Present: Hugh, Paul, Dougie, Bob, Gus, Malcolm, Killie Davie, Derval Davie.
After coffee, scones and a blether the above set off from Davie's, rather reluctantly, it has to be said, considering the weather prospects. Crossing through Darvel park we continued along past the Water Lip and on to the main road before ascending the brae and onto the old Darvel to Strathaven railway line. A steady drizzle accompanied us all the way to Loudoun Hill; Davie and Bob had met up with Billy Ramsay who invited the pair into Newlands Farm to see the new born lambs. This meant that this pair were now half a mile behind the rest and the lung-bursting climbs from the farm took its toll. We turned off at the gate and along the south face of the hill, joining up with the rest. Nobody showed any enthusiasm or inclination to climb the hill today as the weather was so dreich. Malcolm had other things to see to so he retraced his steps, while the rest had lunch at the bench just beyond the Spirit of Scotland with the inscriptions:
"The Knight Fenwick that cruel was and keen, he had at the death of Wallace's father been" - Blin' Harry.
"Thou saw'st the strong arm of a Wallace raised to stem the tide of evil tyranny." - Walter Scott
"At Wallace's name, what Scottish blood but boils up in a spring-time flood." - Robert Burns
After lunch we took as usual the wee single track road leading to Saughall. However Davie suggested a short cut due to the ever-falling smirr and nobody objected. We proceeded down past Gorsebraehead, High Newton and Ladybrow and onto the main road for 10 minutes, which did not please Isla at all. Turning left at Priestland we head up past Greenbank and back down into Darvel, believe it or not, in glorious sunshine! The walk had taken 3 hours and twenty minutes, roughly nine miles. FRT was taken in the Black Bull, where the banter was, as ever, very enjoyable.
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