Prestwick to Troon 16th July

 

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Rex, Robert

An elite group of Ooters met at the car park in Prestwick for the walk to Troon and back. The weather was bright and warm and fleeces that had been put on were quickly removed as we passed Prestwick golf course, then the caravan park and ultimately on to the beach at the Pow Burn. The tide was well out so we managed to find firm sand to walk on and before too long we left the sand just beyond Royal Troon to take to the path. Davie and Isla stopped for lunch here before returning the way they had come whilst the rest headed for the benches at the toilets for coffee/lunch.

After fifteen minutes or so we set off on the return journey heading up to Royal Troon and then taking Crosbie Road on to the golf course and following the Smugglers Trail path to the bridge across the railway line. From there it was a matter of following the cycle path to the main road and then veering off to cross Prestwick golf course and the return to the cars. The main group arrived back at ten past one, exactly eight minutes after Davie and Isla, not that Davie was counting!

Almost eight miles had been covered and, after lunch had been taken by those who had chosen not to have it earlier, we set off for the sitooterie at the Red Lion for a very well-deserved FRT. A relaxing time was had here although Johnny might disagree as he could not get comfortable on the benches. His Guinness was fine though!

Arrangements for 23rd July

Meet at Knockroon, Cumnock in time for the bus to Ochiltree. The bus leaves the bus station in Cumnock at 9.42 so be at Knockroon, ready to go, at 9.30. From Ochiltree we will walk to Dumfries House and then back to Knockroon. Remember bus passes! 

Arrangements for 16th July

Prestwick to Troon and back

Meet at the far away car park (nearest Troon) in Prestwick at 10am. 

Darvel to Loudoun Hill 9th July

 

Allan, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

Many thanks to Davie and Kay for providing coffee and scones for a small band of Ooters on an overcast July morning. It was a thought to have to leave the comfort of their house and get underway, but we are a walking group, aren’t we?

Anyway, we started walking at exactly ten o’clock in what was not even a fine drizzle but just a smirr, and we crossed Morton Park before heading out beside the river to the A71. By the time we reached the start of the path to Loudoun Hill we were beginning to feel the warmth, although it was still overcast and with the smirr coming and going jackets were on, off and back on again before it finally dried up halfway along the track. The path itself, as has been mentioned before, could benefit from some maintenance to curtail the vegetation which is narrowing the walking area.

As we walked on, Allan realised that he had dropped his phone somewhere along the route and turned back to try and find it. Fortunately, he found it on the path about thirty yards from where he discovered his loss. Crisis averted! Soon we were off the old railway line and down on to the tarmac for the trek up towards Loudoun Hill. This is a steep road, and all were glad to make it to the path that skirts the hill. No-one was for climbing it today, so we walked round and down and up to the benches above the Spirit of Scotland monument where lunch was taken.

Davie had done enough for the day, so he phoned Kay who came and picked Isla and him up whilst the rest made the return journey by the same route as last October. Namely, having crossed the main road and having made a wrong turn, quickly rectified, we set out on the Long Cairn Path before veering off it down the minor road which would take us back to the A71, but turning off this road and crossing the field and onto the road into Priestland. By this time there was some concern as the Good Ship Gus was listing to starboard, but he said he was fine and marched on.

We chose not to go to the cars first but walked straight to the Black Bull in Darvel for FRT meeting up with Davie who had just arrived before us. The walk had taken three hours and forty minutes for about nine miles, and it felt like it. We had come back from our lunch stop in an hour and twenty-five minutes which all agreed was a good effort. A relaxing hour was spent before heading back to Davie’s to pick up the cars and setting off for home. By this time Gus was thankfully back to normal, whatever that is!

 

Croy to Maidens 2nd July

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Eleven Ooters met up at the car park at Croy shore on a rainy morning but, with blue skies in the distance, and a promise of sunshine within the hour, we set off on the beach towards Culzean. By hallway the light rain had just about gone off and by the time we took the steps up off the shore and into Culzean it was warming up nicely. At this point we met Derval Davie and Isla who had walked from Maidens to meet us and, after a short stop to exchange pleasantries, we marched on to the shelter at the battery to have coffee. It has to be said that Culzean’s current theme is ‘Alice in Wonderland’ with large Lego models of the characters dotted around the park. This certainly pleased the kids amongst us!

Having refreshed ourselves the next stop was at the far end of the algae-covered Swan Pond at which point Alan, Allan and Johnny decided that this would be their turning point whilst the rest walked on to find the steps down to the beach and thence to Maidens for lunch at the harbour. The three walked up the avenue and took in the walled garden which was in fine fettle with a particularly nice wildflower border. Some tourists, mainly from the far east were being given a tour after which they got into executive transport and were whisked off – how the other half live! After having explored the bookshop, the threesome took lunch on the adjacent bench in what was now glorious sunshine.

Moving on they passed through the very busy visitor centre before taking the steps back down to the beach and re-tracing their steps back to the cars arriving back at quarter past one having covered, we think, six and a half miles. Whilst waiting for the main party Derval Davie arrived having driven from Maidens to meet us and when he saw the guys coming into sight, he took Isla on to the beach and walked to meet them.

The others arrived back at two o’clock having followed a similar return journey through Culzean and having done nine miles or so.

FRT was taken at the Dunure Inn/Anchorage where we enjoyed a good hour and were surprised and delighted to be given two complimentary portions of chips. A grand day out!

 

Some images from the Croy walk

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 9th July

Loudoun Hill 

Meet at Derval Davie's hoose at 9.30am for scones and coffee before a walk along the old railway line to Loudoun Hill.

20th Anniversary of the Ooters

 The Jewel has now been provisionally booked for Wed 27August to celebrate our 20 years of walking together. The Jewel has been provisionally booked for about 16 people . I will finalise numbers nearer the time.

Portencross 25th June

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Kenny R, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

The skies were overcast but it was dry with no rain expected as we set off on the familiar Portencross circuit. Passing the castle, we made short work of the path to the power stations and continued along the road until we saw the turn-off through the gate that would start to take us on the return leg. Coffee was taken at the usual spot at the large stones just before we reached the bridle path.

We enjoyed our break, but fifteen minutes later we were off again making good progress down the track until we came to the path which led to Goldenberry Hill. There was a 5-5 split here with Allan, Davie, Kenny, Malcolm and Robert continuing on the low traditional route whilst the rest took to the hill. The first group couldn’t help but notice the electricity infrastructure that was being installed and remembered that on our last visit only the groundworks had been completed. Having made it to the main road and then turned back on to Thirdpart, they could just make out the guys at the top of the hill. As they made their way back to Portencross Road it was commented that the fields of barley, and there were plenty of them, were in good nick after all the heat and the rain. Turning back down the road towards the cars they met the other group as they emerged from the entrance to Ardneil Farm and the ten made it back to the cars by 12.35pm. Not bad for seven miles by the low group and six and a half for the hill-climbers who said that the hill was straightforward and offered great views for not a lot of effort.

Lunch was taken at the benches at the car park before FRT was taken at the Lauriston where, as usual, a most convivial time was had.

Some from the Portencross walk

Arrangements for Wednesday 2nd July

Croy to Maidens

Meet at the lower car park at Croy for a walk to Culzean Country Park with the option of extending the walk to Maidens.

18 June - Ness Glen

 

Alan McQ, Davie Mc, Doogie, Graham, Hugh, Jimmy, Paul, Rex & Robert

It seems like no time at all since we’ve done this walk but since it is an auld favourite, here we were again gathered in Dalmellington to walk the Nes Glen. Nine hardy Ooters plus a dug met but long-term injury, Davie Mc, decided that it weas too long a distance for his auld back and opted to drive to Loch Doon, tackle the gorge from there and meet us for lunch around half past twelve. Unfortunately, he took Isla with him. That left eight of us to start the main walk.

Leaving the cars at the football ground, we set off up Craigengillan estate road. The weather was overcast and it would stay that way for most of the walk but the air was warm and getting warmer as the day progressed. Taking the path down the muck water, past the Scouts’ Garden, onto the Straiton road and up to the River Doon bridge, we came to the road indicated for ‘Dalcairney Falls’. That this road, leading to nowhere in particular, was better surfaced than most roads in Ayrshire was commented on as we marched briskly along it. Half way along to Dalcairnie Linn (as the one who is steeped in local history prefers to call it) we stopped to admire a memorial garden. Then we moved on.

The tarmac ran out at Dalcairney Farm but the track continued to climb beyond it. We could hear the linn before we saw it, tumbling into its cauldron among the trees. The photographer just had to leave the track to capture, for the umpteenth time, the water as it falls over the linn. We waited patiently* for him to return before continuing to climb with the track. A left turn through a gate brought us to a coffee stop at the ruins of Barbeth where we could sit and look out over beautiful Belston Loch and bonnie Bellsbank on the brae.

We reached tarmac again on the Craigengillan estate road and followed this to the house where it ran out again. But the continuing forest-type road dropped us down to the bank of the Doon and the entrance to the ‘Amazing’ Ness Glen. Now the walk became much more interesting, more like an adventure. It was here that two opted to avoid the gorge and take the higher route above it. But the other six opted for adventure.

The Ness Glen is always spectacular: The river rushes and roars its way through the narrow gorge between vertical moss-covered cliffs rising to over a hundred feet on both sides. The narrow path finds a way alongside the torrent hugging tightly to the rocks above it. There are parts where the old path has been eroded and care had to be taken traversing the jagged native rock and the roar of the river nearly defied conversation. And then, the roar ceased and we were climbing out of the gorge beside the dam to overlook the magnificent Loch Doon.

It was here that we met up with Isla and Davie again who joined us for lunch. And a casual lunch was taken on the rocky headland that affords a magnificent view up the loch to the high Galloway hills. We had just settled when the other two joined us and we were back together as a group.

After lunch we returned to the road where we met a team from East Ayrshire Leisure who were busy preparing the osprey observation room for opening again on the 30^th of the month. Nice to know.

Leaving the EAL group and bidding a ta-ta to Isla and Davie, we opted for the high route above the gorge for the return journey. This walk through the trees is interesting in its own way as the path undulates between boardwalks and allows the occasional glimpse and roar of the waters below. Then it dropped away from the top of the gorge and brought us back to the entrance to the ‘Amazing’ Ness Glen.

We opted for the usual route alongside the river, under Bellsbank to the Craigengillan estate road. The tramp along the mile and a half of tarmac on the estate road is the least interesting bit of the walk and, had it not been for the usual banter of the Ooters, this might have been somewhat tedious. But it did bring us back uneventfully to the cars parked by the football ground.

FRT was taken in our usual howff in Dalmellington, the Dalmellingto Inn, where a good hour’s blether was had much to the annoyance of the habitual clientele who were trying to watch the horse racing on the tele.

 

*Feel free to substitute your own word here.

Some from the Ness Glen walk