Darvel and Loudoun Hill 7th October

 Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Once again, it is thanks to Kay and Davie for their hospitality in providing us with coffee and pies before the walk. The pies are reaching legendary status. Fabulous, or just superb?

Anyway, we are a walking group, so we dragged ourselves outside on a bright autumn morning for our walk to Loudoun Hill, crossing Morton Park and then heading out of Darvel before turning up to join the Valley Walk. The going was good, despite the recent rain, although the pristine new path as of a couple of years ago has now been encroached on either side by grass leaving parts of the track suitable for single file use only. Nonetheless, the spirits were high and, before we knew it, we had reached the point where we left the old railway line and descended to start the climb up past Newlands Farm. As has often been said in the past, these hills are getting longer and steeper by the year, but we all made it, took a wee breather, and then took the path round the base of Loudoun Hill. At the point where you can turn towards the Spirit of Scotland Monument, we paused to decide our options.

Alan McQ, Paul and Rex took coffee/lunch here before tackling the hill, checking out the Honesty Horse Box as they did, whilst the rest made their way down and then back up past the monument to have lunch at the benches. It was just after twelve by this time and, as they ate, the first shower of the day arrived, not that heavy or prolonged but enough for Derval Davie, who had come out without his waterproofs and was feeling the effects of a walk he had done the day before, to phone Kay to come and pick Isla and him up. The other eight then walked down to the A71, turned right down the Windy Wizen for a hundred yards or so, crossed over and just started to go down the track at the Beg before realising that that was not the right road to take, turned back, and followed the sign for the Long Cairn Walk. Hugh and Graham were nursing knee problems and didn’t want any more climbs or descents, wishing the shortest route back so they, with wee Davie and Malcolm, opted to walk down the main A71 into Priestland and then Darvel. Alan, Allan, Dougie and Robert continued up towards Greenbank cottage and down towards Priestland via the farmer’s field encountering another shower as they did.

Moving towards Darvel there was another shower as they closed in on the other four ahead of them and caught them up by the time they had arrived back at Morton Park. By the time they got changed at the cars, there was sunshine again, and in all honesty, they had got off very lightly with the rain. Alan McQ phoned to say that the three hill climbers had gone straight to the Black Bull, so the others set off to join them for what proved to be a merry hour. Many thanks to wee Davie for buying the first round in celebration of his 71^st birthday (8^th Oct) and for agreeing to provide crisps and for releasing the purse string to allow us to buy flowers for Katrina at the Jewel.

The walk(s) today had been between eight and nine miles and taken four hours. For some these days maybe a mile or two too long but FRT revitalised the weary bones.

The figure at the top is Alan

 

Some images of the Loudoun Hill walk

Arrangements for Wednesday 14th October

Portencross

Meet at the usual time in the usual lay-by for the usual walk with the usual guys to Portencross Castle followed by the usual drink and usual banter in the usual pub.

Maybole, Kildoon Hill, Lochspouts 30th September

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The overnight rain had passed and, with a forecast of dry weather ahead, thirteen Ooters met up at the Greenside in Maybole. Derval Davie decided that the planned walk was not suitable for Isla and him, so set off to walk from Maidens to Culzean, promising to meet up with us at the High Society later on.

Twelve of us, therefore, made our way down out of Maybole, up Allan’s Brae and continued down over the wee ford towards the turn-off for Kildoon Hill. Seven took to the hill whilst Allan, Killie Davie, Hugh, Johnny and Malcolm stuck to the road round the hill agreeing to meet up with the others at Lochspouts. The five made their way round to Lower Burncrooks before going left up to the gate that leads across and up the field to the reservoir. Hugh didn’t fancy coming downhill from there, so they turned back and took brunch just beyond the cattle grid. As they were getting ready to move off the rest of the guys appeared, having done the hill and were heading for Lochspouts for lunch. We were also joined by a local who was there to tend his cockerels which were in the field but were ‘hiding’ today.

The five retraced their steps back to the cars at the Greenside and took the remains of their pieces at the benches in the warm sunshine. The weather had stayed dry and bright, but with a wee wind in non-sheltered spots, making for good overhead walking conditions!. Alan phoned Allan to say that the larger group had reached the High Society only to find it closed due to holidays so it was agreed that we would just go into the Greenside for FRT. The main group had done a tad over eight miles whilst the smaller group had done about six and a half, with the latter arriving back at quarter to one and the rest about half an hour later.

It dawned on us that Derval Davie might not know where we were so phone contact was made, to no avail as he was driving, but as we sat down to our drinks in the sitooterie Davie phoned asking where we were. As Allan tried to explain exactly where we were there were cries of ‘Tell him tae pit the dug oan!’ No matter, he arrived safely just in time for the rain to start, so we went inside where we were well-received. A pleasant hour was spent, with the treasurer having his arm twisted to allow us to have chips. He agreed, and four portions of chips were devoured by the thirteen of us. By the time we left the sun was shining again to complete another good day out.

Some images from the Kildoon Hill and Loch Spoot walk