Irvine Valley Circular Walk 27 March 2024

Present: Hugh, Paul, Dougie, Bob, Gus, Malcolm, Killie Davie, Derval Davie.

After coffee, scones and a blether the above set off from Davie's, rather reluctantly, it has to be said, considering the weather prospects. Crossing through Darvel park we continued along past the Water Lip and on to the main road before ascending the brae and onto the old Darvel to Strathaven railway line. A steady drizzle accompanied us all the way to Loudoun Hill; Davie and Bob had met up with Billy Ramsay who invited the pair into Newlands Farm to see the new born lambs. This meant that this pair were now  half a mile behind the rest and the lung-bursting climbs from the farm took its toll. We turned off at the gate and along the south face of the hill, joining up with the rest. Nobody showed any enthusiasm or inclination to climb the hill today as the weather was so dreich. Malcolm had other things to see to so he retraced his steps, while the rest had lunch at the bench just beyond the Spirit of Scotland with the inscriptions: 

"The Knight Fenwick that cruel was and keen, he had at the death of Wallace's father been" - Blin' Harry.

"Thou saw'st the strong arm of a Wallace raised to stem the tide of evil tyranny." - Walter Scott

"At Wallace's name, what Scottish blood but boils up in a spring-time flood." -  Robert Burns 

After lunch we took as usual the wee single track road leading to Saughall. However Davie suggested a short cut due to the ever-falling smirr and nobody objected. We proceeded down past Gorsebraehead, High Newton and Ladybrow and onto the main road for 10 minutes, which did not please Isla at all. Turning left at Priestland we head up past Greenbank and back down into Darvel, believe it or not, in glorious sunshine! The walk had taken 3 hours and twenty minutes, roughly nine miles. FRT was taken in the Black Bull, where the banter was, as ever, very enjoyable.

Some photographs from the Darvel walk on Wed 27 March.

 

Having nothing better to do with myself today, I thought I would take a look back at some of our past outings.

Arrangements for Wednesday 3rd April

Turnberry to Maidens/Culzean

Meet at 10am at the Lodge Road car park where the A719 meets the A77 (see map below).

This will be a (mostly) level 6-mile walk between Turnberry and Maidens which can be extended into Culzean Country Park if desired. In the event of poor weather, we can meet in Maidens and content ourselves with a walk around Culzean which would afford us greater protection from the elements. 

Any change to the initial plan will be posted here on the blog and via the WhatsApp group on Tuesday evening when a more accurate weather forecast is available.

FRT could be taken in the recently-reopened Anchorage in Dunure or the Balgarth Pines in Doonfoot.   

                                                

20 March 2024 Ochiltree to Knockroon

 Present: Bob, Jimmy, Rex, Malcolm, Dougie, Paul, Derval Davie, Killie Davie, Gus, Alan St. and Hugh.

Having got off the bus at the brig over the Lugar Water, the above 11 wasted no time and set off at a brisk pace along the river. It was a calm morning with the trees nicely reflected in the water (see Jimmy's photos). Heavy rain had seriously damaged parts of the new path especially at Mill Affleck farm where the wooden brig had been carried a few yards off the path, with the result that all of us ended up with very muddy boots negotiating the sheuch/burn. In jig-time we were up at the Barony A-frame enjoying a coffee stop, before proceeding down the old pit bing and meeting up again with Alan at the Burns Rotunda for lunch. (Alan was suffering with a sore knee and opted to miss out the A-Frame section.)

After lunch we crossed first the Chinese brig and then the Adam brig and continued through the wood and onto the path proper again. The section of the path back to the cars at Knockroon proved to be rather muddy as well. The walk only took 2 hours 35 minutes and that included the two stops, so will probably be one of the shortest walks we'll do this year.

FRT was taken in the Black Bull in Mauchline. Killie Davie bought the first round to celebrate his second daughter getting married and once again we were treated to 2 big platefuls of sausage rolls. Thanks to Davie and the barmaid.

Arrangements for Wed 27th March.

 Meet in Derval Davie’s house at 9.30a.m. for coffee and scones before the walk.The walk will be a clockwise version of the usual , up the recently sanitised old railway route to Loudoun Hill ,up and or round the hill then cross the main road to return to Darvel. FRT to be accessed in the Black Bull.

Some images from the Ochiltree to Cumnock walk

Some images from the Gogo Burn walk