Hurlford to Darvel 13 September

 

Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

After two hill walks in recent weeks, a flat walk was in order today with us meeting at the renowned Café Derval for pre-walk coffee and scones. Many thanks to Kay and Davie for their hospitality once again.

Having got off the bus at Hurlford, we started walking at about quarter past ten on a fine, dry morning and made good progress along the Grougar Path, noticing some welcome maintenance works being done. Once we reached Milton Road there was the usual dilemma as to whether to stay on the tarmac or cut down to the river and cut across the fields. The latter option won today and after negotiating the tricky wee drop down to the overgrown path, we were soon tramping across the damp grass. Those in front managed to enter a wrong field meaning that they had to climb over a barbed wire fence and, more to the point, lift Isla over. Paul had come equipped, though, with a length of pipe insulation that covered the jaggy bits. He must have been a rare boy scout!

Having regained the road, our next target was Loudoun Kirk for coffee/lunch. The weather was pleasantly warm for our break, and it was a thought to get back underway, but we had still a long way to go, so off we went taking the track down to the A71, which we crossed, and headed into Galston and on to the riverside path at the Barrmill Recreation Ground. By this time, it was beginning to get overcast so, as usual, the pace was brisk, with us getting strung out as we reached Newmilns. We came together again as we walked through the town, and then settled into our groups as we made for Darvel. Those at the back stopped for a break at the Newmilns Dam before moving on and crossing the footbridge over the river before reaching Davie’s house. Those at the front had continued up to the gates of Lanfine Estate before cutting back across Morton Park.

The walk had taken three and a half hours with the distance covered noted at nine and a half miles for the group who had gone as far as the entrance to Lanfine, and about nine miles for the rest. A good step-out, as they say.

FRT was taken in the Black Bull in Darvel where a restful hour was spent and, as we left at about three o’clock, the forecast rain started.