Darvel, Newmilns, Galston 12th August

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

The very warm weather continued as we met at the Square in Darvel for our scheduled walk to Galston.  Making our way down to the entrance to Lanfine estate at the Ranoldcoup bridge we paused to consider where Gus had got to. In fact, he had gone ahead and was waiting for us at the wild boar enclosure, and there were many young boars (piglets) to be seen. The pace was easy and there was plenty of shade from the trees as we moved up the road and stopped at the bridge over the burn. Just before it, there was a path off to the left which, as seems to be the norm these days, some i.e. Alan McQ, Dougie, Gus, Jimmy, Paul and Rex decided to take to make the walk a bit more challenging.

 

The rest continued towards Newmilns and stopped for coffee at the gates leading on to Brown’s Road. Thereafter it was a short walk into Newmilns, past the Old Man’s Cabin and then to Brown Street and the riverside path. The going was sensible, but the heat was getting oppressive, so on arriving at the sports ground in Galston at ten past twelve, the eight sat down on the wee banking for a welcome lunch break. As they were finishing their pieces, spots of rain began to fall and, by the time rain jackets had been dug out and put on, the light shower had gone off. On the way to the bus stop there was another wee shower, but it came to nothing. Within a few minutes the bus arrived and delivered them back to Darvel, and the Black Bull, at about one o’clock having covered five and a half miles on the walk.

 

Ten minutes later the six arrived having followed the path through the woods up to the tarmac and then taken the road down to Newmilns emerging just before the Cabin. They then had crossed the main street and had gone up Dalwhatswood Road past the ski slope and cemetery, a challenging climb especially in the heat, and had done the loop, coming back down to Darvel via Fulpapple Road and Burn Road. Their distance must have been eight miles or so.

We all sat inside at the pub as it was cooler and where, as usual, a relaxing time was had. A day out to suit all aspirations.