Some images from the Cumbrae walk

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 7th August

Loch Doon

Meet at the car park at Loch Doon Castle at 10am for a walk to the crash site of the Hawker Hurricane aircraft which crashed in March 1944. Total distance of 8 miles along a forestry road and then a short section along a track to the crash site. Return route same as the outward route.

Sorn to boardwalk 24 July

 Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

We had encountered some rain on the way to Sorn but it was dry when we arrived and remained so for our walk. The temperature was ideal for walking and soon we were on our way, taking the high path from the car park rather than the walk down the main road to the crossroads where we took the path up into the trees. Today’s outing would see us on the River Ayr Walk heading from Sorn to Muirkirk, but we were not scheduled to go that far today. The walking was good and there were a few ups and downs, wee bridges and bits of boardwalk before the path levelled out taking us to our first brief stopping point beside the river after about fifty minutes. This allowed the backmarkers to catch up and for a breather to be taken.

The next section was straightforward until the wee nasty part that took us up the hill, but it didn’t last long and before we knew it we had arrived at our lunch/coffee spot at the boardwalk at about twenty-five past eleven.

 

Refreshments having been taken, there was a suggestion from somewhere that we might go on further before turning back, but this fell on deaf ears – and there are a lot of deaf ears amongst us now, both literally and metaphorically! So, we headed back the way we came, by this time in bright sunshine, until we came to the path that branched off to left which would take us down to the Glenlogan bridge. Most took this route but Killie Davie, not fancying it, and his minder, Dougie, continued straight on. Down at the bridge and beside the river, those who still had coffee and pieces devoured them before following the tarmac up to the aforementioned crossroads. Some took the high path from here, and some took the flatter option along the pavement back to the cars where Davie and Dougie were waiting for us.

We were back at quarter past one having done about 7.2 miles, although the gizmos could not agree as to the exact distance. FRT was taken in the sitooterie at the Black Bull in Mauchline where a pleasant hour was spent.

Some images from the River Ayr walk

 

August Curry possible dates.

 Billy and Gus have agreed to jointly celebrate their birthdays.  The object of this notice is to pick a date which suits most Ooters. The two dates under consideration are:-  Wed 21st August or Wed 28th August.  Please let me know your preferences  . Of the ten Ooters present on Wed ,9 preferred Wed 28 . This was a rough figure before consulting their social secretary at home.  Let me know if you can attend and which date suits you best. In order to figure out the most suitable date let me know if you wish to attend and which date suits you best.

Arrangements for Wed 31st August

 Meet in Largs around about 9.30.a.m. in time to catch the 9.45.a.m. Millport ferrry. There is a suggestion that we can turn right for a change and do the island in an anti clockwise direction.

Wednesday 17th July Dunure to Doonfoot

 Present: Hugh, Gus, Killie Davie and Derval Davie (and Isla, of course)

For the second week running, only 4 Ooters turned up for our weekly walk. The bus was somewhat late in arriving at Doonfoot, but fortunately there was not to be a repeat of the contre-temps that DD and Isla had the last time we did this walk. It should be noted that DD arrived before 10am having completely misjudged the time it takes from Darvel. Those who know Davie will know that he usually arrives 2 minutes before the appointed time.

Setting off from Dunure, the Famous Four made their way along the shore. The trick for this walk is to keep watching for the white waymarkers, although as the walk progressed the going got tougher and the undergrowth got thicker and higher making it hard to make out the path underfoot. As usual, we stopped at the large telegraph (?) pole for our morning cuppa, before ascending the 132 steps up to the higher ground. The going from here was very pleasant indeed, as was the weather; indeed we were all stripping off jackets because of the heat. We walked along the old Ayr - Dunure - Turnberry line before heading back coastwards to have lunch on "wee Maggie fae Yoker's" seat. Back down on the shore again, we quickened our pace and rounded the corner to the old Butlin's campsite. 

Just before Greenan Castle we were about to turn into the tattie field when we were pleased to encounter Dr Jimmy Begg and his pal who were driving in waymarker stobs. Jimmy is, of course, one of the main men responsible for devising the Ayr Coastal Path and the River Ayr Way; he informed us that the Glenapp section is open again so that could be a possible walk sometime soon.

FRT was as usual taken in the Balgarth sit-ooterie, having arrived there about 3 hours and 40 minutes after leaving Dunure. This was a first class walk even though the underfoot conditions were a bit dodgy at times. The banter in the garden was, of course, up to the usual standard.

Arrangements for 24th July

 Meet at Sorn churchyard at 10am for a walk to the boardwalk and back.

Hurlford to Galston 10 July

 Gus, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

The familiar walk from the bowling club to Loudoun Kirk, to Galston and return was done in rainy conditions.

Arrangements for Wed 17 July.

 Meet behind the Doonfoot Coop about 10.15.a.m.  Cross the road to the bus stop to catch the 10.34. Bus to Dunure . Walk along the coast back to the starting point.

Annbank Circular 3 July 2024

 Present: Malcolm, Gus,Bob, Rex, Killie Davie and Derval Davie

Only the above half dozen turned up today owing to holidays and other commitments. We decided to do the walk in an anti-clockwise directions, mainly due to the fact that Isla was already in the wood assuming that would be the way we were going. Although he weather was not great,  with a few showers along the way, we were not seriously bothered by the rain as the trees sheltered us from the worst squalls. Surprisingly the path was not too muddy either and progress was quite straightforward. (Your scribe did the Failford walk the next day after the torrential rain and the path was covered in deep puddles and very mucky, so we were very lucky.)

Gus called a coffee break at the Burns/Wallace Cairn, which for once was not litter-strewn. We then set off up the opposite bank of the Ayr, the big hill before what used to be Wallace's seat causing us to pech and pant. Having crossed the Tarholm Brig, we headed for our usual lunch spot, with 3 of us lunching in the first fishermen's hut  and the other 3 having theirs in the hut just a bit further on.

Rex and Killie Dave took the high road at the landslips while the other four negotiated the extra slip that has occurred since the last time we did this walk; it was a bit slippery due to the rain, but all four seemed to enjoy this bit of the walk.

We arrived back at the cars exactly 3 and 1/2 hours after setting off. We enjoyed our usual FRT in the Tap o' the Brae which was as usual devoid of any other customers, except for one guy at the bar.

Arrangements for Wed 10th July

 Meet in Hurlford beside the bowling green at 10.00.a.m. The walk will be along the river to the Auld Kirk  near Galston. From there we can walk into Galston in search of The Chris Hoy way which leads us back to the starting point in Hurlford.