Muirkirk Circular 15 September

Ayrshire's nuclear deterrent 

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Rex

We had struck it lucky with the weather again as we met at Kames for our ‘lunky hole’ walk. A beautiful September morning and perfect for walking. After a brief discussion, a momentous decision was made in that we would do the walk backwards i.e. in an anti-clockwise direction. Yes! The Ooters are living dangerously these days. So, off we went along the River Ayr path until we reached Crossflat Road, from where we went up past the Kirk and followed the minor road up to the Glasgow Road. Crossing over, we went up the track towards the former opencast stopping briefly for a photo opportunity at the old Observer Corps nuclear monitoring post. Because of the recent prolonged dry spell, the lower part of the track was, for once, not flooded and so progress was steady up to the top of the hill. Davie Junior called for a coffee stop but was overruled by Davie Senior who said we would be at the Greenock bridge, our usual stopping point, in five minutes. These, of course, were Davie minutes! Fifteen minutes later we sat down just beyond the bridge for coffee, as the bed of the bridge was a bit mucky.

Towards the Greenock Bridge

The long and winding road

Aye! We should have stopped at the walkway. So much for tradition!

As we approached Burnfoot Farm, we encountered the only wet piece of ground today meaning that the choice of boots had been justified. Some debate ensued about the breed of sheep there with the question being answered when we saw the sign saying Blackface/Beltex. Of course, some of our number are more familiar with sheep than others, allegedly! Marching on up the road, we passed Netherwood Farm and soon reached the A70. Crossing over, we skirted the former opencast, now a massive loch, and took lunch, much to Derval Davie’s annoyance, on a high mound overlooking the road, rather than walking to our traditional stopping point at the wooden walkway.

From here we followed the river, looking very unhealthy in colour, up the path towards the Covenanter’s memorial and along the old railway line before eventually taking the path down beside the Garpel and then over Tibbie’s Brig. From there it was not too long before we were back at the cars. It had taken us four hours and ten minutes to do the ten miles. A walk we’ve done many times before but seems to be getting longer the more we do it!

Not very enticing. Pollution or maybe weather conditions.

Jimmy had spotted a kingfisher

The pull up  from Tibbie's Brig

A very well-deserved FRT was taken in the Black Bull in Mauchline.

P.S. The observant will notice that we did not visit the lunky hole today. Haud me back for the next time!