18 June - Ness Glen

 

Alan McQ, Davie Mc, Doogie, Graham, Hugh, Jimmy, Paul, Rex & Robert

It seems like no time at all since we’ve done this walk but since it is an auld favourite, here we were again gathered in Dalmellington to walk the Nes Glen. Nine hardy Ooters plus a dug met but long-term injury, Davie Mc, decided that it weas too long a distance for his auld back and opted to drive to Loch Doon, tackle the gorge from there and meet us for lunch around half past twelve. Unfortunately, he took Isla with him. That left eight of us to start the main walk.

Leaving the cars at the football ground, we set off up Craigengillan estate road. The weather was overcast and it would stay that way for most of the walk but the air was warm and getting warmer as the day progressed. Taking the path down the muck water, past the Scouts’ Garden, onto the Straiton road and up to the River Doon bridge, we came to the road indicated for ‘Dalcairney Falls’. That this road, leading to nowhere in particular, was better surfaced than most roads in Ayrshire was commented on as we marched briskly along it. Half way along to Dalcairnie Linn (as the one who is steeped in local history prefers to call it) we stopped to admire a memorial garden. Then we moved on.

The tarmac ran out at Dalcairney Farm but the track continued to climb beyond it. We could hear the linn before we saw it, tumbling into its cauldron among the trees. The photographer just had to leave the track to capture, for the umpteenth time, the water as it falls over the linn. We waited patiently* for him to return before continuing to climb with the track. A left turn through a gate brought us to a coffee stop at the ruins of Barbeth where we could sit and look out over beautiful Belston Loch and bonnie Bellsbank on the brae.

We reached tarmac again on the Craigengillan estate road and followed this to the house where it ran out again. But the continuing forest-type road dropped us down to the bank of the Doon and the entrance to the ‘Amazing’ Ness Glen. Now the walk became much more interesting, more like an adventure. It was here that two opted to avoid the gorge and take the higher route above it. But the other six opted for adventure.

The Ness Glen is always spectacular: The river rushes and roars its way through the narrow gorge between vertical moss-covered cliffs rising to over a hundred feet on both sides. The narrow path finds a way alongside the torrent hugging tightly to the rocks above it. There are parts where the old path has been eroded and care had to be taken traversing the jagged native rock and the roar of the river nearly defied conversation. And then, the roar ceased and we were climbing out of the gorge beside the dam to overlook the magnificent Loch Doon.

It was here that we met up with Isla and Davie again who joined us for lunch. And a casual lunch was taken on the rocky headland that affords a magnificent view up the loch to the high Galloway hills. We had just settled when the other two joined us and we were back together as a group.

After lunch we returned to the road where we met a team from East Ayrshire Leisure who were busy preparing the osprey observation room for opening again on the 30^th of the month. Nice to know.

Leaving the EAL group and bidding a ta-ta to Isla and Davie, we opted for the high route above the gorge for the return journey. This walk through the trees is interesting in its own way as the path undulates between boardwalks and allows the occasional glimpse and roar of the waters below. Then it dropped away from the top of the gorge and brought us back to the entrance to the ‘Amazing’ Ness Glen.

We opted for the usual route alongside the river, under Bellsbank to the Craigengillan estate road. The tramp along the mile and a half of tarmac on the estate road is the least interesting bit of the walk and, had it not been for the usual banter of the Ooters, this might have been somewhat tedious. But it did bring us back uneventfully to the cars parked by the football ground.

FRT was taken in our usual howff in Dalmellington, the Dalmellingto Inn, where a good hour’s blether was had much to the annoyance of the habitual clientele who were trying to watch the horse racing on the tele.

 

*Feel free to substitute your own word here.

Some from the Ness Glen walk

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 25th June

Portencross Circular

Meet at Portencross for the walk round by Hunterston with an option of climbing Goldenberry Hill.

An idea for recognising 20 year anniversary of the Ooters

 

  I was talking to Kate(duaghter) about the fact the Ooters were 20 years old this year.  I had tried, in the past(and failed), to come up with a logo for the Ooters that we could use for a pin badge or t-shirt etc..  I gave no more thought to our conversation but all the time Kate was beavering away with ideas the best of which I'll share.  At the moment all I am looking for is feedback. 

1. Do you think having a logo is a good idea?

2. Which of the two option on show do you prefer?

3. Do you have a better idea.?

4. Johnny --- Go lay down in a darkened room!

If there is a positive response from the Ooters I am happy to run with the idea.  I post this so the topic might form part of our chat maybe after a couple of pints.

 

Smugglers Trail (part of) 11th June

 

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul

Many thanks to Anne and Malcolm for the coffee and bacon rolls prior to our walk. Very much appreciated!  As we ate, we discussed the options for the day as the strike by bus drivers meant that we couldn’t get the bus back from Troon. There was general agreement to follow the Smugglers Trail as far as the picnic benches in the Fullarton woods and then retrace our steps from there.

Leaving Malcolm’s at just after ten o’clock, we went past the nursing home and over the hill to the reservoir. By this time the temperature was rising, and layers were shed in anticipation of a fine day ahead. Derval Davie and Isla turned back at this point leaving the rest to progress down through Loans and up the main road to the turn-off to the Trail. Walking down this path we encountered a field of young heifers with whom Jimmy struck up a relationship. Suffice it to say that there was a lot of licking involved, much to Jimmy’s apparent pleasure!

We were at our lunch spot at the benches near the toilets an hour and a half after having set off and we enjoyed our rest as the four miles we had done so far in the heat was telling on us.

By midday we were on our way again but took the option of going down to Wilson Avenue and then Hunter Crescent before emerging on to Dundonald Road and then walking up to Loans. From there we walked back up to the reservoir but took the path on the opposite side round it. We were glad of the shade of the trees in the woods for the last part of the walk and were a bit weary by the time we were back at Malcolm’s having covered the eight miles in three and a half hours all in.

A comical hour was then spent at The Auchans where much-deserved refreshments were consumed.

Arrangements for 18th June

Ness Glen

Meet at the car park at the football ground (just as you enter Dalmellington) at 10am.

A shorter walk, avoiding the glen, will be available for those of a nervous disposition, or whatever. 

Some images from the Dundonald walk

 

Glasgow Canal Walk 4th June

Alan, Allan, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Johnny, or rather Johnny’s phone, assured us that, despite heavy showers on the way up to Glasgow, the rain would be gone just after ten o’clock and it would be dry for the rest of the day. It was after half past ten when we left the Counting House, and ten minutes later the heavens opened! Taking shelter where we could, and digging out wet weather gear, we couldn’t help but notice that Rex had come unprepared for the rain. That being the case he indicated that he would go no further but wait for the rain to go off and return to the shelter of the city centre shops but would meet up with us for lunch later on. His minder for the day, Malcolm, decided he would also abandon the walk and keep Rex company.

The rain started to ease and by the time the rest had reached Speirs Wharf, it was off and jackets etc were removed as it turned into a fine day. Striding out past Firhill and down to Stockingford Junction we encountered the new, fancy footbridge which takes you across to where you can start the walk up to Kirkintilloch – remember that day? - and beyond. However, we continued to Maryhill Locks where the persistent heavy drizzle returned for twenty minutes or so. Soon we turned on to the Kelvin Walkway, past the recently demolished Wyndford flats, and down towards the Botanic Gardens. Some turned off across the first bridge whilst the rest continued to the Humpback bridge before crossing to the Gardens and, more importantly, the toilets. 

By this time, we were two distinct groups making our way eventually to Woodlands Road and to Wetherspoon’s (Hengler’s Circus) for lunch. Gus chose to head straight for his train rather than stay for lunch, but the rest enjoyed the food and drinks before leaving for their various modes of transport at quarter to three. From Wetherspoon’s to Wetherspoon’s it was the best part of eight miles in three hours and a good step-out, as they say. It rained heavily on the way home to Kilmarnock. Johnny is handing his phone back to Mickey Mouse!

Arrangements for 11th June

Smugglers Trail

Meet at Malcolm's house at 9.30am for coffee and scones. Walk to Troon, have FRT, and then take the bus back to Dundonald.