Ardrossan(ish) to Portencross 23 April

Alan, Allan, Andy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Peter

The weather must be warming up

We welcomed back Paul and Gus from their recent illnesses and hoped that today’s flat walk would get them back in the groove. We were also happy to welcome Peter back from Ballantrae!

The morning was fresh and dry but a wind was blowing up the coastline making a few don jackets to begin with. Undeterred, Gus and the two Davies (not to be confused with the two Ronnies, although, mind you, there was a big one and a wee one in that duo as well – but they weren’t as funny) were resplendent in shorts.

Malcolm demonstrates the long through ball

The walk along the beach from the car park on the shore front to Seamill was uneventful and beyond that most of us took to the path adjacent to the golf course for the rest of the outward journey up to Portencross Road. On the way down to the castle, where lunch was to be taken, the boys showed their footballing skills as a ball had been found. This episode came to an end when it was passed to Davie Mc who demonstrated his close control by sending the ball into a tattie field.

It had only taken an hour and a half to get to our furthest point and by 11 o’clock the return journey, into the wind, was begun. Arriving back at the cars at about 12.30p.m., the first drops of rain started to fall.

This was a good walk which blew away the cobwebs and was easily negotiatd by Paul and Gus. FRT was taken at the Lauriston in Ardrossan.

One dog and her man

West Kilbride to Largs 31 Aug 2011

Allan, Davie C, Ian, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul

Six Ooters met at West Kilbride Railway Station at 9.30 on a dry, warm but overcast morning to start the walk to Largs via Blaeloch Hill and down through Kelburn Estate. The route was well documented when we did this walk for the first time on 28 April 2010 so mention here will be made of the big change to the landscape that has taken place over the last 15 months, namely, the groundworks and accompanying road network that have been installed in order to construct yet another windfarm . The view from Blaeloch Hill inland towards Dalry and Kilbirnie is now dominated by the aforementioned works but, on the positive side, it meant that another group of walkers, the West Kilbride Ramblers, had an easier walk up to the hill from Dalry as they now could follow a road for a fair part of the way. Lunch was spent blethering to our new friends.

Our descent towards Kelburn was also made easier for part of the way as we joined the access road for half a mile or so until we turned off towards the burn and the path into the estate before descending to the bus stop at the foot of Haylie Brae. Fortunately we did not have long to wait and we were soon heading back to West Kilbride but as we passed through Fairlie we stopped to pick up the WK Ramblers who had made their way down via Fairlie Glen.

This was a good walk (5 and a bit hours) with only one really boggy part to contend with despite the rain that had fallen on previous days.

FRT was taken at the Lauriston in Ardrossan.