Failford to Stair 29 June

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Iain, Jimmy, Paul, Robert

There had been some rain as we travelled to Failford but, by the time we were ready to set off, it had dried up and was to remain dry and bright for the rest of the day. Heading for Stair on the River Ayr Gorge Walk, we took time to venture up to Peden’s Pulpit where Derval Davie aka daredevil Davie, just had to climb the steps to the top. Mind you he had Isla to accompany/hinder him.

Having retraced our steps and re-joined the path to Stair, Davie, Jimmy, and Iain went down the steps to the lower route and met up with the rest at the bench where coffee was taken. Moving on, the next split came at Daldorch when Allan, Killie Davie and Paul took the diversion across the field to the road whilst the rest continued along the riverside path. The three had forgotten that the diversion was quite a hilly wee road but nonetheless they arrived at the lunch spot beside the weir at Stair a few minutes after the main group who reported that the path was very overgrown, and the landslip section was a bit muddy and slippy. Davie’s feet were wet, due to grass being soaking wet, and he was in trainers, as he can’t still use his boots because of his sair fit.

It was quarter past twelve when we set off on the return leg. This time only Davie and Jimmy took the riverside path as Isla is still very nervous about roads and traffic, but we all met up again when the bigger group re-joined the path at Daldorch. We stayed high on our way back, no-one went down the steps, and we continued high further on before we descended to re-join the main path just before Failford. Here we met a demob happy Alan McQ who had come to join us for FRT.

We had covered between seven and a half and eight miles, we think, in three hours and fifty minutes and had been rewarded with surprisingly good weather. FRT was taken in the beer garden at the Failford Inn where walks were plotted for the next few weeks.

 

Monday Walk 4th July

 Meet at Davie Clunie's in Kilmarnock at 9.45am.

Arrangements for Wednesday 6th July 2022

NEW WALK ALERT!

Minishant to Maybole

Meet at the Town Green in Maybole in time for the 10:49 service 358 bus to Minishant (the previous bus is service 58 which leaves Maybole at 09:46). I suggest that we meet at or just before the usual time of 10am and have a coffee in the cafe at the nearby Carrick Centre then catch the 10:49 bus.

Walk 6 miles back to Maybole along quiet back roads/pavements. Can be done wearing trainers. Option of a short "off-road" section to inspect the remains of the old rifle range on the How Moor and provide opportunities to climb over a style, walk through mud and be scratched by gorse bushes.

Should be back in Maybole by 2pm. 

FRT can be taken in the Greenside.

Suggested walks for the next few weeks include:

Glenbuck and Hareshaw Hill

Lowther Hill

Four Lochs - Doon, Riecawr, Bradan and Finlas

Croy to Turnberry and return

Lendalfoot to Girvan (low level and high level options)

Ardrossan to Portencross 22 June

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Hugh, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Robert

There was a cold breeze as we met at the car park on the Ardrossan to Seamill road leading to most of us digging out fleeces and hats for the walk to Portencross. It was to be a short walk, or was it a ‘shorts’ walk, with Johnny and Robert displaying their complete disregard for sartorial elegance, as we would be currying later on.

Anyway, we followed the coastal path trying to avoid the softer sand on the beach stretches and by quarter past eleven we were having our early lunch break at the picnic tables beside the car park. Unusually for us, we didn’t go as far as the castle this time as we were content to sit in the warming temperatures, and view Arran, at least the lower stretches of it, as the upper hills were still shrouded in cloud.

The return journey was broken for a few minutes as we overtook a group of walkers to whom we had spoken briefly at Portencross. They were doing the walk in the opposite direction to us, and turned out to be retired teachers from Glasgow.

We made the cars at ten to one having covered just over seven miles in decent walking conditions and looked forward to the evening gathering at the Jewel to celebrate Robert’s 76^th birthday – we are at the stage now that any birthday is a cause for celebration!

 

Dougie and Jim couldn’t make the curry, but we were joined by Alan, Alan McQ, Billy, Gus (making a steady recovery), Ian and Peter for a most enjoyable evening. Thanks again to the staff at the Jewel for their hospitality. The night was finished off in Wetherspoon’s where Robert bought the first round. Happy birthday when it comes!