Adventures of the Early Ooters: Blacksidend and Wedder 16 May

Thursday, 17 May 2018

Blacksidend and Wedder 16 May

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Ian, Jim, Johnny, Kenny R, Kenny T, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert

The sun was shining, there was little or no wind, and the forecast was fine. What a difference to last week! Meeting at the Sorn car park we decided to leave some cars there and motor up to Laigh Brocklar farm in the hope we could find spaces to park. The farm is being refurbished but we took our chances and parked, hoping that we would not return to a similar situation that once befell us at the Green Well of Scotland. (It might not be an option to park here in future, maybe need to do a recce before a similar walk).

The walk up to Blackside farm was pleasant and we took a few minutes to chat to the farmer who came over to check us out. We thought initially that we were in for some sort of row, or that he might complain about Holly being off the lead, but nothing of the sort. He thought we might be going all the way to Darvel, but when being told our plans for the day, he suggested that that would be a stroll. He did indicate that there were the ruins of a couple of World War 2 planes further over, a Dakota and a Spitfire, but that might be for another time. The conditions were excellent and the pull up Blacksidend (413m) was steady, with the backmarkers reaching the cairn an hour after having set off from the cars. The views of the Ayrshire countryside, and beyond, were spectacular and a leisurely coffee break was taken whilst we admired the vista.
Peter wasn’t keen to go on and do the next hill (the hill we know as Wedder) but he agreed to walk over towards it but, as we approached the final dip before the climb up, a halt was called. Allan and Johnny who don’t normally need to be asked twice, agreed to keep him company and returned to the cairn on Blacksidend whilst the rest made their way to the cairn on top of Wedder. Lunch was taken at the both cairns with the three then strolling down to Blackside farm to await the rest. They had just got there when Holly appeared closely followed by Robert and Derval Davie and then the remainder in dribs and drabs.
We arrived back at the cars three hours and twenty-five minutes after having set off and were relieved that we didn’t have the trek along the road back to Sorn. If we had walked from Sorn it would have added a good hour and a half on to the day, mainly along hot tarmac. We reckoned that those who had done the two hills had covered between six and seven miles and all seemed very satisfied with the day’s outing.
FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where we were yet again treated to sausage rolls. A relaxing hour was spent here, and the barmaid was thanked for her thoughtfulness as we left.