Smugglers Trail (part of) 4th February

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Normally at this time of the year, we do a ‘snowdrop walk’ from Castle Semple to Howwood, but this year we chose one closer to home. With that in mind, we met at Dundonald Castle on an overcast morning, and with a cold wind at the exposed car park, we set off early (ten to ten), as all who were expected had arrived. The notion was to do the Smugglers Trail and experience the snowdrops in Fullarton Woods but, in order to avoid waiting around for a bus in Troon, we opted to get to the woods and then turn back from there.

The steep climb up the hill to begin with got us warmed up and, with many more ups and downs on the trail, we were getting well exercised. It took us forty minutes to get to the reservoir where we could see a number of vans and workmen in hi-vis jackets at the dam. Whilst Robert, in his own inimitable way, went over to see what was going on and offer his advice as to how they should proceed, the rest waited for him on the road below. Having had a discussion and – how to put it- managed to question the sexual orientation of one of the workmen (which the others found funny), he eventually came down and said they were replacing a rusty old valve with a new one.

Walking down to Loans we turned right and found the path through the bungalows which led us into the woods and a great display of snowdrops. An early lunch was taken at the benches before setting off on the return journey but, as we were about to leave the woods, most chose to take the track to the right up to the main road whilst the rest retraced their steps through the houses. In the event, both groups arrived at Loans at the same time for the next leg up past the new housing estate. Paul left us here to return to his home in Barassie whilst the rest made their way up and over the hill again arriving back at the cars at twenty past one, just as the predicted rain was starting to fall.

FRT was taken in the Auchans where a convivial hour was spent. We had got the best of the day and had covered between eight and a half and nine miles. A good step-out as they say!