Knock Hill 27 April

Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny R, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

It was chilly and overcast as we set off along the promenade on our way to Knock Hill, so chilly that Rex even stopped to put his gloves on. Further along the prom we met Kenny T who had arrived a wee bit late and had parked beyond Barrfields and so ten of us walked up Douglas Street and on to Brisbane Glen Road before turning off to the left and following the sign for Knock Hill. By this time, as we were getting warmed up and the temperature was rising, layers were getting shed and, as underfoot conditions were nice and dry, especially the part beyond the farm with its relatively recent hard surface, no doubt to help with the planting of thousands of young trees, most of which needed a good soaking of rain, progress was good. When this surface ran out and we hit the grass path we stopped for a quick coffee break before pushing on towards the hill. With the path still dry we made the base in no time with the mountain goats choosing to go straight up whilst the tortoises took to the spiral path. By twenty to twelve we were all siting having lunch, well sheltered from the breeze.

 Heading for the top

Our route back was down and over the golf course and on to Routenburn Road and by ten to one we were well settled in Wetherspoon’s for FRT. It has to be recorded that the banter was more highbrow than normal taking in such things as how to make cabbage pies and the identification of dummy birds of prey perched on the building opposite. Where was Jimmy when you needed him?

About seven miles in just under three hours were today’s figures for the statisticians among us. Another fine day out!

The answers to the day’s trivia are:

• Richard Bradford played McGill in ‘Man in a Suitcase'.      
• The two words that follow Take That in the title of the band’s first album are ‘& Party’ i.e. Take That & Party, and not as the taller Killie Drillie suggested Take That Ya B******.

Arrangements for 4th May

Meet at Caulders Garden Centre (this side of the Erskine Bridge) at 9.30am for a coffee. Then we will walk over the bridge and follow the canal up to McMonagles in Clydebank for a fish supper lunch. Return will be back the way we came.

Monday Walk 2nd May

 Meet at 10am at the Wheatsheaf in Symington for a walk on quiet roads.

Wardlaw Hill 20 April

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Paul, Rex, Robert

Sur le Pont de Sanquhar

We assembled first of all at Knockroon where Jimmy joined us to say ‘hello’. He wouldn’t be doing the big walks for a week or two yet following the effects of a virus and Covid.  It was good of him to check in though, and we wished him well as we set off for Kames and Wardlaw Hill.

The weather was excellent, although with a coolish breeze first thing in exposed places, and progress was good meaning we were at our coffee spot at the bench by ten to eleven. We decided not to visit the Bible Stane this time round but continued up the relentless path until it was time to turn off and follow the grass path up the hill. The first third of this path was wet and boggy but soon we were on drier ground and, although we got stretched out on the climb, we were all sitting down for lunch by ten to twelve.

Coffee with Cairn Table in background

Heading for the cairn on Wardlaw

         Idyllic lunch venue

Ditto

 

The cairn

Sitting on the heather slopes getting shelter from the breeze and enjoying our pieces it was difficult to move on, and we sat for half an hour, but move on we must.

But, Jings! Crivens! Help Ma Boab! Although the’ A’ team decided to go back down the way they had come up, the ‘Famous Five’ decided to go straight down the face of the hill and make their way to Tibbie’s Brig by going overland. The former found going down the hill on the path obviously easier than going up and it appeared to be drier too. What they noticed on the way down was that all the conifer trees that were growing sparsely in the area had been recently chopped down and had been left on their side to wither. As they were approaching Macadam’s Cairn they could see the others coming up the path from Tibbie’s Brig and it was the larger group who arrived back at the cars first by about ten minutes. Their journey had been OK with some wet bits and doogals to contend with but nothing daunting.

The walk was about nine miles and had taken a maximum od three hours and fifty minutes with the post lunch part done in very warm temperatures. It was the first time for a while that some of us had done a hill walk and we really welcomed our FRT at the Black Bull in Mauchline. A fine day out!

(Wardlaw Hill is 497m compared to Cairn Table’s 593m)

 

  

The sun has got to Gus