Croy to Culzean 19th August

 

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

All made it to the car park at Croy shore in plenty of time on what was forecast to be a wet day. It was dry when we arrived but, by the time we set off, the rain had started. It continued to rain quite heavily for the first half hour by which time we had reached Maybole shore, and with the rain abating we stopped to consider our options. Given the conditions there was little point in our more adventurous members going up Mochrum Hill, and with the option of going on to Maidens receiving little support it was decided just to go into Culzean. However, Alan offered an alternative route into the park by going up the road from here, past the wee car park and on to the old railway line which would take us to Culzean.

This sounded fine, but the reality was a bit different as when we left the road, we entered an overgrown path, thick with bracken and nettles before becoming a bit easier as we moved through the woods. For wee Davie and Dougie this section had the feeling of déjà vu about it given their adventures a couple of weeks ago! Where was the old railway line we asked. Apparently, we blinked and we missed it!  Anyway, we all eventually emerged adjacent to the car park and headed for our coffee stop at the courtyard. Well, most of us did but Alan, Derval Davie, Paul and Peter continued up to the shelter in the garden below the castle for their stop. 

 

The main group moved on to find the others, and did so, but with the rain starting again didn’t wait for them but went to the shelter at the Battery and took an early lunch…only twenty minutes or so after finishing coffee. The foursome caught up with us and Paul joined us but the other three continued toward the Swan Pond in ever-brightening conditions. Having finished lunch, we set off to join the others but as we were halfway round the pond we met them coming towards us, and after a brief discussion, it was greed that all would simply retrace their steps back to the castle from there.

No jungle adventure this time, as we descended the steps to the Gas House, although Jimmy did take a tumble on the slippy stones. The walk back along the beach was relatively straightforward with the stones and seaweed being negotiated more easily than in the past and by half past one we were back at the cars having covered seven miles.

Dunure was the chosen location for FRT and we eventually made it there after having been held up on the road by a farmer trying to move his cattle from his farm buildings along the road to a field. The hostelry was busy and we couldn’t get our normal spot inside, so we sat outside at the picnic benches enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine. The forecast had been for heavy rain by early afternoon, but the opposite had happened with the sun coming out and the temperature rising. A convivial time was had as usual and your scribe has been asked to point out, that for once, the Killie boys were first in the queue for drinks as usually they are at the coo’s tail waiting for someone of smallish stature to get changed and pamper himself after a walk!

N.B. No Wednesday walk next week as the Ooters will be attending fellow Ooter Jim Dinnett’s funeral.

More images from the Culzean walk

 

Some images of the walk between Croy and Culzean

Arrangements for Wednesday 2nd September

Hareshaw Hill 

Meet at Glenbuck for walk up Hareshaw Hill. Alternative low-level walk along the River Ayr Way towards Muirkirk.

Darvel, Newmilns, Galston 12th August

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

The very warm weather continued as we met at the Square in Darvel for our scheduled walk to Galston.  Making our way down to the entrance to Lanfine estate at the Ranoldcoup bridge we paused to consider where Gus had got to. In fact, he had gone ahead and was waiting for us at the wild boar enclosure, and there were many young boars (piglets) to be seen. The pace was easy and there was plenty of shade from the trees as we moved up the road and stopped at the bridge over the burn. Just before it, there was a path off to the left which, as seems to be the norm these days, some i.e. Alan McQ, Dougie, Gus, Jimmy, Paul and Rex decided to take to make the walk a bit more challenging.

 

The rest continued towards Newmilns and stopped for coffee at the gates leading on to Brown’s Road. Thereafter it was a short walk into Newmilns, past the Old Man’s Cabin and then to Brown Street and the riverside path. The going was sensible, but the heat was getting oppressive, so on arriving at the sports ground in Galston at ten past twelve, the eight sat down on the wee banking for a welcome lunch break. As they were finishing their pieces, spots of rain began to fall and, by the time rain jackets had been dug out and put on, the light shower had gone off. On the way to the bus stop there was another wee shower, but it came to nothing. Within a few minutes the bus arrived and delivered them back to Darvel, and the Black Bull, at about one o’clock having covered five and a half miles on the walk.

 

Ten minutes later the six arrived having followed the path through the woods up to the tarmac and then taken the road down to Newmilns emerging just before the Cabin. They then had crossed the main street and had gone up Dalwhatswood Road past the ski slope and cemetery, a challenging climb especially in the heat, and had done the loop, coming back down to Darvel via Fulpapple Road and Burn Road. Their distance must have been eight miles or so.

We all sat inside at the pub as it was cooler and where, as usual, a relaxing time was had. A day out to suit all aspirations.