Glasgow Bridges 27th November

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex

It was a cold morning as we made our way to the Counting House for a roll and coffee before our walk. There were pockets of Club Brugge supporters in the town awaiting their encounter with Celtic in the evening (1-1 was the final score), but they were behaving themselves.

The decision was to walk towards the SEC and Transport Museum giving ourselves enough time to get back and have lunch before a mid-afternoon return home, and so we set off down through St Enoch Square and to the river. The walking conditions were excellent, and we were well wrapped up, but as we made our way in the sunshine hats and gloves were being taken off. It was a pity that there was so much graffiti on the structures along the walkway, signs of our times, we suppose. Anyway, we reached the museum at about half past eleven and some decided to go in and take a look whilst others took advantage of the toilets.

The main point of interest was not in the museum but outside it i.e. the new footbridge bridge which can swing open, which connects the museum side of the river to Govan. On enquiring, one of the workers was able to say that the bridge was about to open and would be open for about forty minutes, so we decided to stay on the north side and watch it open, which it did very quietly and allowed a small naval-type vessel to pass. At this point it was noticed that Alan and Graham were missing. The rest assumed that they were still inside the museum but when contacted it was revealed that they had come out of the building and, not realising they were on their own, had continued west along the path rather than come and join us at the bridge. Once they knew where we were, they soon rejoined the company for the return to the city centre.

The sun was beginning to be hidden by clouds, so the hats and gloves were put back on, and rather than criss-cross the bridges we headed straight to the Crystal Palace (Wetherspoon’s) for lunch and FRT. Downstairs was mobbed, but there was plenty of room upstairs and we enjoyed our hour and a half’s stay.

The walk itself was nearly six and a half miles, and we were out for about two and a half hours which included the extended stop at the museum. A satisfying day out!

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 4th December

Ness Glen

Meet in Dalmellington at 10am for the Ness Glen walk.

Smugglers' Trail (part of) 20th November

 

 

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The dreichness of the last few weeks had been replaced with a cold, frosty, blue-skied morning, ideal for this walk as any mud would be frozen solid making walking easier and cleaner. We were all present and correct by ten to ten so off we went…in different directions. Dougie, with his minders Allan, Malcolm and Johnny, went up past Malcolm’s house and took the path at the care home making the ascent of the hill a bit easier, whilst the rest took the direct route from the car park. The latter group arrived first at the dam but were soon joined by the others. 

 

Gus had indicated a reluctance to go down into Troon and get the bus back as it follows a long and winding road, so the suggestion was that we would go down and into Loans and come back via the hill road past Highgrove House. This being a road with lots of twists and turns and no pavement caused most to favour simply turning back at Loans and retracing their steps. On reaching Loans Gus, Hugh, Alan and Robert were well ahead of the rest who stopped at the garage and, not being able to see the front markers, assumed they had set off up the hill. They therefore turned back and stopped for coffee/lunch at the dam. No sooner had they sat down than Robert arrived explaining that the guys had sat down for a coffee just round the corner, at the war memorial at Loans, out of sight of the rest of us. Robert hadn’t fancied going up the road so had turned back on his own.

It was about quarter to one when the main group arrived back at the cars to find the others already there and having finished their lunch. Their walk had been uneventful and had given them some grand views on such a perfect day. Indeed, the conditions today, both underfoot and overhead made for an excellent walk altogether of between seven and eight miles.

FRT was taken in the Auchans in Dundonald where a very enjoyable time was spent.

N.B. Three-pint days now seem to be the norm!

Arrangements for Wednesday 27th November

Glasgow Bridges

Meet at the Counting House in George Square at 10am for the walk across the Glasgow Bridges.

Calendars

Calendars are now to hand and cost £6 each.

I'll distribute them over the next few weeks.

Payment options will be included but basically the same as last year.

Dean Park to Craufurland 13th November

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Paul, Rex

It was yet another dreich morning as we met at Dean Park for our walk to Craufurdland, overcast with moisture in the air, not raining, but a bit misty. Robert, who wasn’t walking today, was there to cheer us off as we made our way up through the estate, on to Assloss Road and then turning right to cross the ford and go up to Grassyards Road. This section at the underpass and the ford has been marred with fly-tipping in the past, and although not as bad as we’ve seen, it was still an issue.

The walk up to the turn-off to Fenwick was in quite dense mist but it cleared as we entered the access road to Craufurdland and our coffee stop in the Laird’s Table. A very pleasant half-hour was spent here, at least until Davie sent Alan up to pay the bill. Misunderstanding Davie’s instructions, or lack of them, Alan left a large tip. This was met with a combination of laughter and disbelief by the assembled company. Davie, the kitty man, was almost in tears. Was it just the naivety of youth or was it a masterstroke on Alan’s behalf to never again be asked to do anything? Time will tell.

We left the restaurant at midday and were back at the cars, taking the shorter, direct route, by twenty to one. Six and a half miles in two hours forty-five minutes.

Jimmy couldn’t come for lunch in Wetherspoon’s but Dougie and Billy joined us for a couple of hours of food, drinks (quite a lot of them actually), and the usual banter. A grand way to finish off the day.

Some images from the Craufurdland walk

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 20th November

Smugglers' Trail

Meet at Dundonald Castle at 10am for walk to Troon. 

Knock Hill and Fairlie 6th November

 Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The weather had been dreich since last week and today was no different with grey skies, mist and intermittent drizzle. Meeting up at Largs, the group split into two factions i.e. Allan, Johnny and Malcolm would accompany Dougie, whose leg was giving him issues (maybe tendon trouble), on a flat walk to Fairlie, whilst the rest would make their way to Knock Hill.

The former group made their way along the path to Fairlie, but when walking along the newer section at the water’s edge they encountered a barrier stating that the rest of that section was closed for remedial work, and so they went up and followed the main road down towards the picnic benches. However, as they approached the turn-off, the rain was getting steadier, so they stopped for a coffee in a bus shelter before retracing their steps. Stopping for lunch in a shelter beside the esplanade, they phoned the main group who had similarly stopped for lunch in a shelter near the boating pond on the other side of Largs.

For the bigger group the conditions had not been good either with the mist preventing any views, persistent drizzle/rain, and some soggy underfoot conditions. It had been even difficult to see Knock Hill until they were very close. Given the conditions they did not linger on the top but made their way downhill and over the golf course and back to Largs.

The two walks were about the same distance, say seven miles, and had taken the same time with both groups meeting up at Drouthy Neebors for FRT at one o’clock. As per usual, the chat was lively and, for some, it was a three-pint day. In fact, we had enough time to make it a four-pint day, but discretion was the better part of valour.

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 13th November

Dean Castle to Craufurdland

In a change to previous arrangements, meet at Dean Castle Country Park at 10am for a walk to Craufurdland and back. Coffee can be taken at the café in Craufurdland and option of having lunch in Kilmarnock after the walk.

The Glasgow Bridges walk has been rescheduled for Wednesday 27th November.

Calendars

If you wish to purchase a 2025 Ooters calendar please let me know asap.

Those who were on Wednesday's Falls of Clyde walk don't need to respond unless to amend their order.

I'll let you know the price once I find out how many are needed and spoken to the printer.

Allan