Photos from Loudon Hill, 11 May

27 April 2016 - Four Lochs Walk, photos

early Early Ooters

Here's a blast from the past! ca 2006

Ochiltree to Cumnock Lineup 23rd December 2015

Smugglers' Trail 9 December

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Ian F, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

As we sat in Malcolm’s house enjoying coffee and bacon rolls (many thanks again to Malcolm and his glamorous assistant, Anne) the weather did not encourage us to make a move. Yet another dull, damp, dreich morning! But the forecast promised us a window of dry weather between ten and twelve o’clock so we set off, accompanied by new recruit Jim Dinnett, to Dundonald Castle where the walk would begin.

Would it keep dry? Yes it would!

This is familiar territory so little description is needed for the route. It is sufficient to say that underfoot conditions up through the wood were soft and muddy in places, but not as bad as we might have expected. Before long we made the reservoir, continued down through Loans and made our way up to the path leading down to Fullarton Woods. Coffee/lunch was taken at our usual place on the benches at the remains of Fullarton House, before we progressed to Crosbie Kirk, and then across towards the golf course which, given the windy conditions, was very sparsely populated by golfers.

On reaching the beach we met Robert who had walked up to meet us from his parked car (he had attended a hospital appointment) and the thirteen of us were blown down the shore. We decided to leave the beach and seek the shelter of the pathway behind the dunes after a mile or so and this allowed Robert to pick up his car. Before long we were at MacKay’s for well-earned FRT.

We were extremely lucky today in that the only rain we saw was a few spots prior to reaching the pub. Like last week, we had taken some exercise and had the cobwebs blown away, before enjoying our usual conviviality. A tad under three hours for the walk, for those interested.

Darvel 14 October

Alan, Allan, Davie Mc, Gus, Ian, Malcolm, Paul, Peter

The Indian summer continued as we assembled at Davie’s in Darvel for our valley walk. Thanks, yet again, to Davie and Kay for their hospitality.

Almost a year ago to the day we did this walk and it was a precursor to Gus’s 60^th celebration. Next week is Davie C’s, nearly a coincidence. Anyway, when we reached the entrance to Lanfine we did not, on this occasion, go up through the estate past the boars, but continued up the tarmac road to Dyke before taking the grass path up to the edge of Dykehill Plantation. Following the markers we made our way up to the break in the trees that took us up towards Kieland. Before reaching there we turned right and took the path through Bonnieton Plantation and on towards Gullyhill. The walking was good with only a few muddy patches to contend with, and with the only sound being feet on dry leaves, the walk was relaxing.

The big one on the left takes an interest in us

When we eventually reached tarmac again we turned left and stopped in the sun at Parkerston for coffee. As we enjoyed the break it was remarked how quiet it was today with not so much banter, more to do with who was missing than who was present. The road took us down to Newmilns, and crossing the main road, we started the climb up the other side of the valley, passing the dry ski slope, and taking Dalwhatswood Road to the entrance to the cemetery, where, as tradition dictates, we took lunch. The autumn sunshine made this break a pleasure, but all good things soon came to an end, and we continued our steady climb up the road past Cronan until it levelled out as we turned right towards our last leg back to Darvel. Turning right down Foulpapple Road and then left in to Burn road meant we were back to where we started in three hours and fifty-five minutes, exactly the same time it took us last year.

A good way to get away from it all

Malcolm and Peter had issues to attend to and left for home whilst the rest of us headed up to the Railway Inn for FRT only to find it was shut. Did we have such an effect on it last week? Maybe it was just down to it being the school week, who knows? Anyway a quick decision was made to travel to the Crown in Newmilns. This was a new venue for most of us but Davie and Gus, the valley boys, were familiar with it, although it had changed a bit since the last time they had been there. It could certainly do with some upgrading but these days we need to be grateful that there are some pubs that are still open.

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!

Sorn, Catrine and beyond 26 August

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

The rain had been pelting down as we made our way to the meeting point in Sorn for the scheduled Blacksidend walk, but, given the conditions, a decision was soon made to postpone this in favour of a shorter walk up to Catrine and back. Judith, aka Paul, proclaimed that the rain would soon pass, but once a decision is made, it is made. An hour out and an hour back, and home by lunchtime was the agreed agenda.

As we set off back up the tarmac towards the side road into Catrine, the rain intensified and we were glad we were not on the way up a hill. However, by the time we reached the war memorial, the conditions had eased considerably, and we were to be blessed with ideal overhead conditions for the rest of the day. Paul and his rainfall radar had been right.

Continuing on the road we entered Catrine via Chapel Brae and cut across at the Green before crossing the river and taking the familiar path towards the bridge at Howford. Coffee was taken at our ‘usual’ spot below the road bridge, and given the ever brightening sky, the decision was taken to continue on up to the Ballochmyle Viaduct and take stock there.

Having reached this engineering masterpiece, Davie Mc suggested proceeding a bit further and doing a wee loop which would bring us back to the bridge. Most thought that this meant we would loop back to the viaduct, but the path that we took led us up to Kingencleugh where lunch was taken on a series of steps leading down to the railway line. Malcolm, in particular, enjoyed the rest as he was struggling to get over a recent bout of illness. All good things come to an end though, and we took the side road down to the A76 where we found the path leading to the old road and back to the old bridge at Howford, hence completing the loop.

We retraced our steps back into Catrine stopping briefly at Peter’s house so that arrangements for the evening could be confirmed. Interestingly, we were in awe of the scaffolding that Peter had built up the side of a very tall tree to enable it to be cut down. G’on yersel’, Peter!

Continuing up past the voes, we took the riverside walk back to Sorn and arrived back a full four and a quarter hours after setting off.

Given the fact that we were going out at night, we did not indulge ourselves in FRT but headed home after what had been an unexpectedly good day out.

Twelve of us, the nine named above plus Peter, Ronnie and Jimmy, assembled at the Jewel in the Crown in Kilmarnock in the evening for a multiple celebration i.e. the tenth anniversary of the Ooters, Peter’s 70^th, and Paul’s 65^th. Peter had baked a carrot cake in celebration of the event and the restaurant contributed with a complimentary drink. The assembled company then adjourned to Wetherspoon’s where we enjoyed Paul’s hospitality, and then some more.

Good times indeed!

The rain had stopped by now

Sunshine indeed!

The plaques on the viaduct

Step brothers

Davie gives us a song, we soon moved on!

Sorn Castle in the sunshine