Lunderston Bay to Greenock 8 September

 Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

This was a new walk for the Ooters, a walk well-researched by Kenny with the promise of no hills, easily accessed public toilets, and wonderful views (weather permitting).

Well, the weather did permit as we were promised a very warm day, although when we met at the car park at Lunderston Bay a haar spread across the water and there was a wee breeze, enough for some of us to put on a fleece, but not, as it turned out, for long. The walk was to be on paths and pavements, and so it proved to be, with our first brief stopping point at the Cloch lighthouse. Kenny took out his camera to take a photo of us but had forgot to put as spool in it, well memory card actually, but you get the drift, so his phone became the alternative. With the haar gradually lifting, we passed the ferry terminal at McInroy’s Point before stopping for coffee at a series of benches by the waterfront with views of Dunoon, Kilcreggan and the hills beyond. Although the views across the water were the feature of the day, many a comment was made about the quality of the bungalows and villas along this stretch of road, signs of the wealth of previous years.

Haar today, gone tomorrow. Or was it a cloud inversion?

The view from the coffee stop

The manager gets his swim in before the pool opens at twelve

Reluctantly, we moved on, taking a peek at the outdoor swimming pool, before walking seemlessly into Greenock and stopping at the benches adjacent to Battery Park for lunch. Sitting there in the warm sunshine with the views down the Clyde was glorious, and it was a thought to have to move on.

Helensburgh was clearly visible across the water, and we could remember the day we did the Helensburgh to Balloch walk (22 04 2015). Also visible was the wreck of the upturned sugar boat, the history of which was posted on the Greenock Cut blog of 28 08 2015 but is repeated here for convenience.

It is the wreck of the MV Captayannis which broke free from its anchor during a storm on the evening of 27 January 1974 whilst it was waiting to deliver its cargo of sugar to the James Watt Dock in Greenock. She collided with the BP tanker, British Light, which suffered no damage but her anchor chains holed the sugar boat allowing water to pour in. Her captain beached her on the sandbank, where the crew were taken off by two small craft, but the vessel eventually rolled over and has lain there ever since. She has never been removed as confusion surrounds the identity of her owners and insurers and no-one accepts responsibility. Most, if not all, of her valuable metals and fittings have been removed by looters. Who said Scotland lacked enterprise?

A much bigger ship came into view as we approached Ocean Terminal in the shape of the cruise ship MSC Virtuosa. A massive high-rise development on water, we wondered how it stayed upright in rough water. We were in the centre of Greenock by now and it was time for Paul to take his leave of us and make his way back to his car (by bus) as he had to be in Edinburgh later that afternoon. The rest found FRT in the James Watt (Wetherspoon’s) where, as always, we were amazed at the low prices.

By the time we left, the temperature had soared and we were extremely glad we were getting the bus back to the cars, which we reached at about quarter past three. The walk itself had taken just under three and a half hours for a tad over eight miles.

This had been a most enjoyable ‘different’ day out for us and one we thanked Kenny for organising, including the weather. In fact, the cooler morning temperature as a result of the haar, was a godsend as this turned out to be the hottest September day in Scotland (in the Borders) for over a hundred years.

 

Lunch stop. We could have sat there all day.

Built in France. Remember when we could build these things?