Darvel to Galston 15 June

 

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Hugh, Jim, Jimmy, Malcolm, Robert

It was a lovely summer’s morning as we met at Davie’s in Darvel. We were invited to inspect his new, recently landscaped garden, and what a transformation. Well done, Davie……for keeping out the road when the work was done.

It was exactly ten o’clock when we set off over the park and into Lanfine, but instead of going straight up the road we turned and followed the path up past the boars, big wans and wee wans, before turning off just before the bridge and taking the path up on to the track which led us to the road up towards the woods. The grass track was a bit overgrown, and it is a steady climb, so, just before entering the woods, we took a breather which gave us a chance to look down over the valley and over to Loudoun Hill.

Just after eleven o’clock we took coffee before resuming our trek. Underfoot was mainly OK but there were some muddy sections and slippy bits so care had to be taken, as Jim will testify. We eventually emerged from the trees and made the climb up over the field to our lunch spot i.e. Gallow Law Cairn, which we reached at quarter past twelve.

We enjoyed our lunch, especially as we had been climbing for the last two hours and took time to recharge the batteries before moving off downhill towards Windyhill Road and heading for Galston. There were two more wooded sections to negotiate before we emerged on to the Sorn road in Galston. Isla doesn’t like roads or traffic, so Davie had arranged for Kay to meet him here and to take Isla home. Jim, who had turned his ankle during the walk, gratefully accepted the offer of a lift back to his car, leaving seven of us to walk to the bus stop in the middle of the town. We got there at about quarter to two having covered just over eight miles and we were glad we weren’t walking back to Darvel.

We didn’t have long to wait for the bus, a new electric one at that, and before too long we were sitting in the sun trap which was the sitooterie at the Black Bull for a well-earned FRT. Thanks to Killie Davie for buying the first round to celebrate the birth of his first granddaughter, Maeve.

A guid day oot!