We gathered in Dailly Main Street with just a soft smirr in the air. Full waterproofs were donned by just about everyone but they weren't needed, for after our departure no rain fell. But Allan's warnings from afar were heeded and waterproof trousers spared us from the worst of the glaur on the walk. In fact overall it wasn't quite as muddy as we anticipated, and even the stretch beyond Whitehall Farm was negotiated without much trouble.
It might be a Dailly walk but it's pretty much an annual excursion. The blog shows this was our 8th visit. And yes, Ian, you have done the walk before. The route is so well known that your scribe has decided to cut and paste seamlessly various descriptions of previous walks.
2017
It was pleasantly warm as we assembled in Dailly for today’s walk, so much so that shorts were the chosen attire of the brave. Moving out of the village, we followed the marked path until we took a left and over a style into Lindsayston Wood. It was here that the first nettles of the day were encountered, but undaunted we moved on and soon left the canopy of trees to emerge into an area that had been felled. We could see the way marker ahead and the style further up at the fence, but finding any sort of recognised path was difficult. No matter, our pathfinders led us with aplomb. (Given Gus’s account of how his garden is doing this year, he might lead us with a plum later on in the summer).
2013 Robert's living room has had a makeover. He won't employ those cowboys again.
2011
As we came out of the wood and prepared to follow the old track downhill, Peter asked where the track went to in the opposite direction. As one, we replied; “Up there”.
2009
Down on our right were some pigsties, one complete with satellite dish. ‘Sty Television’, was the comment of our resident wag. Suggestions for the programmes that pigs might watch should be e-mailed to Ian.
By this time, the newcomers were beginning to question whether we were lost again for we appeared to be heading back towards Dailly. But we knew where we were going all right. The road took us down to another signpost directing us up the farm track of Whitehill Farm.
2011
Up past Whitehill Farm and along the coo keech covered track. The majority cut off across the field towards Machrikil whilst the virtuous kept to the path and were rewarded by the sight of the farmer driving into the field on his tractor. Sadly, he only waved at the miscreants.
Machrikil– supposedly the site of a cell founded by St Machar - is our customary coffee halt and today was no different. By now the weather had deteriorated with a strong wind blowing and a few drops of rain in the air, so what remains of the walls of this hallowed place provided welcome shelter.
Coffee, liquorice allsorts and fruit pastilles duly consumed, we made the run for the summit. What is a pleasant stroll on a fine day became a test of endurance in the strong cross wind which was now driving horizontal rain at us. The sandy ground looked remarkably dry whilst we were drookit.
2008
There was no posing for photographs this time on the top (as he writes, your correspondent is looking at a photograph of 7 suntanned 'professional gentlemen' [© P Kleboe] sporting t-shirts and shorts and gathered around the attractively carved seat at the trig point). Even if someone had actually thought to bring a camera we still wouldn't have posed, such was the filthiness of the weather.
2009
2015 2017
2013
Having reached the adjacent bench first, Robert was starting to unload his rucksack and have his lunch when the rest of us caught up and advised him that a better option was to lunch at our usual lunch spot down by the limekilns. ‘Oh dearie me!’ was his reply (Aye right) as we bypassed him and headed downhill, taking in the fabulous (how we are missing Davie Mc) views of the rolling Ayrshire countryside
2008
The only difficult piece of navigation on the whole walk is from the top of Barony Hill towards the mineworkings and limekilns. Since it was "Paul's walk" he took responsibility for leading the descent. Not wishing to get his map wet, and being unable to see through his rain-covered spectacles he took a rough guess as to the correct direction. He was relieved to find he had got it right. He trusts he did not convey his anxiety and inner turmoil to the other members of the party.
At this point it is worth noting that Paul had considered doing the walk in the opposite direction from last time - just to make it a little more interesting for Rex and Davie. It turned out not to be necessary since neither Rex nor Davie could recall anything from the original walk! Holly, however, appeared to be aware that she had done the walk before
2009
While most of us were content to walk the lip of the quarry, the more adventurous were for going down into it to look into the step-sloping mines driven into its north side. We came together at the limekilns where lunch was called.
2019
Lunch was taken, as usual, by the limekiln at the Falfarocher burn. There was a schism, with 4 Ooters choosing to sit on the left bank whilst the 5 handsome ones occupied the right bank. Greetings were exchanged. Malcolm was sent across from the rive droite to trade and succeeded in exchanging a bag of half a dozen liquorice allsorts for a full bag of fruit pastilles. The boy will go far.
2017
Before we knew it, it was time to move on as the midges were assembling.
2013
As we set off again Robert reminded us that this walk was slightly deceiving as there was still an uphill part to do. This confirmed Allan’s views of the Ooters’ walks i.e. it’s all downhill from here except for the next wee uphill bit.
2017
The track down to the entrance to Glengee wood was in poor condition, given the recent rain, with mud making progress treacherous in places. Having entered the wood, we followed the track for ten minutes before taking the sharp left up the muddy slope and into Poundland Wood, following the path to Falfarrocher Glen and out towards the main road again. Now the Ayrshire Paths website states that ‘It is a joy to walk through Falfarocher Glen following the burn downstream through a marvelous woodland which is the haunt of roe deer, badger and fox’. Well it would be if the path was maintained. The path was overgrown with bracken, brambles and contained many booby traps like hidden holes and tree stumps, not to mention the wooden bridges that would not last another couple of years. This should have been the easy part of the walk but, in essence, concentration had to be kept at all times. Our Austrian correspondent drew unfavourable comparisons with his recent experiences in the Tyrol.
2008
We wended our way along the banks of the River Girvan, through long wet grass at times and over the shoogly bridge back into Dailly.
Having frightened the natives by stripping down to our underwear in the main street, we donned our dry clothing and retired to the King's Arms, in the village. In this age of the theme pub, the King's Arms has adopted a very convincing 1950s retro theme. When you've just come in from a long wet walk there's nothing like a welcoming genial host to raise your spirits, and mine host at the King's Arms was nothing like that.........
2019
The walk was completed in under four and a quarter hours. It appears to have got longer with the years. Earlier accounts put the distance at 8.5 miles. But today the consensus was 9.3 miles, rounded up of course to 10.
FRT and chips were taken in the very hospitable Maybole Arms.
A good day out in the hills.
2 comments:
Well done, Paul! You've got the job!
An excellent read. Well done Paul!
Dave
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