Maybole 12 April

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Peter, Rex, Robert

Setting off from the Green in Maybole on a dry, but coldish morning we made our way out of the town and headed towards the cut-off for Kildoon Hill and Kirkoswald, a route well known to us. Alan was leading us today as, yet again, he was on holiday (teachers!), so we followed on past this turn-aff (not the Ga’ston wan, Davie!) and continued on the road up to the wee bridge across the burn. Crossing over, rather than following the road, we followed the track until the remains of Craigfin Farm beckoned on our right. Coffee was called for here.

At Craigfin

Above us was Craigfin Hill (228m) and this was our next port of call. Having crossed over a field we found the well-defined track that took us up the trig point. Great views were to be had from there of the Ayrshire countryside and beyond, with Fergusson’s Monument in plain view and Lochspouts below us. Continuing on the track, we headed roughly westwards and encountered a short, sharp shower of rain, before meeting our only obstacle on the day’s walk i.e. a swollen burn. The advanced guard struggled across with varying success but Peter found an easier crossing to the left and the main body followed his lead. We eventually emerged on the path at the Green Well just at the Drummochreen Cairn, and we were now on familiar territory.
As we headed down the soggy path a discussion took place as to the merits of doing Craigdow Hill (254m). Easy access could be made from our track and it would be straight up and down and then back on to the path we were following. Allan, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm and Peter decided to give the hill a miss and continued up the path for five minutes, found a place for lunch and watched as the rest of the guys made the quite steep ascent to the top and then come half way down before stopping for their lunch. Their journey to the top had only taken about ten minutes for those in front and a wee bit longer for the rest.

G'on yersels!

The five boys (remember the chocolate?) continued down the Ghaist Glen track and waited at Lower Burncrooks for the rest to catch up.
There was now a further parting of the ways with Alan, Dougie, Gus, Jim, Jimmy, Kenny and Rex going left up to High Burncrooks, and then taking the track up to Kildoon Hill and up to Fergusson’s Monument. The remainder went right and followed the road to where they had cut off earlier in the day before re-tracing their steps back towards Maybole. On the way back, they could clearly see the seven sisters brothers at the monument above them. Unfortunately, it was about this time that the rains came again, heavier and more prolonged than earlier, but by the time the cars were reached it had dried up and the sun was back out. Four hours and twenty-five minutes for the first back and another twenty minutes for those who had come over the hill. The distance, if all the hills had been done, was just over eleven miles and Alan was congratulated for a good walk, one which we’ll repeat in the future.

Grainy image of the guys at the monument

FRT was taken in the Maybole Arms, a much more convivial establishment, which will be our regular from now on when in this area. A lively hour was spent there finishing off a good day out. The weather had been generally kind to us and the underfoot conditions were, in the main, very good.