Muirkirk Circular 29 July

Alan, Allan, Billy, Dan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Ian, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

It was decidedly ‘fresh’ as we set off for our familiar Muirkirk Circular walk (aka the Lunky Hole walk) from Kames. Tibbie’s Brig was soon behind us as we took to the old railway line and then passed Adam’s Stane (the Covenanter memorial). At this point Jimmy, who had indicated that he would not be doing the whole walk as he was still nursing his sair back, called a halt and returned to his car, whereas the rest continued to our usual coffee spot on the walkway beside the River Ayr. By this time, the temperature had risen a bit, meaning that walking conditions became very good, not too warm, not too cold. Underfoot conditions had been OK given the recent rains with only a couple of muddy stretches to negotiate.

On the boardwalk for coffee

As is our norm, we had a wee look into the big hole in the ground, now looking a bit more picturesque, before crossing the A70 and taking to the tarmac and heading for Netherwood. Lunch would normally be taken at the bridge over the Greenock Water, but today we stopped on the road between Netherwood and Burnfoot Farm and sat down with our backs to the wall, which offered us some shelter from the breeze. Davie Mc had said that this was a better option as the bridge was covered in sheep droppings, and, if your scribe’s memory is right, we have stopped at this spot before.

The problem with this resting place was getting back on your feet when it was time to go, but eventually we were on our way again down to Burnfoot Farm and then up to the remains of the old opencast. We took the high path as the lower one was flooded and, after fighting off the midges, arrived at Glasgow Road which took as down to Muirkirk and the now legendary, at least in the annals of the Ooters, Lunky Hole. Suffice it to say that Dan survived his initiation and, whilst we took a breather, half a dozen bikers arrived, drove round the car park, and then moved off.

A decision was taken to take the shortest route back to the cars, so we walked down the road noting that the Empire Bar was open and approached the Corner House with its outdoor covered drinking area. It was closed but we wondered what had happened to the barmaid with whom we had had many spirited conversations. You couldn’t write the script, but, as we passed the caravan park, who should come out to greet us as long-lost friends? Lauren, who had been helping the staff at the park, told us she had taken a one-way ticket to Vietnam and had spent the last two years there before returning to run the Coach House again. She said that if we were back down in Muirkirk we should give her a ring and she would make sure the hostelry would open early for us. Nice touch! Thanks, Lauren.

The cars were reached four hours and twenty minutes after having set off, not our fastest time for this walk, but the pace had been moderate on certain stretches, and the reckoning was about ten miles.

A good day out!