Blaiquhan, Straiton 21st October

 

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Jimmy, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert

It was a dry, clear morning with not a breath of wind, as we met in Straiton for the walk to Blairquhan, a walk we had done earlier in the year in pouring rain. After we managed to extricate some of our members from the Buck tearoom, we got underway just after ten o’clock and made our way down the main street before turning left on to a path following a sign for the sign for Church Walk. This was a slightly different route than last time and meant Isla had less time on the road. The grass track led us on to a road which took us to the B741 opposite the road up to Blairquhan, the road down which some of us had returned the last time.

The pace was easy as we entered the estate with most taking the short detour to visit the Hunter Blairs’ graveyard whilst Alan, Allan and Dougie sauntered on up to the castle and continued towards the wee loch. They were soon caught up by the rest and all headed to the cabin for coffee/lunch, admiring the autumn colours as they did. There was some thought of turning back from there but, in the end, all followed Alan McQ down the track to see the wee waterfalls.

Alan, Allan and Davie decided to turn back whilst the rest walked on but, before very long, they had turned also and we were a group again, as much as we are ever a group on a walk, but before long some decided to take the riverside path which brings you out at the track heading up to the loch whilst a smaller group remained on the tarmac. Passing the castle again and going behind it at the request of the notices, we entered the walled garden for another brunch/lunch stop. It was about quarter to one by this time and, as had been forecast, there was some drops of rain starting, just after Robert had removed his wet weather gear, but fortunately the light shower came to nothing.

Leaving the estate this time, we, well, almost all, turned left over the bridge and found the path beside the Water of Girvan which took us over the field with the horses (last time we took this path on the way out) and eventually back to the cars in Straiton. Isla was with us as Alan had managed to contrive a makeshift lead using his walking stick, but there was no sign of her master. Davie and Gus had lost sight of the main group earlier and had continued straight on out of the estate down the road we had used in the morning and had reached the cars about ten minutes after the rest of us. As usual, there was the discussion about all keeping together on the walk, a discussion no doubt we will have many times in the future. Anyway, it was ten to two when the last arrived with the distance estimated to be a tad over seven miles for those who did all aspects of the walk.

We had got it dry and had had a good walk at a very sensible pace, but as we headed to Maybole and the High Society for FRT, the rain clouds were gathering. A good time was had in the pub, made even better by the astonishingly cheap prices, before making our way home in the rain.

 

Some images from the Blairquhan walk (Please excuse the quality - my camera decided to take videos today and I had to make screenshots.)

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 28th October

Prestwick to Troon

Meet at the carpark beyond the Kidzplay for walk to Troon and back.

Ooters Calendar 2027

I spoke to the guys on Wednesday’s walk regarding ordering a 2027 calendar. Could those who weren’t present at the Lauriston yesterday (14^th Oct) please let me know, one way or the other, by Friday 23^rd October whether you want one (or even more than one).

Robert and Katrina on her giving up the Jewel

 

Seamill to Portencross 14th October

Alan, Alan McQ, Alan W, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Given this was the week of the school holidays, all were present in plenty of time for the walk to Portencross as traffic was remarkably light. The wind was very strong as we left the car park near the Waterside Hotel but it was behind us as we were blown up the beach and then on to the grass track between the shore and the houses at which point we met Alan Watson (and Angus) coming towards us as pre-arranged on the Monday walk. Fortunately, Isla didn’t seem to bother with the newcomer, and before long we were at the bridge over the burn at the Hydro and back on to the beach for a spell. The photos don’t really show the intensity of the wind and, even when we left the beach to join the path adjacent to the golf course, there was little shelter and at times our faces were getting attacked from wind-blown sand. No matter, we soon made the end of the path and were about to turn up to the Portencross Road when we briefly stopped to consider the options. Alan and Derval Davie decided to turn back from there whilst the rest walked on for another quarter of an hour to reach the castle and sought some shelter for coffee/lunch.

Setting off on the return leg at half past eleven we were now into the wind which made the going much harder and soon we were well strung out. On reaching the road up to the golf course clubhouse we decided to take this option and gain some shelter from the elements by going up to the main street and walking back to the cars along the pavement. Arriving in dribs and drabs from about quarter to one having done just over seven miles, we weren’t too far behind Alan and Davie and were surprised to learn when Jimmy arrived that Robert was struggling and needed someone to drive up the road and pick him up. Alan did the needful to find, in fact, that it was Gus who was struggling with his back problem with Robert acting as his minder. Both were given a lift back to the car park by which time Gus had recovered and was vertical again. Thanks to Alan for his compassion!

As we prepared to leave for FRT at the Lauriston wee Davie managed to head-butt Alan’s tailgate as it was closing (you can take the boy out of Glasgow but ….), but luckily there was no damage to Alan’s car! Davie, however, required a plaster when he got to the hotel and received, in true Ooters’ spirit, little sympathy. A pleasant hour was spent here as the rain began to fall but it had gone off by the time we had left.

A challenging day out given the wind, but enjoyable nonetheless!

He's normally plastered after a drink!

 

Some images from the Portencross walk

 

Arrangements for Wednesday 21st October

Blairquhan

Meet in Straiton for a walk around the nearby Blairquhan Estate.

Darvel and Loudoun Hill 7th October

 Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Once again, it is thanks to Kay and Davie for their hospitality in providing us with coffee and pies before the walk. The pies are reaching legendary status. Fabulous, or just superb?

Anyway, we are a walking group, so we dragged ourselves outside on a bright autumn morning for our walk to Loudoun Hill, crossing Morton Park and then heading out of Darvel before turning up to join the Valley Walk. The going was good, despite the recent rain, although the pristine new path as of a couple of years ago has now been encroached on either side by grass leaving parts of the track suitable for single file use only. Nonetheless, the spirits were high and, before we knew it, we had reached the point where we left the old railway line and descended to start the climb up past Newlands Farm. As has often been said in the past, these hills are getting longer and steeper by the year, but we all made it, took a wee breather, and then took the path round the base of Loudoun Hill. At the point where you can turn towards the Spirit of Scotland Monument, we paused to decide our options.

Alan McQ, Paul and Rex took coffee/lunch here before tackling the hill, checking out the Honesty Horse Box as they did, whilst the rest made their way down and then back up past the monument to have lunch at the benches. It was just after twelve by this time and, as they ate, the first shower of the day arrived, not that heavy or prolonged but enough for Derval Davie, who had come out without his waterproofs and was feeling the effects of a walk he had done the day before, to phone Kay to come and pick Isla and him up. The other eight then walked down to the A71, turned right down the Windy Wizen for a hundred yards or so, crossed over and just started to go down the track at the Beg before realising that that was not the right road to take, turned back, and followed the sign for the Long Cairn Walk. Hugh and Graham were nursing knee problems and didn’t want any more climbs or descents, wishing the shortest route back so they, with wee Davie and Malcolm, opted to walk down the main A71 into Priestland and then Darvel. Alan, Allan, Dougie and Robert continued up towards Greenbank cottage and down towards Priestland via the farmer’s field encountering another shower as they did.

Moving towards Darvel there was another shower as they closed in on the other four ahead of them and caught them up by the time they had arrived back at Morton Park. By the time they got changed at the cars, there was sunshine again, and in all honesty, they had got off very lightly with the rain. Alan McQ phoned to say that the three hill climbers had gone straight to the Black Bull, so the others set off to join them for what proved to be a merry hour. Many thanks to wee Davie for buying the first round in celebration of his 71^st birthday (8^th Oct) and for agreeing to provide crisps and for releasing the purse string to allow us to buy flowers for Katrina at the Jewel.

The walk(s) today had been between eight and nine miles and taken four hours. For some these days maybe a mile or two too long but FRT revitalised the weary bones.

The figure at the top is Alan

 

Some images of the Loudoun Hill walk

Arrangements for Wednesday 14th October

Portencross

Meet at the usual time in the usual lay-by for the usual walk with the usual guys to Portencross Castle followed by the usual drink and usual banter in the usual pub.

Maybole, Kildoon Hill, Lochspouts 30th September

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The overnight rain had passed and, with a forecast of dry weather ahead, thirteen Ooters met up at the Greenside in Maybole. Derval Davie decided that the planned walk was not suitable for Isla and him, so set off to walk from Maidens to Culzean, promising to meet up with us at the High Society later on.

Twelve of us, therefore, made our way down out of Maybole, up Allan’s Brae and continued down over the wee ford towards the turn-off for Kildoon Hill. Seven took to the hill whilst Allan, Killie Davie, Hugh, Johnny and Malcolm stuck to the road round the hill agreeing to meet up with the others at Lochspouts. The five made their way round to Lower Burncrooks before going left up to the gate that leads across and up the field to the reservoir. Hugh didn’t fancy coming downhill from there, so they turned back and took brunch just beyond the cattle grid. As they were getting ready to move off the rest of the guys appeared, having done the hill and were heading for Lochspouts for lunch. We were also joined by a local who was there to tend his cockerels which were in the field but were ‘hiding’ today.

The five retraced their steps back to the cars at the Greenside and took the remains of their pieces at the benches in the warm sunshine. The weather had stayed dry and bright, but with a wee wind in non-sheltered spots, making for good overhead walking conditions!. Alan phoned Allan to say that the larger group had reached the High Society only to find it closed due to holidays so it was agreed that we would just go into the Greenside for FRT. The main group had done a tad over eight miles whilst the smaller group had done about six and a half, with the latter arriving back at quarter to one and the rest about half an hour later.

It dawned on us that Derval Davie might not know where we were so phone contact was made, to no avail as he was driving, but as we sat down to our drinks in the sitooterie Davie phoned asking where we were. As Allan tried to explain exactly where we were there were cries of ‘Tell him tae pit the dug oan!’ No matter, he arrived safely just in time for the rain to start, so we went inside where we were well-received. A pleasant hour was spent, with the treasurer having his arm twisted to allow us to have chips. He agreed, and four portions of chips were devoured by the thirteen of us. By the time we left the sun was shining again to complete another good day out.

Some images from the Kildoon Hill and Loch Spoot walk