Ballageich Hill 2nd September

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul, Robert, Rex

It was an overcast, dreich morning as wet met in Eaglesham for our walk over Ballageich Hill, but we were one short. There was a major snarl-up on the M77, which Robert had got caught in, so we arranged to meet him later in the walk and set off without him. After walking for twenty minutes or so back up the main road Robert passed us in his car, turned round and parked further up closer to the hill. He the walked down to meet us. The road walk, like many of our walks now, seemed to be longer than it used to be and the climb up the hill at the end of it is definitely getting steeper, but we were at the top, catching our breath, by about eleven o’clock.

 

It had stayed dry, and given the warmth, layers had been shed by this time, so we decided to plough on and not stop for coffee here. The trek across the top of the hill was damp underfoot, swampy in bits, and took us another twenty-five minutes or so, but we were fortunate in that we did have some views to take in, although it was better to keep an eye on the ground in front of us given the terrain. Coming off the hill down towards Bennan Loch is always very tricky, and so it proved to be, and extreme care had to be taken until we eventually emerged on to some easier stuff near to our next hurdle, the barbed wire fence. Fortunately, the two lower strands were plain wire which Graham and Robert held apart to allow their fellow Ooters to pass through using a variety of techniques, straddle, Fosbury flop, limbo, but most popular the commando crawl. There must be a game show format here! As the last person went through Alan and Rex, who had approached the fence further up, found a gap and walked straight through! You win some, you lose some!

 

Coffee was taken at the steps that lead you down from the loch side, and it was a welcome break. There was a brief light shower as we finished coffee and headed up past Loch Craig reservoir and up to the farm where we turned right on our way back towards Eaglesham. The going was reasonably straightforward, particularly when we left the farm track and found tarmac, and we were soon at our usual lunch spot where this road meets the one down to the golf course. Workmen were digging up part of the road prior to it being resurfaced, so we went a wee bit further down before settling down for a welcome rest.

The walk past the golf course (Bonnyton) and down to the cars was the last section of the walk. We had been very lucky with the weather, probably got the best part of the day, and most were wet from the inside out rather than the other way round. Johnny’s feet, though, were soaking as the soul from one of his boots had come away. Where have we seen this before?

FRT was taken in the Eglinton, which was very comfortable, if somewhat pricey. Nonetheless, a relaxing time was had after our seven-and-a-half-mile walk lasting three hours and forty minutes.

Johnny made reference to the Burns night in January and was keen to get the views of those present, before it was time to leave for home with Robert getting a lift back up the road to his car.

This had been a walk which, for some, had been a bit more demanding than they could remember. The time in the hotel made up for everything though.

Arrangements for 9th September

Meet at Glenbuck for a walk through the opencast and over Hareshaw Hill. 10am start as usual.

There is an option for those who don't want to tackle the hill to walk back along the old railway line towards Muirkirk. 

Some images of the walk up Ballageich Hill

 

Revised arrangements for 2nd September

Meet in Eaglesham (top of Polnoon St, left as you enter the village) at 10am for a walk over Ballageich Hill. 

The Hareshaw Hill walk is now scheduled for 9th September when Isla, hopefully, will be available to lead us! 

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.