are on this walk. We did see a cormorant and a heron as well as some of the more local wildlife, and plenty of litter in or beside the canal.
Moving on from the locks we travelled down the Kelvin Walkway to the newly painted footbridge over the river which took us into the Botanic Gardens, and public toilets, so necessary these days, especially for us. It was then down Byres Road and along to Kelvingrove to see Dippy the Diplodocus. We hadn’t counted on the Glasgow schools still being on holiday as the place was heaving, so we didn’t stay long and left just as the organist started playing. Showing compassion, not like us, we waited outside for Gus, who had spent some time in the charity bookshop, to join us, and, by half past one, we had reached Hengler’s Circus (Wetherspoon’s) in Sauchiehall Street, where we were comfortably seated together, unlike the previous occasion. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch, but by about quarter to three it was time to make our way back home.
All in all, we had covered about nine miles by the time we got back to the bus/train station. A grand day out!

Arrangements for Wed 20th Feb

Meet in the Sorn Church Car park at 9.30.a.m. The walk will be along the river to Catrine and the Haugh and return.
The arrangements for Jimmy's curry are as follows :- meet at approximately 7.00.p.m. in the Jewel in the Crown Kilmarnock. I have booked for15 people, anyone who can not be there please let me know asap.

Wardlaw Hill 6 February

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Paul, Rex

On the Sanquhar Brig

For many of us this was a new walk. We had done Cairn Table many times and had walked from Muirkirk over to Sanquhar/Kirkconnel but Wardlaw Hill (497m) was to be today’s destination.

The forecast said that the rain would move in about 3pm so we wasted no time in moving off from the Kames car park, following the familiar path up to the Sanquhar Brig. Crossing over, we took the old road, or what remains of it, up to the seat where we took coffee. The going underfoot had been wet and muddy in parts, but we were in good spirits as we continued up the road until we reached the point where we turned off to the right for the trek up to the summit of Wardlaw.
The first half of this part of the walk proved to be very wet and boggy, although we were reliably informed that this was the drier of the two ways to tackle the hill. and it was with some relief that drier ground was found further up. However, with about fifteen minutes to go to the cairn on top, it started raining, meaning that those who had not donned waterproofs earlier had to stop and get them on. The rain was not that heavy, more of a nuisance, but with a strong breeze at the top, the conditions were not conducive to hanging around for too long. Those who had arrived first had sat down on the sheltered side of the cairn (with its plaque in memory of Colonel Baird) for lunch, but most decided to wait until we got back down a bit to a spot where we could get shelter. It had taken an hour and forty-five minutes to get to the top, and it was about noon when we started our descent.
We made the old road again in jig time and by this time the skies had cleared making the conditions rather pleasant, particularly as we were now out of the wind. Lunch for most was taken back at the seat, but Johnny, suffering from a sore hip, wandered on with Holly at a modest pace. The rest of us caught up with him well before Kames, which was reached three hours and thirty-five minutes after having set off, but who’s counting? Nearly nine miles on a day which, other than the half hour or so when we were up the hill, had stayed dry. The route had just been a steady incline with no steep parts to negotiate, although the underfoot conditions would suggest that another go at this walk would be best kept for a good day after a warm, dry spell.
FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline as there was a suggestion that the Empire Bar was closed. Thanks go to the barmaid for providing us with a plentiful supply of nibbles and a plate of sausage rolls. Gratefully accepted!
Finally, mention must be made of our treasurer’s new purse. Very proud of it he was, and the modest price he paid for it.
And finally, finally, the promised rains at 3pm never arrived! It was a lovely afternoon for early February.

Coffee stop with Cairn Table in the background

Nearly there

Taking shelter



Arrangements for 13 February

Glasgow
Meet in The Counting House at 10am for coffee before deciding on what follows. Options, dependent on the weather (and the whims of those present), would be to go to Kelvingrove and walk back via Wetherspoon's for lunch, or go for a canal walk and then have a lunch in Wetherspoon's. Or whatever!