Sorn to Kingencleugh and return 17 April 2024

Present: Dougie, Malcolm, Bob, Paul, Gus, Killie Davie and Derval Davie 

Due to holidays and other commitments, only the magnificent seven above turned out on a lovely spring morning at Sorn Kirk carpark to walk to Kingencleugh. We chose, because of Isla and the roadworks, not to go up the main road but instead over the old Sorn brig and up into the wood. Everything was much greener than it had been a week ago and we were all enjoying a rainless walk for a change. We met up with Peter at Catrine and had a 10 minute blether with him before crossing the Square and proceeding along the river by Catrine Holm. The steep steps just beyond the Burn O' Need had us all pechin' and pantin'; Isla was enjoying fetching sticks from the middle of the river Ayr.

We stopped as usual, being creatures of habit, under the new (? built 1960-2!) Howford Brig. Thereafter we all headed for the Mauchline Gorge, with Derval Davie daring all to walk onto the precipitous ledge. Only Bob took him up on it! Walking along this part of the gorge is an absolute pleasure and soon we were walking off the path to make for Kingencleugh. It's been a few years since we took our lunch on the wooden steps leading down to the railway. Today we noted that the old steps have been replaced by a metal staircase with the gate padlocked.

The first part of the Kingencleugh wood running alongside the main road proved to be really muddy but soon we were back on the old Howford road having our lunch on the big stones on the brig. Most of us at this point divested ourselves of heavy coats and jackets as the day had fairly warmed up. 

We retraced our steps back through Catrine and arrived back at the cars at roughly 10 past 2, our walk having taken roughly 4 hours and 10 minutes.

FRT of course was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline with the banter being accompanied with pizza slices supplied by the barmaid for which we were extremely grateful. The pizza, the banter, a 4 hour plus walk and nice weather for a change made this a very enjoyable day out.