Annbank to Ayr 15 June

Allan, Davie Mc, Jimmy, Paul, Peter, and a bit of Gus

Five of us met up at Annbank on an overcast but warm morning for the weel-kent walk to Ayr. Peter, fearing the worst, donned his waterproofs and kept them on all day!

We took the ‘easy’ route i.e. down past the bowling club and followed the path to the river and on to Auchincruive. By this time we were down to shirt sleeves and were soon at the memorial for coffee. As we reminisced, Davie disclosed that both he and Jimmy had been church choir boys in their youth. At this point, believe it or not, Jimmy went in to his piece box and produced a Kit-Kat!! You couldn’t write the script!
Moving on, we took a small diversion, in that, as we left the road from Oswald’s Bridge and turned left following the sign for the path to Ayr, we took a path up through the trees, noting, as we did, BMX jumps, before rejoining the usual track further down. We decided to cross the river at the stepping stones but, having surveyed the situation, Paul decided that he would go back up to the road for his crossing.

Carefully does it!

Lunch was enjoyed here before continuing on the River Ayr Walk down into the town. As we approached UWS we could see a vision approach us from the opposite direction. Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No, it was Superman. Well, I exaggerate, it was Gus, who was continuing his recuperation by stretching his legs today. He said that an hour would do him and by the time he met up with us he had already walked for twenty-seven minutes, so, once we had caught up with his news, the six of us walked into Ayr, where four got the one-fifteen bus back to Annbank. Allan, having left his bus pass in his car, gratefully accepted a lift back in Gus’s car.
A decent walk in good walking conditions followed by FRT in the sit-ootery at the Tap o’ the Brae!

Arrangements for 22 June

Cumbrae
Meet at our usual parking place in Largs beside the Gogo Burn at 9.30am for a trip to Cumbrae on the 9.45am ferry. Route to be decided on the day.

Dun Fionn 8 June

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul

 

At the highest point of the day wishing for a cool pint

The glorious spell of weather was to continue but, with the prospects of some thundery showers, weatherproofs had been packed. Thankfully, they were not needed.
The crossing was done on a flat clam with the only issue being a misty haze which was to restrict views until lunchtime.

On the path up to Dun Fionn

On leaving the ferry terminal and noting good progress being made on the new one, we made our way up the Lamlash road before turning off left towards Dun Fionn. Looking for the turn-off from the lane to the hill, a path was noted, and we took it only to realise quickly that we had chosen the wrong path. If we had followed Holly we would not have erred. In any case we had only gone about twenty yards before turning back and rejoining the track. A chap at the farm confirmed that the path we were looking for was a bit further on and before long we had found it and were on the steady climb to Dun Fionn. Coffee was called for but Davie Mc said it was only ten minutes (Davie minutes, mind you, something akin to Jimmy miles) to the trig point. The advanced guard did indeed make it in ten minutes with the rest a few minutes behind.

For once Davie Mc is obscured. Is this a first?

Coffee was taken here whilst taking in the hazy view and considering how lucky we were not to be at our work! Soon we were joined by four schoolgirls from Kilwinning Academy who were on their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. As we left them we came across three of their teachers who were meeting up with the girls on the Dun. One, Garry, was known to some of us, but we couldn’t remember his second name. Where is Gus when you need him? (By the way, Gus’s excuse for not turning up did not pass the adjudication board. It was felt that a couple of hours of recovery should have been plenty after surgery. He has been sentenced to write out ‘I must not lead my fellow Ooters into strange curtilages again’. He has to do this using a quill and in joined up writing).
In half an hour we had gained the high point of Clauchlands Hill and decided that we would stop here and take in the views up to Brodick Bay and down to Lamlash Bay and the Holy Isle. There were no objections to this proposal as it was getting hot, hot, hot, and a leisurely lunch was much enjoyed.

In the shade of the trees heading for the main road

As we descended towards the main Brodick/Lamlash road it was noticed that Holly was taking every opportunity for a lie down in the shade of the trees, not so daft! The trek from this road to Glencloy using the quarry/timber road was a slog in the afternoon sun with comments like ‘I don’t remember this part of the walk as being so long’, and so it was a relief when the burn was reached and we moved into the shade. The walking was easier now, although we still had some way to go. Leaving the path we crossed a couple of fields before finding the road down to Auchrannie and then back along to the Douglas in Brodick for FRT where ten wabbit Ooters enjoyed that ‘Ice Cold in Alex’ moment. It did become a three pint day, until, of course, we got on the boat!

Passing Auchrannie

The walk had taken four hours, the time at the sit-ootery was well-earned, and, all in all, it had been a great day out.

Another image from Benquat

Arrangements for 15 June

Annbank to Ayr
Reduced numbers mean that we will do this local walk. Meet at Annbank Bowling Club at 10am and bring bus passes.