Blairquhan, Straiton 15th April

 

 

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

The forecast was for rain all morning, and it did not disappoint! The early birds took coffee in the Buck Tearoom on the Main Street in Straiton whilst the rest arrived. Jimmy had forgotten his waterproof jacket (what a day to forget it) but was soon kitted out by the gents’ outfitters amongst us and we were on our way just after ten o’clock. This was a new walk for most of us, so we kept our leader, Alan McQ, in sight as we left the village and turned left down the B741 before turning right through a gap in the hedge into a field populated by a couple of horses. The path led us down beside the Water of Girvan and up towards the minor road that took us on to the road up to Blairquhan Castle. The rain, although never chucking it down, was persistent and, in exposed areas, the wind was quite strong, but we continued in good spirits until our leader took us down a detour to the right to view a wee cemetery to the Hunter Blairs. Included were the two graves of servicemen who died in the second world war, which explained the sign we saw earlier denoting it as a Commonwealth War Grave.

From there it was a shortish walk up to Blairquhan Castle which we approached by turning left at the Garden Pond and observing the walled garden. The castle itself is a substantial and well-maintained building, as were the grounds, and we paused for a few minutes before following the road again, sheltered by the trees, down to the summer house/ boat house beside a small loch called Approach Loch. Unfortunately, we could not access the well-appointed house, so we had to settle for taking coffee outside under the canopy.

 

It was quarter to twelve when we got underway again with Alan McQ suggesting that we should walk further up the road to the waterfall (Linn) before turning back, saying it would probably add another couple of miles or so to the walk, but Alan, Allan, Davie, Malcolm and Robert decided to turn back there, given the weather. The rest marched on whilst the five retraced their steps back towards Straiton but this time sticking to the tarmac surface rather than following the riverside path and over the field. They were back at just after half-past twelve and by the time they had got changed, finished their pieces and Alan and Davie had gone into the tearoom for a bowl of soup, the others arrived back at five to one. Alan McQ had overestimated the distance to the linn, hence the earlier than expected return.

Paul and Robert went straight home but the rest headed to the High Society in Maybole for FRT, a new venue for us. We were well enough received and had the games room to ourselves, but it was a bit lacking in atmosphere. However, as the drink took its effect, the Ooters, in true Ooters style, livened thinks up with the conversation descending to its usual standard! A good time was had, the bill was surprisingly modest, and the rain had gone off by the time we left.

The bigger group had done six and a bit miles today, whilst the others had done just over five and a half in wet conditions, although it was not cold. On a better day this would be a good walk so maybe it can be repeated some time later in the year. On another note, the High Society is for sale, as was the Black Bull Hotel in Straiton, and also from last week, the Dalmellington Inn. Sign of the times, or is there an Ooters’ factor to it?