Maidens and Culzean

Some images of the walk between Maidens and Culzean featuring Alan McQ, Davie C, Davie McM, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Ian, Malcolm, Paul and Robert. Distance: 5.6 miles   Time: 2h, 45min.

Arrangements for Wed 5th Jan.

 Meet in the car park beside Annbank bowling club at 10.00.a.m. The walk is along the river Ayr to Auchincruive and back. Expect some areas to be extremely muddy.

Arrangements for Monday 3rd January 2022

Meet in the car park at Kyle Academy, Ayr at 10am for a walk through Auchincruive Estate to St Quivox Church and return. Distance 6 to 8 miles, time 2 to 3 hours depending upon how we're feeling.

Change of plan for Wed 29th.

 Meet at 10.00.a.m. in the Maiden’s car park nearest to Culzean. The walk will be along the coast and into and around Culzean before returning to the cars. The forecast is heavy rain with a brisk wind.

Ardrossan to Portencross 22 December

Alan, Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Hugh, Iain, Jim, Kenny T, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

It was a very grey and cold morning as we met in the car park for our walk to Portencross and back. Since rain was forecast for later, we got under way smartish and took to the beach, then on to the coastal path, before joining the beach again until we reached the golf course, where we took the path again. At the far end of the course we normally turn and go up to Portencross Road but, on this occasion, we took a more direct route by going straight on across the beach and then through a field populated by cattle. Kenny had turned back by this stage as he had to be home early, so ten of us crossed the field, which Davie had warned us might be muddy. To be honest, it wasn’t too bad. Emerging at the car park at Portencross we continued up to the castle where coffee/lunch was taken at about quarter past eleven.

As we sat, the first spots of rain were felt, so wet weather gear was donned for the return trip. The rain became persistent, and it was cold rain. This time we took the road rather than go across the field but other than that we simply retraced our steps back to the cars and were pretty wet when we got there.

Two and three-quarter hours and seven miles were today’s numbers and, despite the rain, it had been a good walk.

Happy Christmas to all our readers!

Arrangements for Wed 29th Dec.

 Meet in the car park behind the Dunure pub at 10.00.a.m. The plan is to walk to Culzean and back provided the high tide allows that to happen. 

Monday walking group

 Meet next Monday in Galston beside the football pitch at 10.00.a.m. The walk will go up ,along and back down to the valley floor.

 

Prestwick to Troon 15 December

Alan, Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

The weather was overcast and windy as we assembled at the car park for our walk to Troon and back. Most of us immediately took to the shelter of the track on the golf course side of the fence for the first leg up to the caravan park, but by the time we passed the caravan park and hit the beach there was little shelter from the wind. The tide was in but firm sand was found to walk on and there was plenty of seaweed deposited on the beach. We left the beach just beyond the Royal Troon clubhouse and took the path up to the seats at the toilets where we stopped for coffee/lunch. By this time both Kenny and Gus had turned round and made their way back to their cars meaning that ten of us were left to ponder where to go next.

Good conditions for paragliding

The idea of going up to Fullarton Woods was dismissed in favour of a more direct route back, so we walked up to the golf club and on to Crosbie Road. From here we marched on to the golf course but, on this occasion, went straight on rather turn left on the Smuggler’s Trail over the railway. Taking this option through the golf course brought us out at the entrance to the caravan park and the final part of our walk back to the cars.

About seven and a half miles in two and three-quarter hours all in, and we did well to avoid any rain whatsoever.

 

The Curry

Fourteen Ooters made it to the Jewel for our Christmas curry, the twelve above minus Kenny, but with the addition of Dougie (just back from his cruise), Peter and Ian. Lateral flow tests had been taken and we were spread over four tables, which worked well. As usual, the food was excellent, and the girls were most attentive. Thanks to Robert for organising our night out and to the Jewel for accommodating us. A good night was had, albeit that most decided to give Wetherspoon’s amiss given the spectre that is Omicron.

Arrangements for Wed 22nd Dec

 Meet at 10.00.a.m..Meet in the second car park on the left after turning towards Largs at the roundabout on the north side of Ardrossan. The walk is from Ardrossan to Portencross and return. Please make sure that you have taken a  COVID test to be sure that you are free from the latest Omicron variant.( no one wants to ruin their or anyone else’s Christmas.

Lochwinnoch Walk.

 Ten members completed the walk in surprisingly good weather considering storm Barra battered Scotland  yesterday. I apologised to the group for arriving late as we accidentally detoured up towards Paisley at Lugton. Poor Allan was in bed with the Flu at home when I phoned him to wait for us . Eventually I got through to Gus and the group waited on us and were surprisingly mild with the slagging. The walk of about 7.5 miles followed the route without mishap along the usual route with lunch stop in the usual place.

The Brown Bull hosted our après-walk relax with a beer or coffee. With a bit of luck next week perhaps we will see all of our injured members recover suffficiently to join us on the walk before the curry.

Arrangements for Wed 15th Dec.

 Meet at 10.00.a.m. beside the old swimming pool in Prestwick. The walk is from Prestwick to Troon and back.  Not very imaginative but it was the popular option for a relatively short walk with the Christmas Curry night in the evening. 

It was generally agreed that all attending the curry night should take a lateral flow test around about 24 hours or less before attending. I am sure no one wishes to be responsible for spoiling someone’s Christmas or worse. 

Cumnock Circular 1 December

Alan, Allan, Billy, Davie C, Gus, Hugh, Iain, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

It was chucking it down as we assembled at Knockroon and so, for the second week running, we decided to do a Cumnock circular walk rather than try Corsencon. Davie Mc arrived as we were about to leave, but only to say he was going to do a wee walk by himself (and the dog) as his back was still bothering him.

Jimmy led us up Rigg Road in ever-brightening conditions, with blue skies beginning to make an appearance, towards Lugar, but, as we approached the village, we took a left and followed the track up to the loch adjacent to the former brickworks. Coffee was called for here.

Who forgot their flippers? At least the water washed the muck off the boots

So far, so good, as the overhead conditions were now perfect and underfoot had been OK even after yesterday’s rain, but the next leg along the old railway line towards Cronberry was water-logged. No matter, we trudged on and eventually it got drier, although by this time a number of the company had wet feet. The railway line split here with the left-hand option getting us to tarmac and a walk up to the main A70, but since many feet were already wet, Jimmy took us along the right-hand route down to the Bellow Water and then up towards Braehead and down into Lugar.

At the Bellow water next to Cronberry

Crossing over the Lugar at the footbridge (a hundred metres or so upstream the Bellow Water joins Glenmuir Water to form the Lugar) we took an immediate left and headed for the Viaduct over the Glenmuir Water, passed below it, and took lunch on the grassy slope beside the water whilst admiring the bridge.

Lunch at the viaduct

Moving on, we crossed a couple of fields inhabited with sheep, a largish proportion of which walked with limps, before heading up a track, passing more limping sheep, and heading over the fields before joining a farm track and heading for Longmore Farm and on to Glenmuir Water Road. From here it was tarmac and pavement down past Logan and then into Cumnock and back up to the cars.

The weather had turned out fine after the first twenty minutes and Corsencon could probably have been done, but we weren’t to know how things would turn out. In any case, it was decided to put the hill on the backburner until at least the spring. Nine miles had been covered today in three and three-quarter hours, a good, if tiring, day out. FRT was taken in the Black Bull in Mauchline.

 

Arrangements for Wed 8 th Dec

Meet at 10.00.a.m. in the Loch Winnoch car park. The walk will initially be along the cycle track past the ancient church and turning off the cycle track adjacent to the folly. The route will then reach Howwood ,gain some height and circle eventually back to Castle Semple .

Some images from the Glenmuir Water walk

 

Christmas curry 15th Dec

 Hi all, 

I have discussed this with Allan and Johnny ,we agreed that it would be sensible to take a Lateral Flow Test just prior to attending the curry evening. I look forward to seeing everyone on the night. Cheers.

Calendars

I have now received the Ooters 2022 calendars from the printers.

The cost is £7 per calendar and I'll have them with me from tomorrow (Wed 1st Dec).

Some images from The Dumfries House Walk

Enjoyed your photographs Jimmy. A very complete record of our walk.