Baidland Hill, Dalry 9 September

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Rex

The weather was disappointingly overcast as we met in Dalry for our excursion up Baidland Hill. The route had been well researched and so we found the cemetery with no bother and then turned right to proceed up the Fairlie Moor road. This soon became single track and although there was not much traffic, what traffic there was tended to be of the large Malcolm’s variety, as we were to find out later that work was being done at one of the reservoirs. We continued up the road, ignoring the option to follow an alternative footpath for some of the way, and soon reached the road end for Baidlandhill Farm. It was at this point that a pony was spotted coming down the road towards us, and as compassion is our middle name, it was eventually coaxed into a field housing other miscellaneous horses. We certainly hoped that this is where it should have been, but didn’t hang around for too long to make sure.

Davie said he was a little hoarse today

Not a good day for a view. Some might say the best way to see Dalry

The Baidlandhill Farm road led us steadily upwards until we stopped for coffee at the entrance to Ward Farm. The promised break in the cloud cover did not materialise and the views back down the valley were hampered by the low cloud. The sun wasn’t strong enough to burn through and there was not enough wind to blow the cloud cover away meaning that it was actually a bit chilly sitting around so we were soon on our way. Baidlandhill Farm was reached in no time and we followed the signage indicating that we should join the next part of the route by climbing a style and making a minor detour rather than going through the farm. Although no longer on tarmac, the going was still very good as we passed under the turbines on Wardlaw Wood Wind Farm and soon found ourselves on the service road. Our map told us that we should have been going through trees by this time but it looked as though much of the wood had been felled and that the service road took us through what was left of it. By this time, of course, we were well on our way down and soon emerged to see that the wee reservoir to our right, Caaf Reservoir, had been drained to allow for some sort of works. At the end of the service road, where it joins on to the Fairlie Moor road, lunch was called for.

Taking to the ‘main’ road again we passed the farm at Auldmuir with the pink paint on its brickwork and continued down to Baidland Mill and to the junction where we had headed upwards earlier in the day. We were relieved to see that the wee pony had settled back into its field and looked as though it was home. From here we retraced our steps into Dalry and were back at the cars by about one twenty, having set off just after ten.

FRT was taken at Wetherspoon’s in Irvine.

Holly wants a pair of these. Shades of Joe 90