Smugglers' Trail 8 May

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Robert

Many thanks to Malcolm and Anne for the coffee and bacon rolls. They were excellent!

Having eaten so well it was difficult to move off, but move off we did, to the castle, where our guide, Dave, gave us a half-hour tour. His knowledge of the history of the building was outstanding. Thanks to Dave, and, yet again, to Malcolm and Anne for organising this.
It must have been close to quarter to eleven by the time we actually started walking on what had so far proven to be a very cold morning. Once we got into the woods we were protected from the breeze and made good progress up the hill and down to the reservoir. At this point Kenny turned back, as Freya had gone far enough, and left the rest of us to make our way up to the Loans, past the ever-increasing new housing. By this time the temperature had picked up and the breeze did not seem an issue.
Breaking from tradition, we turned right here and took the road towards Troon until we found a path, just at the start of the houses, which took us on to Hunter Crescent. It was here that Robert, Alan and Gus met a former colleague, and they spent five minutes having a catch-up whilst the rest of us chilled (we should do this more often) and admired bungalow city. At the end of the road we took the path into Fullarton Woods and took our pieces at the benches, as per normal.
The journey from here up to Crosbie Kirk, down over the golf course and up the beach to Troon was straightforward with the elements being kind to us. It was quarter to two when we made our choice for FRT today, not our usual haunt, McKays, but the pub across the road, Girvans. We were well received and spent a convivial hour before getting the three o’clock bus back to Dundonald.
As usual the fitbits couldn’t agree on the exact distance, but it was between eight and eight and a half miles in a walking time, including our lunch break, of three hours. And, other than a few spots, the rains never came.
A most enjoyable day out of the house!

Captive audience

The scene from above

Up top

Captive audience right enough. We'll see you after the walk, Davie!

Now, what is that aroma?