Darvel and Curry 7 June

 

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Iain, Jimmy, Rex

Thanks again to Kay and Davie for their hospitality before our walk today. As always, it was much appreciated.

It was rather cool as we set off on our three-hour walk, although the promise was for another scorcher later on. Across the park we went and up past the entrance to Lanfine on, for most of us, familiar territory. It was a steady incline on the road before we diverted on to the grass track that took us to the start of Dykehill Woods, where we stopped briefly to look back at Loudoun Hill. Trekking through the woods on the path was easy today as, with the recent prolonged dry weather, underfoot conditions were excellent, leading to a decent pace. Eventually we took the track leading up to Kieland but, as we usually do, turned off it to the right and re-entered the woods again (well, Davie did say it was a ‘wood walk’). It was a joy to be walking today given the surroundings and the ever-improving overhead conditions and by the time we emerged from the trees we were into blue skies and warm conditions.

As we made our way up this track, we realised that this is the one that takes you to Gallow Law Cairn, but not for us today, as we turned off it to start the downward journey. On entering a narrow path leading quite steeply downhill, Alan managed to trip over his boot laces and went tumbling head-first on to the path’s surface. Fortunately, other than scrapes to his leg, hand and eyebrow, there was no serious damage done, although Dougie did offer his services for amputations, for a fee, of course! We were now in the trees following Downie’s Burn and as we hit tarmac again, lunch was called for in the sun.

If we had gone left the road would have taken us down to Newmilns, but we went right, heading up to the top entrance to Lanfine and proceeded down through the estate, past the sleeping boars, and eventually back across Morton Park and to Davie’s. Three hours and five minutes for just about six and a half miles.

No FRT today as were dining out tonight at The Jewel. This had turned out to be a cracking walk, largely due to the weather and underfoot conditions.

See Loudoun Hill. It's just like the Eiger!

 

We were joined at The Jewel by Johnny, Ian, Malcolm, Peter, Billy, and Ronnie for a curry which celebrated birthdays for Johnny and Rex. The food was good, the banter excellent and the attention from Catriona and her assistant was up to its usual high standard. Later, most made their way to Wetherspoon’s for a last drink before heading home after a really good night out.