Seamill to Portencross 28 June

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Due to the poor weather forecast, the proposed Dailly walk was postponed in favour of our familiar Seamill to Portencross trek. As we got ourselves organised in the car park, the rain, albeit light, began to fall, so we got started a bit early as we assumed no-one else was coming, or was daft enough to come on such a morning.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t too bad, and when we took shelter at the castle for an early lunch about quarter past eleven, we thought that so far had been so good.

 

The walk back however was covered in persistent rain meaning that it was a heads-down trudge and ’let’s get back to the cars as soon as’. It only took about an hour and ten minutes to get back with the whole seven miles plus lunch stop taking two hours and forty-five minutes. We were well-soaked and getting changed in the rain was not easy, but we were in good enough spirits when we arrived at a very busy Wetherspoon's in Irvine for FRT. We couldn’t manage to find tables to sit the eight of us, Derval Davie had gone straight home, but we were in two groups of four, reasonably close to each other.

Nonetheless, a very pleasant hour was spent.

Arrangements for Wednesday 5th July

 Meet at 9.45a.m. in the middle of Dailly for a walk over the Barony Hill and return.

Change of plan for Wed 28th June.

 Forecast poor for Wed, particularly not good for being up a hill, forget or postpone Dailly.

 New arrangements, meet at the second car park on the left near Seamill.( after tuning right at the roundabout just outside Ardrossan.)

The plan is to walk along the shore to Portencross and return. We are all going to get WET so bring a complete change of clothes.

Lowthers 21 June

 

Allan, Davie C, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The talk on the way down to Wanlockhead was of last night’s Scotland game which was preceded by rain of biblical proportions. The game started, probably a mistake, and then was paused for ninety minutes to allow the ground staff to clear the pitch of water. Scotland went on to win 2-0. Read on!

Anyway, we parked at the overflow car park as you entered the village and set off in good spirits on a dry, bright morning. The forecast suggested passing showers and there was low cloud on the top of the hills, but we were certain it would burn off in the sun. Progress was good up the road and by eleven o’clock we were at the ‘golf ball’ on Lowther Hill (725m) for coffee. 

As we prepared to move off, light rain began to fall, so we held back for a few minutes and surveyed the darkening skies above us. He, who must be obeyed, then decided it was time to set off towards Green Lowther (732m). As we started along the tarmac road that joins the two tops the heavens opened, with horizontal rain battering us, and the low cloud making it impossible to see more than a few metres in any direction. To make matters worse for Paul, he had forgotten to pack a waterproof jacket, but, with Davie’s help, managed to wrap a large poly bag round himself. Very dapper! The rain was so heavy that boots we thought were waterproof turned out not to be, and those wearing shorts suffered because the rain just ran down their legs and into their socks and feet. Thoughts turned back to the day on the Merrick, but at least the rain was warm then. It had been too wet even for cameras to be brought out to get a real picture of the situation.

We turned in to the building at Green Trough for shelter and considered our situation. We were drookit, our feet were squelching in our boots, and we had still to make Green Lowther and get down the hill over wet and slippy grass and heather. The consensus was that we retrace our steps and go back down the road and so, once the rain calmed down, we set off towards the golf ball and back down the road.

We couldn’t see the golf ball as we passed It, but five minutes later the skies began to clear and although we walked to a symphony of squelching feet, our clothes began to dry off, and by the time we were back at the cars, it had turned in to a lovely warm afternoon. The lucky ones had a full change of clothing, the unlucky had to make do with what they had, but, as we sat and took our lunch, our mood lifted in the warmth of the sun. Midsummer’s day in Scotland!

We had covered seven and a half miles in just under three hours, got soaked, got dried, got fed, and were now ready for FRT in the Wanlockhead Inn where we spent a reflective hour. On a previous occasion we had sampled their own beer ‘1531, ale with altitude’ but the lad said that it would not be available until tomorrow as they didn’t brew as much now but, since there was a music festival on at the weekend, it was worth their while to brew some. Davie was disappointed but we said he could drive himself down tomorrow and get some! Some suggested he came down on his trike!

Despite the rain, this was a good and memorable day out.

 

The picture from 2008 that I tried to recreate and the effort of yesterday.

 

Some from the washout on Lowther Hills

 

Arrangements for Wed 28th June

 Meet in the centre of Dailly at 9.45.a.m. in time for a 10.00.a.m. start. The walk will be over Barony hill ,past the lime kilns and return along the river bank to the start point.

Linlithgow 14 June

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Ian, Jimmy, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Allan and Malcolm got stuck in traffic going through Glasgow so, as they arrived at Harthill at five past ten on another blistering day, expecting a quick coffee and a comfort break, they were met by the others exiting the café and indicating we were moving off without further delay. Compassion! Nevertheless, the journey from there down to Linlithgow was uneventful and we all managed to get parked in the same car park.

It must have been about twenty to eleven when we started walking in a clockwise direction round the loch and the beautiful weather, enhanced by a nice wee breeze coming off the water, afforded us great views of the palace. It was then up to the canal basin (Union Canal) where we paused, as we have done in the past, for a tea/coffee/water break.

Moving on, the walk along the canal path was straightforward, although we were intrigued by some new road building down to our right which seemed to be going nowhere. Further investigation suggests that it is in fact a cycle track adjoining the nearby sports centre. As we walked some of us reminisced about previous visits here, particularly when we arrived at a spot we had parked at on a long-ago cycle (27^th May 2009). On reaching the Avon Aqueduct* over the Avon gorge, most went across, another box ticked, and then came back and descended the nearby steps where lunch was called for. Some sat down on the steps, but most chose the shade of the trees beyond them for a well-earned break from the sun.

We were now on the River Avon Heritage trail which thankfully afforded us lots of shade and, with all the dry weather, underfoot was perfect. Mind you Davie minor managed to trip over a root and took a tumble. Very elegant he was, and was awarded a score of 5.7, not on the Richter scale I might add. No damage was done, and we all arrived at the railway viaduct and made our way up on to the main road leading back to the cars. We had covered a tad over eight miles in just under three and a half hours and were ready for FRT.

Bidding farewell to Ian, we decided to head back to the Kings in Fenwick and, hopefully, miss the worst of the traffic. And so it proved to be. All returned via East Kilbride to enjoy nice cold drinks in our chosen hostelry. A relaxing end to a cracking day out.

*Robert was very critical of the lack of decent pointing in the stone cobbles of the walkway. It was suggested that he return next week to finish the job himself, taking a big piece and plenty of water. He should be finished well before the ferries!