Semple Trail, 16 March

Alan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Kenny R, Kenny T, Rex, Robert.

It was a bit grey when we met at Castle Semple car park in plenty time for a 10am start. Setting off along the lochside, our first stop was at some carved trees, similar idea to the ones in New Lanark but not quite as ornate. After a few photos, we headed up into Parkhill Wood as an alternative to the cycle track.

The path climbed a wee bit and just before the Collegiate Church we came across a small group of brown and white calves.  Those of us with a little knowledge of matters bovine decided they were called Herefords. On closer inspection of their ear tags, most of them were called Sandra or Annette.

Inscriptions were read and photos were taken at the church. Coffee break? Not today. Kenny T had greater. global plans.

We followed the cycle track for a short distance and then went off-road again taking the path towards the Temple on the hill but instead of going up the hill we followed the path round and had a well earned coffee break on the seats at the sculpture of a globe.

A muddy path led us along the side of the Black Cart and then to a road into the village of Howwood. Following the signposts to Newton of Belltrees, we climbed up up up out of Howwood before heading off-road again.

There was some discussion of where to have lunch and Robert the Usurper announced that he would find a suitable spot. A suitable spot was found on a grassy bank. Last of the Summer Wine.

It was downhill all the way now, well the trend was downhill. To keep spirits up, wondrous tales of masses of snowdrops were spun. "Where are they?". "Are we at them yet?". "That's no all that many". "Aye that's quite a lot". "Aw look at that". "They're no very symmetrical!". That's galanthus nivalus for  you.

It now really was downhill all the way back to the cars crossing the A737 and then pavements and paths.

FRT was at the Brown Bull where some fine ales and cloudy cider were sampled.

Distance 14.9km

Walking time 2h 53min

Height of climbing 192m

Lochwinnoch 2 September

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

A folly good show!

Jimmy and Rex had brought their bikes so they set off along the cycle track towards Paisley and on to Pollok Park, whilst the rest of us took to foot along the same track. The weather was ideal: dry, reasonably bright, warm in the sunshine (but not too warm), and little wind, so progress was good with the first stop for coffee at the Temple (or folly) on Kenmure Hill. Here Davie, the biologist, found a dead bird of prey and decided to take the ringed feet to the RSPB centre later in the day for identification.

Looking back at Castle Semple Loch

Through the rather large keyhole

Rejoining the track, and avoiding the multitude of cyclists, we headed towards our usual lunch stop at the bridge on the outskirts of Kilbarchan. Robert turned back before then as he had a family engagement to attend prior to him departing for Denver in the morning. We wished him a good holiday and reminded him to take his bus pass. There were tears in our eyes as we saw him walk back alone to his car - he had not left his fiver for the kitty!!

The return journey was uneventful, but we did notice that the wee Collegiate Church, a sometime coffee stop, was fenced off. The Visitors Centre, was reached at bang on one thirty, the agreed time to meet the cyclists. However, it was another twenty minutes or so before they arrived, not a problem since the pleasant afternoon sunshine gave us ample opportunity for a leisurely blether and to watch a couple of bus loads of college students try their hands out on kayaks, or was it canoes?

FRT was taken in the Brown Bull where, as well as other things being discussed, we reminisced about Kilmarnock’s exploits in Europe. For info: Eintracht was in season 64-65, Real Madrid was in 65-66, Leeds was in 66-67 (semi-final of Fairs Cup), Shelbourne was in 97-98 and Kaiserslautern was in 99-00. Full details can be got by googling ‘Kilmarnock FC in European football’.

Another successful day out!

I had a bike like this when I was a boy!

Lochwinnoch and beyond 9 July

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert, Ronnie

Guess who had already left!

We were blessed with a beautiful summer’s morning as we assembled at Castle Semple Visitors Centre prior to our walk/cycle. Unfortunately the café didn’t open until 10am so, rather than hang around, we set off on our journeys.

Danger, man at work!

The walk

Castle Semple Loch was looking as glorious as we had ever seen it since, in the past, we have not been here in the best of weather and, indeed, this walk is sometimes used as a wet weather alternative. Five of us i.e. Allan, Davie, Jimmy, Johnny and Malcolm, decided to forego the bikes and walk along the cycle path in the direction of Kilbarchan. Coffee was taken at the ruins of the Collegiate Church and it was a pleasure to study it in some detail as we enjoyed the warmth of the sun.

The next deviation was to climb up the hill to the folly (the Temple on Bride Hill) and what a reward awaited us here as the views back up the loch to the south were superb, and those to the north towards Glasgow and its surrounds weren’t too shabby either.

Continuing on the footpath we were amazed and delighted at how busy it was with walkers and cyclists of all ages, abilities and body shapes – and we’re not just talking about the Ooters. A lazy lunch was taken at our ‘usual’ spot on the bridge on the outskirts of Kilbarchan where once again the world was put to rights.

One of the few occasions that the path was clear

We had arranged to meet the cyclists, whose plan it had been to go to Pollok Park, at about 2.30pm back at the Visitors Centre, but a phone call from Robert indicated that Paul’s seat, sorry, the seat of Paul’s bike, had broken and they might be late back as they sought a repair shop. In the event, the walkers were back by about 2.15 with the cyclists only a few minutes later. It appeared that Robert’s seat (no correction necessary) had broken as he got off his bike!

The area surrounding the Centre was hoaching, again good to see, and FRT beckoned. Malcolm recommended a change of venue, so it was to the Brown Bull in the main street that we headed. We’d had enough sun for the day so we avoided the beer garden and sat inside sampling the real ales, or should we call them craft beers?

A really good day out!