Failford to Stair 25th September

 

Alan McQ, Allan, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

We met at Failford on a lovely autumn morning for our walk to Stair. Having taken note of the apologies for today, we reckoned that everyone who was coming was present at ten to ten, so off we went into the gorge. Alan, Grahem and Paul deviated up to Peden’s Pulpit while the rest continued on the path and awaited the arrival of the other three at the bench at the top of the steps. It wasn’t too long before they arrived. Paul had retraced his steps and followed the path whilst the young team had scrambled up from the pulpit to gain the path. Good effort!

 

Just before coming down to follow the riverside path towards Daldorch we hit the only muddy part of the walk. About ten metres of challenging stuff, and this after a dry spell!  Arriving at Daldorch, Alan, Graham and Gus decided to go straight on and chance the landslips whilst the main group climbed the stile and followed the detour. At the Daldorch road end, coffee was taken and at this point Allan and Johnny decided that they would turn back from there, and would saunter back to the afore-mentioned bench to await the rest. The other seven had lunch at the usual spot above the weir with Graham declaring that the riverside route was adventurous.

After lunch the group took the diversion and met up with Allan and Johnny just before one o’clock. Not having had enough excitement for one day, our junior section, Alan and Graham, decided to go down the steps and would get us at the other end. They made good time as they were waiting for the main body at the junction of the paths. The last time we were here, we took the top, easier path but encountered a sea of mud due to logging work which blocked our descent to Faiford. Alan assured us that this had been fixed but led us down the way we had come for a short distance before veering off to the left to follow a grass track offering us decent views down to the path below and the gorge in general. This path joined the top path just before the newly repaired one down towards Failford and the cars.

 

We took three and three-quarter hours for the walk which, in its entirety, was measured at between seven and a half and eight miles. FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where sausage rolls were again provided to the delight of the company. Thanks again to the barmaid!

A grand day out.