Tinto Hill (2333 ft) circular walk 27 Sep 2017

Since we have done this walk several times before, and the usual route was taken, there is no need to describe it once again.

This short note serves only to stand as a history of the Ooters; hopefully others will take the opportunity to write up other walks. Nothing long or elaborate is required, simply a few comments serving to keep the "minutes" if you like of our wee group.

Present: Gus, Ian, Paul, Rex, Malcolm, Bob, Kenny T and Davy M

Weather: dry with a very cold biting wind at the top of the hill. The rains of the past few weeks had made the  path for the first few hundred yards very muddy indeed, but once the gravel was reached conditions improved greatly and even the trek along the shoulder to the trees presented no problems.

Time: the walk took approximately 4 hours with the leading group managing to reach the huge cairn at the top in an hour. Davy did not manage his sub-hour time on this occasion,  peching like blazes up the last two hundred feet or so.

Visibility: could have been much better, but we were still afforded reasonable views.

FRT: we cut back across country via Douglas and Glespin to enjoy a nice hour of beer, coffee and banter in the Empire Bar at Muirkirk.

9 January Five seconds of sunshine

Andy, Alan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Ian, Jimmy, Rex & Robert

            Despite the earliness of the year, eight of us made the long drive into darkest Lanarkshire for an ascent of Tinto Hill. And, for a while as we drove through, it looked as though we would be rewarded for our efforts by having a fine clear day with extensive views. The Ayrshire morning had dawned brightly with a glorious sunrise that raised our spirits and set our expectations high. And they remained high as we drove through towards Biggar though the promising sky was now becoming less so with high cloud obscuring the sun. When we got glimpses of Tinto from the road, it was alternately coated in mist or bathed in week sunshine. Yet our expectations were high and we motored on.