Castle Semple to Howwood 7 February

Allan, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny R, Paul, Rex, Robert

It was a bright, cold morning as we met at Castle Semple for our ‘snowdrop walk’. The swans seemed to fancy Dougie for some reason but, once we had extricated him, we were on our way in the clockwise direction.

We took to the cycle track straight away as Kenny had suggested that the loch side path would be flooded, and made good progress to the turn off for the folly. Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Paul and Rex went up to the folly and took coffee there whilst the rest went round it and took their break at the bench beside the globe. There was only one large puddle to contend with on the way to the gate at the road and it was negotiated reasonably easily. By the time the back-markers reached here, Graham, Gus , Hugh, Paul and Rex had disappeared into the horizon leaving the remainder to ponder their position. It has to be said that normally this gate is locked and we have to scramble over it or the adjoining wall, and so it was today until Jimmy pointed out that the gate was unlocked and could be opened easily. Unlucky for some! Dougie and Robert decided to go after the hares, only catching up just before Auchengrange House and its snowdrops, whilst the remaining four turned back, for various reasons, to retrace their steps.

The four walked back at a leisurely pace and decided to follow the grass track up and over the hill, taking in the excellent view, before descending back to the cycle track and making their way back along to the car park. However, they deviated to take in the collegiate church and went up through Parkhill Wood, before finally returning at ten past one and having lunch on the benches beside the loch. As they were just finishing, the rest of the guys arrived having done the nine miles in three hours and twenty-five minutes.

The Brown Bull was chosen for FRT where, next time, a seat beside the fire will be chosen. The day had worked out well in terms of the organisation of the walks, the weather, and the banter in the pub, and the two-walk option might be the way to go in the future.