Annbank Walk Dec 30th

This is a picture of either The Magnificent 7  (minus one) or  theSexy 6 who walked the Annbank circular walk along the river Ayr today.  I still cannot understand why it takes 2 hours  to walk to Burns monument  and only 35 minutes to walk back to Annbank.*

Report by Davie

Present Alan S, Ian, Gus, Billy, Malcom, Bob and Davie M and Holly

Because both Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Wednesday this year, the normal walks were suspended but a suggestion was accepted that those who could make it could turn up for a  Monday walk instead.
Consequently the above Magnificent Seven turned up on a rather dreich and somewhat dark morning. This was Holly's first outing with the Ooters since the 27th of November due to her bout of nystagmus, but she seemed to cope well, although still not 100% recovered.
We decided to go on a clockwise direction, stopping as usual for coffee where the Coyle enters the Ayr and then for lunch at the Burns / Wallace Cairn where Davie saw a tawny owl, while Alan pointed out some buzzards. An extremely brisk pace was then set between the Cairn and the cars with Bob noting that it took only 35 minutes.  Although rain threatened a couple of times, the whole walk was completed in dry conditions in 3 hours 5 minutes. Our only complaint was that certain parts of the path were very, very muddy and a lot of remedial work needs to be done on it.
FRT was taken, as is our wont, in the Tap O' the Brae award winning Pub of 2019.

* the route to the Cairn followed the bends of the river Ayr so was longer, Bob. Have a look at the map Alan McQ provided at the end of this post

Images of the walk between Annbank and Auchincruive

featuring Alan McQ, Alan S, Allan, Dan, Davie C, Davie McM, Gus, Iain, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Kenny T and Rex

Annbank Circular 29 March

Alan, Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

There were no arguments about not going to Conic Hill today, as the weather forecast was for rain. And so, we set off from the Bowling Club in Annbank for a walk down one side of the river and back up the other, in a clockwise direction.

The outward journey is much longer than the return due to having to negotiate the big bend in the river, so after forty minutes a coffee stop was called for at a fisherman’s shelter. As we finished, the first spots of rain began to fall and it continued for the next hour until we made the Burns and Wallace Monument for lunch. The underfoot conditions had been good until we met the incline about twenty minutes from lunch. This proved to be the only tricky and extremely muddy part of the walk, but all negotiated it successfully. As we sat at the monument, the rain disappeared to be replaced by pleasantly warm, watery sunshine meaning that jackets could be removed for the return.
Crossing back over the river, it only took about thirty-five minutes to reach the cars (the big bend having been cut out), just as light rain began to fall again. ‘Three hours and three minutes’ was the call for a walk of about seven miles. The walk today had been sufficient, certainly for Jimmy, who was still in recovery mode, and the weather had been better than anticipated.
FRT was taken at the Tap o’ the Brae, where the barmaid was glad of our custom. A good day out with a reasonably early finish!

18 December: Annbank to Ayr

(Andy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex,  Alan, Davie C, Davie M, Gus, Paul, Peter)

After a fortnight the memory is a little hazy so this is a brief blog – chiefly for the record!

There was a good turnout outside Annbank Bowling Club for the final walk of the year. We took the short route from Annbank to Auchincruive, on the north side of the river and  is our wont, we stopped for refreshments at the Wallace and Burns monument.  

Confusion reigned when we resumed the walk. The majority headed off up the road en route for Ayr whilst Paul and Davie M looked at each other and enquired why we weren’t returning to Annbank, via the opposite side of the river, as per the blog.

Paul hadn’t been present when the day’s walk was agreed  and had just read the blog, so he had a perfect excuse but Davie had been present and had agreed to write up the details ask Kay to write up the details of the walk.  Perhaps he had switched off his hearing aids since everyone else claimed Annbank to Ayr had been agreed. The majority prevailed.

Soon after we had left the tarmac Peter announced he was only doing half the walk since he had urgent business to attend to, so we bade him farewell as he retraced his footsteps.

Lunch was taken, as usual, by the stepping stones across the River Ayr and then we made speedy progress into town.  We arrived at the bus station, went to the stance for the Annbank bus, only to discover that the bus no longer left from there. We wandered aimlessly around the bus station looking for the correct stance until a friendly local took pity on us, asked where we were going and directed us back to the High Street.  We were soon aboard the elusive bus. Why do people have to make changes to the way we have always done things?

FRT was taken at the Tap o’ the Brae where  Alan conjured up a magnificent spread for us!  Salmon, caught and smoked by his own fair hands, home-made pâté, horse radish sauce, oatcakes, blinis (wee crumpets, if you hail from Springside) and other treats too numerous to mention. We all tucked in and Alan’s generosity was much appreciated.

A good walk to end the year, topped off by Alan’s fine spread. Thank you Alan!
Paul.

Great post Paul.  As Paul was driving and looking after himself he will be for given for omitting the contribution by Malcolm who allowed us to celebrate with him by wetting his new grandson's (Leo) head as he bought drinks all round.  A treat I hope I will be allowed when next we meet en mass. John arrived on the 23/12 2013.  Mother and young man all well even although he got an earlier stork than had been booked.
Johnny


Oh yes. That was most remiss of me. I told you things had become a little hazy after a fortnight! Thank you Malcolm!!
Paul

Annbank to Ayr 26 June

Alan, Allan, Andy, Davie C, Davie McM, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

For Davie, whose battery had run out

The day was sunny, but as so often so far this year, with a wee edge to the breeze as we assembled at Annbank Bowling Club. Some, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, had already availed themselves of filled rolls and sausage rolls from the baker’s prior to departing on what was to be good and dry (except for sweat) day out.

Going against the usual protocol, we headed down the main street before cutting off past the fishery and making our way on the path beside the river. A short coffee stop was called for at the view point overlooking the river before proceeding to the Wallace and Burns monument for our next stop. Here those who wanted coffee, took it, those who wanted to have lunch, had it, and those who just wanted to rest, rested.

No introductions necessary

The talk was of embarrassing bodies - Robert’s, Ian’s, Davie’s,… and of how the Canigou had been conquered. Robert said it was so easy, the most frightening part being the journey up in the jeep, that next year he is going to do it carrying a 25kg bag of cement – wee hard man right enough.

All good things come to an end and soon we were off again making our way past the smallholdings and using the stepping stones to cross the river where lunch, or whatever, was called.

Walking under the A77, using the footpath obviously, we continued on the path adjacent to the river before crossing it at UWS and then walked into town where the Annbank bus had just drawn up at the stop – good planning or what?

A-maize-ing

There was a short debate about whether to go straight home (remembering tonight’s curry) or go to the Tap o’ the Brae for’ just the one’ pint. In the event there was no argument and we sat in the sit-ootery* enjoying the views and the refreshments. Just the one pint?  Some hope. Had it been not for the night out, this could have been at least a 3pd**.

P.S. The curry at the Jewel in the Crown was most successful with Peter and Rex joining us and Paul travelling up for the banter in Wetherspoon’s where, disappointingly, they had run out of the malt of the month – Lagavulin

*Where the Ooters sit oot and the dug can join us in intelligent conversation.

**Ooter-speak for a moderate libation.

3 January Annbank to Ayr

Davie Mc, Jimmy, Peter, Rex & Robert

            Five of the hardiest - at least five of the soberest - Ooters turned out for the first outing of the New Year. It was to be a short walk just to work off the excesses of the festive season and to blow away the cobwebs of inactivity. And when we gathered in Annbank, the breeze springing up threatened to blow away more than the cobweb; a chill breeze it was and one that threatened to be in our faces all the way to Ayr. We didn’t look forward to that. Yet it was into this chill breeze that we set our faces and started the walk. The walk has been described too many times in these pages to warrant further description here; suffice to say we would follow the River Ayr way all the way into the town.

2 September Auchincruive 4 - Another Halcyon Day or 'Whit Bloody Kingfisher'

There was a roaring in the wind all night,
The rain came heavily and fell in floods,
But now the sun was shining, calm and bright,
The birds were singing in the distant woods.
William Wordsworth

Peter had a sare back so missed the walk today. This was a great pity for it was Peter’s kind of walk, it was in one of his favourite parts of the county and, for something of a change this summer, the sun shone and the air was warm. But he had a sare back and missed it. However, nine of us gathered at Annbank Bowling Green car park for an excursion by the River Ayr. (Ronnie was the other absentee, having had a better offer)
We have done this walk many times before as a group yet was still new territory for some of us and we looked forward to an easy and interesting walk in the sun.
Holly led us away from the car park down through a wee wooded area on a footpath still wet and muddy from the summer’s rain. She obviously remembered the route well for she took us down through the wood to the path beside the river, a river that ran deep and brown, swollen once again by another night’s rain. But the sun shone on us this morning and we enjoyed the walk down the river into Auchincruive policies.
We stopped as we cleared the trees, came through the perimeter wall and the river scene opened out to us. Some sat on the riverside wall, some stood around, but all enjoyed the view downriver and the welcome sunshine. Somebody mentioned coffee but Davie suggested we wait until we get to the Burns Monument for there were seats there. And, anyway, that’s where we always have coffee. We all agreed to wait but this didn’t stop Ian devouring his first roll of the day.
We came to Auchincruive House. Davie and Robert were for walking on but a shout from the rest brought them back for we were for a closer view of the old house. The original part of the house dates from the middle of the eighteenth and was built for the Oswald family to a design by Robert Adam. Though it has been extended and altered since then, the original facade is still obvious. A header on one of the rone-pipe bears the date 1767, possibly the date the house was finished. As Oswald Hall, it was incorporated into the Scottish Agricultural College as halls of residence but it now houses a banqueting hall, conference centre and various business offices.

We crossed Oswald’s bridge and came to the Leglen Wood and the cairn commemorating the area’s connection with both Wallace and Burns. Here, we took coffee.
After a longer coffee break than we have been used to these past few months, we left the cairn, crossed the road and took the fishers’ path up the river. Two herons flapped their lazy way downstream and a buzzard could be heard ‘meowing’ above the trees. The latter was seen as we started the climb to the old Ayr to Annbank railway.
The walk through the woods above the railway cutting was a delight. ‘The light is super’, said Johnny, our official photographer ‘almost spring-like’. He wasn’t wrong. The sun shone through the foliage turning it bright spring green and dappling the tree trunks with spots of summer light. His camera clicked as he tried to capture the scene for us. We look forward to seeing the pictures.
The woodland continued as we climbed above the river to Wallace’s Seat where, on the crag high above the water with superb views up and down the river, we halted again. Ten or fifteen minutes we sat there while the newcomers admired the view and the old-timers blethered in their usual manner. But, wooden benches are hard on auld bones and either sair bums or itchy feet began to tell. We were off again.
The trees gave way briefly and we emerged onto the road at Tarholm bridge. From path on the other side of the bridge appeared a man with a dog that barked furiously at Holly. The dog was reined in to be put into the car parked there and the man stood aside to let us past. In passing, Allan said to no one in particular, ‘That chap’s from Fenwick’, and walked on. Of course, the shy Jimmy and Robert had to make inquiries. By the time the inquisitors had done their stuff and found out once more that it was nice to have a dry day for a change; yes, the man was from Fenwick – forty-one years ago; yes, he remembered Allan when his name was mentioned - his sister and Allan’s were friends, the bold Allan was a hundred metres up the fishers’ path with the rest of the uninterested.
As the crags gave way to a broad grassy holm, the need to eat was felt. On a seat by a shallow sloping bank opposite the point where the Coyle adds its waters to the main river, we sat to eat, to eat and to laze in the sun. Holly was for none of this lazing about; she is far too young for that. Robert obliged by throwing a stick into the water for her. Playing water-sticks is one of Holly’s favourites. This ploy was successful until the time he threw it slightly too far and the puir dug was swept downstream in the flood making landfall some fifty metres below us. Robert gave up at this point, not so Holly. Johnny was next choice for games and stood by the bank while Holly showed him how to swim. And the rest of us lazed and watched. For a good while we lazed and watched.
‘Kingfisher!’ yelled Allan and all eyes turned towards the river to watch a dot of sapphire and orange streak up the water; all eyes except Robert’s that is. ‘Where, where?’ shouted he, but such was the speed of the bird that by the time it was pointed out to Bob, it had moved on. He missed it. He still hasn’t seen a Kingfisher and is beginning to doubt the existence of such a creature, accusing us of inventing it just to tease him. As if.
The birders were delighted though, for not only had we seen a kingfisher but five herons, two buzzards, a single kestrel and a grey wagtail had also been spotted.

Irrespective of the length of the walk or the warmth of the day or the luxury for this year of lazing in the sun, there comes a time when we have to move on. We had reached this time now. We walked on.
We were now on the sunny side of the river, on the fishers’ path that took us underneath the sandstone and shale crags that are a feature of this stretch of the water. The sun was warm and bright on our faces and edged the ripples of the water with silver. More than one of us took the opportunity to get some good pictures.
Then the crags gave way to another grassy holm. Two hundred metres or so upstream stood two men, blethering. When we got nearer, we could see a fine big salmon lying at their feet. One of them, Owen Clark, had landed it earlier in the day. An eleven pounder it was, and took some time to land according to Owen who was ‘seeventy-two' and had ‘been oot fae seeven o’clock this mornin’’ and was ‘knackered’. Like most fishers, Owen doesn’t eat the fish he catches but gives it away but despite pleas from the fish eaters amongst us, he refused to give it to us for he had somebody in mind for it. Johnny took his picture and gave him a blog card so that he could see the picture on the internet. Then we wished him well, left him to blether on to his companion and walked on upstream.
We were now barely a mile from the cars, a mile that was taken at a leisurely pace as befitted the day and we arrived at the cars around two o’clock.

Fluid replacement therapy was administered in The Tap o’ the Brae. We sat outside on the decking taking in some more sun and looking down the valley of the Ayr to the coast and Arran beyond. ‘A good day’, was the general opinion. ‘And nice to see the kingfisher’, said one. ‘Whit bloody kingfisher!’ exclaimed a frustrated Robert.

PS. The rain came back around five o’clock