Arrangements for Wed 21st April.

 Meet beside the old swimming pool in Prestwick at 10.00.a.m. Walk in socially distanced groups of up to 6 people. The proposed walk is along the beach to Troon and return. Bring a packed lunch.

Possible walks Wed 28th April.

 Starter walk which is not over ambitious, relatively flat and fairly convenient for most members,

Prestwick to Troon and return.

Annbank to Auchincruive and return

Kilmarnock ( Halford’s car park) along the river to Gatehead and return.

Stewarton woods circular walk.

Ayr Greenan Castle car park.Walk  along the shore and then up Brown Carrick and return. ( not too flat )

And any other suggestions!

Max 15 in the group and maintain social distancing. Most of us will have had at least one vaccination, some may have had their second jab. Some members may feel that walking with a large group is still not sensible but the Ayr group of 7 have been walking and the Killie group of 4/6 have been meeting up and walking together. Obviously car sharing has not been approved yet which means one person per car. I also think that pub visits even if an outside area is available will be out for the foreseeable future. Meeting as a group will allow everyone to enjoy some male repartee and banter even though we will have little to talk about because we have not been able to do much for months now. I look forward to getting some feedback and some semblance of my old life back.

7 April - Straiton

South Ayrshire contingent

A walk around Straiton, starting with the steep climb to the Hunter-Blair monument atop Craigengower Hill, which proved to be a good test of legs and lungs. From there we descended to the Water of Girvan where we had a socially-distanced lunch.  We then followed the west bank of the river, eschewing the opportunity to climb Bennan Hill.  However, we did extend the walk a little by following the Church Trail which enters the Blairquhan estate. We passed a former watermill, beautifully converted into a house, and walked alongside the old lade which supplied its water.

With the exception of the strong wind on Craigengower the weather was pleasant enough. This was a  shortish walk of just over 5 miles but it was a varied one, and it goes without saying that the company was great.

East Ayrshire contingent

24 March 
Kilmarnock to Laigh Milton Viaduct.
Return along the river, Cold to start then warm and sunny. 
3 and a half hours

31 March 
from the old Howford bridge to Auchinleck House via the gorge walk and Auchinleck Castle. Then on to Ochiltree dam, return via main road and estate road.
Warm and springlike
4 hours

7 April

Failford to Gadgirth Bridge. Return via Enterkine House and Daldorch Farm

Cold wind but mostly sunny

5 hours 20 minutes

31 March - Barony Hill, Dailly

South Ayrshire contingent.

We broke with tradition and did this walk in reverse direction from the norm.  The thinking behind it being that the last time we did the walk the descent through the wood had been almost impassable because of mud, and by getting there early an alternative walk could be arranged if conditions were too bad.   It was muddy - but not too muddy.

It was a beautiful day - calm and mild and on the descent from Barony Hill thoughts drifted towards cold pints of lager ... but not today. 

Maybe soon.