Failford to Gadgirth Bridge 30 July

Holly looks on in the hope of a corner of sandwich

Allan, Davie Mc, Gus, Malcolm, Peter

Looking down the river from the weir

The morning was overcast with a smir as we assembled at Failford. Undaunted we were soon on our way along this familiar part of the River Ayr Way. The path up to Peden’s pulpit was ignored as we continued down the gorge. Jackets were dispensed with before D, G & P decided to take the steps down to the lower walk beside the river, meeting up with A & M at the bench. Davie advised us to keep our waterproof trousers on as, having done this walk recently, he indicated that there were parts which were overgrown with long grass. In the event there was no need as most of the route had been strimmed in the last few days. As we reached the diversion at Daldorch Farm we met a couple who said that they were staying at the farm and that the farmer said that he had built a new bridge further up the path and that the path was passible right up to Stair. After a moment’s deliberation we decided to give it a go and continued straight on. The farmer had indeed built a new bridge and a good job he had made of it! Further on, having negotiated some wee tricky bits, we came across a lad who was cutting back the undergrowth. He had umpteen layers on, to protect him from the clegs he said, and must have been sweating buckets. His view was that to continue further was very dodgy. But we had come this far so we continued until coming across the remains of a wee landslip. This was negotiated with a lot of care and would not be recommended if the ground had been any slippier. Anyway, we made it and sat down for coffee at the weir at Stair.

Entrkine House

From here we went up the road to and turned left on to the remainder of the path up to Gadgirth Bridge, passing below Enterkine Viaduct as we went. Davie vowed to go up on the viaduct one day, if he could find a safe way to do so and Peter also showed interest. Some parts of this walk have been very wet in the past but, glad to say, underfoot conditions were good, given the recent dry spell.

As we finished lunch at the bridge, the rain came on and stayed with us until we reached Enterkine House, but, by the time we had reached the old mill house, the wet weather gear had been removed and was not to be needed again.

Coming down back in to Stair Holly turned right to go back the road she had come, but discretion being the better part of valour, we decided to turn left and take the diversion up and down to Daldorch Farm. On the way back we stayed high and were back at Failford 4h 50mins after leaving.

This had been a long walk, in much better conditions than had been forecast, and we were ready for FRT which was taken at the adjacent Failford Inn.