Darvel 2 October

Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Hugh, Ian, Jim, Kenny T, Malcolm

This was the first morning of the autumn/winter when windscreens had to scraped of ice before setting off on a beautiful morning to Davie’s in Darvel. Full marks to him (and his assistant Kay) for accommodating us with scones and coffee despite the house being remodelled. Kay says that Davie is next! Thanks, folks, for your hospitality!
We set off bang on ten o’clock and made our way up through Lanfine to see the boars as some of us hadn’t seen them before, and, on cue, a big wan and a wee wan were seen basking in the early morning sunshine. From there we continued up and out of the estate and headed relentlessly up to the woods. Layers were being shed as the temperature rose and the incline increased, but we made it to the entry point to the woodland path that was to be the next part of the day. The going in the woods ranged from easy and pleasant, to undulating, to muddy, but progress was good until it was agreed that Jim needed a rest and a bite to eat, so we stopped for fifteen minutes for a coffee about two thirds of the way along the path.
The next section had some tricky bits and a couple of wee burns to cross but we made it safely back on to tarmac not too far along the road that we had emerged on to from Lanfine about an hour and a half earlier. Following this road down into Newmilns saw us reach the bridge over the river at quarter to one. Kenny and Jim decided to return to their car along the riverside walk whilst the rest of us continued up past the dry ski slope and took lunch at the gates to the cemetery.
At this point Malcolm produced his bottle of raki (remember the Rothesay walk earlier in the summer?) for those who had not tried it before. Suffice it to say that it went down surprisingly well and Malcolm was wise to put the bottle back in his rucksack before the boys went to raki and ruin!
Continuing up Dalwhatswood Road we had great views across the valley and beyond before we turned down Foulpapple Road and on to Burn Road for our return to Darvel.
The cars were reached four hours and twenty minutes after having set off and having covered nine miles on a glorious day for walking.
FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Darvel where a pleasant hour was spent relaxing.

A lovely morning for a walk

In to the woods

The Lone Ranger minus Tonto

Getting strung out

Coffee stop

Helping hands

Coming back down to Darvel