Fisherton to Doonfoot by hill and by shore - 23 October 2024

Davie C, Dougie, Graeme, Gus, Alan M, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul and Rex

We were assembled at Doonfoot  in ample time for the 10.30-something bus to Fisherton, Alan having walked from his home.

The bus got us to Fisherton by 10.50 and we were greeted (at least we think they were greeting us) by the massed ranks of children in the primary school playground. In parts the track uphill had been "improved" with a new layer of large chunks of stones - probably ideal for tractors but less so for pedestrians. Half way up there was a halt to observe the wonders of ovine nature.  It looked as if the "red" ram had some catching up to do on the "yellow" one.

By 11.50 it was time for a coffee break, which was taken on the banks of the unnamed lochan where we have halted on previous walks. From there we headed to the boundary fence which we followed to the fire break.  This stretch was very boggy and there were a few complaints of wet feet. As he steadied himself through one of the muddy patches by gripping a strand of wire on the fence, your scribe brushed his hand against the top strand, barbed, and drew blood.  The caring Ooters rallied round and Dougie went into Florence Nightingale mode as he took out a plaster from his Crimean War-issue medical kit.

We were soon at the Brown Carrick trig point and we weren't alone since two couples from Glasgow had arrived just ahead of us. We had a long chat.  They weren't sure of the best way down and they clearly had never previously heard of the Ooters because they decided to follow us. Alan and Rex did the pathfinding while the rest of us followed on at a distance.  They path found well and located all the field gates. At one point a bunch of frisky cattle took up position by one of the gates but fortunately they scarpered as we approached.

Our walking companions bade us farewell at the Heads of Ayr Holiday Park and shortly afterwards we stopped for lunch at the usual benches on the descent to Bracken Bay.

Distance 13 km

It's a 3 km walk along the shore to Greenan, beneath the majestic Heads of Ayr and a busy Craig Tara Holiday Park.  It was a close run thing getting around the last corner into Greenan Bay, with the rising tide lapping out our feet, but we made it. There was now a schism - Alan, Paul, Gus and Rex opting to climb up to Greenan Castle and the others taking the road direct to the A719.  Both groups arrived back at the cars at roughly the same time - 3.10 pm.

It had been an enjoyable, varied walk on a decent day - it was windy on Brown Carrick but otherwise the weather had been good to us.

Malcolm and your scribe had other pressing engagements so gave FRT a miss but no doubt a pleasant hour of drink and banter was enjoyed at the Balgarth.

Some images of the walk from Fisherton to Doonfoot

 Featuring Alan McQ, Davie C, Dougie, Graeme, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul and Rex

Arrangements for Wednesday 30th October

Falls of Clyde

Meet at the bridge over the River Clyde at Kirkfieldbank for the walk to the Falls of Clyde. It is proposed that the walk will be done in the anti-clockwise direction so some can turn back at the halfway point.

Darvel to Loudoun Hill 16th October

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Paul, Rex, Robert

The forecast was not great as we met at the Square in Darvel on a damp morning. There was some talk of changing the walk but, with some assurances about a dry couple of hours, and with the skies brightening somewhat, we stuck to our original plan and set off towards Loudoun Hill. When we got to the start of the path at the old railway line we were met by a new, at least to most of us, information board, the first of many we were to encounter on our walk. By this time layers were beginning to be shed as it was very mild, and the chance of any rain was receding. The path meant the walking was easy, but it was noticed that the width of it was being narrowed down by encroaching grass and other vegetation, so that the ‘super highway’ of a year or two back, resplendent with many new gates, was now only suitable for single file in many parts. Another example of lack of regular maintenance! Where have we heard that before?

Anyway, when we arrived above the entrance to the tunnel, Jimmy, Alan and Graham decided to go down and have a look, with the latter two making their way through it before coming back. Most of us waited for them coming back up but Robert, unaware that we had stopped, had ploughed on before realising he was on his own and calling us to find out where we were. At the end of the elevated track we went down the steps on to tarmac but stopped to have coffee. At this point Allan and Robert decided to re-trace their steps and wander back to the cars, getting back at twenty to one and taking lunch on one of the benches in the Square before crossing to the Black Bull to await the others.

Alan, Graham and Rex climbed the hill following a steep track on the western side. Good views were had, and they could see the rest sitting on the bench above the Spirit of Scotland sculpture. They descended via a steep, slippy path on the north side before rejoining the others for lunch.

From there they crossed the A71 as if taking the Long Cairn Path, but rather than turning up to Saughall (Alan’s friend, Mike’s, house), they continued on the single-track road past High Newton and, on the bend in the road before Ladybrow, cut across fields towards Bransfield Farm and then walked into Priestland and along the pavement to Darvel, arriving just before two o’clock and making for the Black Bull. The hill climbers had done a tad over eight miles, with their low-level colleagues covering about seven and a half, and the early returners doing five and a half.

The pub became busier than normal with a group of guys recognising Gus as a former teacher with one claiming that the last time he saw Gus was when Gus had given him the belt. No matter, Gus joined them for a good natter.

We had won a watch with the weather, having encountered no rain, which contributed to another enjoyable Wednesday.

Some images from the Loudoun Hill walk