Knock Hill 14 June

Allan, Dougie, Gus, Jim, Kenny R, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The morning was overcast, but, with a favourable forecast, we set off in good spirits from our usual spot next to the Gogo Burn. We walked along the esplanade before crossing over the main road and headed up to Brisbane Glen Road, which we followed until we took a left at the sign which said Knock Hill 2 miles. When we reached the farm our passage was barred by a low, net fence. Despite our attempts to get someone’s attention, no-one appeared, so we stepped over the obstacle and continued. Our thoughts were the fence was there to stop vehicles going up the track rather than walkers, and anyway we were on a recognised walking path. We stopped a wee bit later and took coffee.

The weather was still a bit overcast but it was warming up, so jackets and fleeces came off for the gentle pull up the hill. The path was getting wetter, but nothing to deter us, and before long we were at the base of the ‘cone’. No heroics here as we followed the spiral path to the top where we were joined, briefly, by another wee group of walkers. Since it was windy at the trig point we sought some shelter in the lea of the hill for lunch and encountered a brief light rain shower as we sat.
Now, how to make our descent? After some deliberation, we decided to follow Rex who led us down from the hill and on to a path through the bracken emerging on Routenburn Golf Course. Emerging on Routenburn Road, we made our way back to the main road, crossed it, and walked back down the esplanade to the cars.

Three hours and twenty minutes for the seven miles! Not descending in the direction of Knock Castle had shaved forty minutes or so from our time, but nobody was arguing.
FRT was taken at Weatherspoon’s in Largs and, as we sat on the veranda, the sun broke through to provide pleasant warmth.