Adventures of the Early Ooters: Wardlaw Hill 28 July

Thursday, 29 July 2021

Wardlaw Hill 28 July

Alan McQ, Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Hugh, Paul, Rex, Robert

Cairn Table in the background

The heat of the previous days had gone, to be replaced with overcast skies and the chance of some heavy showers but, undaunted, we prepared to set off from Kames on our trek up Wardlaw Hill (497m) last done by us in February 2019. Just as we were setting off Jimmy arrived, supported by a walking stick. Yes, his back had gone again. Obviously, he wouldn’t be walking today but it was good of him to turn up to see us off.

After half an hour we were at the Sanquhar Bridge, which we crossed, and followed the old road up to the bench. We’ve taken coffee here in the past, but Alan suggested that since he was going to take us down to the Bible Stane as a wee diversion, and it was only two hundred yards away, we delay coffee until we reached it. You’ve heard of Jimmy miles, but these are nothing compared to Alan yards. On and on we went over rough stuff. Alan had taken us off-piste and just as we were getting well and truly piste off we came across the stone, complete with bible in a cavity, and sat down for refreshments.

From there we found the track we should have taken which led us easily back on to the Sanquhar road. In future don’t turn off at the bench but continue up to the wee cairn and follow the track down to the Bible Stane. Alan was banished to the pack and was not allowed to lead us for the rest of the walk! Derval Davie took over! We continued up the old road until we encountered another wee cairn which indicated that this was where to turn off right up to Wardlaw. Underfoot was as dry as you could get so good progress was made to Baird’s cairn at the top of the hill which was reached just after midday.

Lunch was taken here in the shelter of the cairn as it was exposed up there, and there was a chill to the breeze. However, the views across the landscape were excellent. As luck would have it, we got a wee shower of rain as we were about to leave, but nothing significant. Retracing our steps in fine weather back to the cars we arrived back at two o’clock, having covered just over nine miles in three hours and fifty-five minutes.

The Coach House was closed so we decided to try the Black Bull in Mauchline for FRT deciding that, given current restrictions, we would just have to sit inside at different tables. However, as we approached the front door we spotted a sign, that we had not bothered with before, saying that there was a beer garden out the back. And, so there was, and a very decent one too. The barmaid recognised us as long-lost friends and seemed genuinely happy to see us. A relaxing hour was spent with the usual ‘high-class’ banter. The perfect end to a good day out in unexpectedly good weather.