Valley Circular Walk 19 December 2018

Present: Bob, Davie M, Ian, Jimmy, Paul and Peter and eventually Gus.

The above 6 met chez Davie in Darvel to partake of scones and coffee prior to doing an Irvine Valley walk, the rest of the Ooters attending the pantomime at Oran Mor. Jimmy entertained us by reading out Kay’s Scottish quiz which she had made up for the Cumnock History Group party the following night. All acquitted themselves fairly well, even he from south of the border coping with words like taigle, shilpitand shelfie. 

Eventually about 9 40, minus Peter who had a cold and a sore back, the legs were set in motion and we proceeded through Darvel Park and entered Lanfine Estate via the gatehouse at the east end. (There are three gatehouses to the estate, the middle one being kept private by the owners.) We continued up the ”avenue” towards the big hoose but there was no sign of the wild boar which normally inhabit the woods hereabouts. Ian postulated that they might have been turned into Christmas sausages!

Having passed Lanfine House we continued down the other avenue towards Newmilns, crossed the main road and went up past the Newmilns Tower. This was probably erected around 1530 as a temporary home for the Campbells of Loudoun after the Kennedys destroyed Loudoun Castle in an attack. 

Proceeding up the High Street past the ski slope we started the long slog up Dalquhatswood brae. Once at the top, we were grateful that it was a lovely winter’s day, perfect for walking, for the views over the valley now opened up before us.

Once we had reached the crossroads at Knevocklaw Farm, three of our number decided that, due to time constraints, and the fact that they would have to get home to put their make up on for our pending night out, they had better quit the walk here and return to Darvel via Temple Hill.

Bob and Davie, and Holly, reluctantly, as she didn’t want to leave her pals, now continued on the “Five Miles” as it is known in the Valley although it is actually a 6 and a quarter mile walk. We passed the old country schoolhouse attended by Alexander Fleming and as we sat down on a bench by the Glen Water we were met by Gus who had been doing his grandparental duty by attending a nativity play. 

The rest of the walk was a dawdle with the three of us arriving back in Darvel roughly three and three quarter hours after setting off. However the so called short walk actually turned out to be 17 km long, Davie ending up with a blister because of the hard road surface. 

As a winter walk this was an excellent work-out. 

Darvel 15 October

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Robert

"Wait 'til the weans see this lot"

Thanks to Davie and Kay for providing coffee and scones etc. at Café Derval prior to our valley walk.

Going up through Lanfine

The route took us initially up through Lanfine Estate and past the wild boars which came out to see us passing. You could almost sense that the adults were saying to the young ones “Come and see this lot. Now, don’t get too close, you don’t know where they’ve been. Anyway, what’s that funny smell?” Mind you, they do make good sausages, allegedly!

We passed the new big house that still needs the driveway and gardens to be done to enhance its impact and followed the tarmac up the side of the valley. Before reaching Eastfield we followed Davie Mc by taking a path off to the right and through the Bonnieton Plantation. This was a particularly pleasant part of today’s walk as we trekked through the fallen leaves and observed the changing colours of the trees. We took coffee on fallen logs adjacent to what looked like a mountain bike path. When asked where exactly we were, Davie replied, ‘Gullyhil’.

Into the palntation

We were heading downhill through the woods and although underfoot conditions were generally good, some parts were muddy and there were a few steep descents which had to be negotiated with care. After heavy rain this section would have been tricky.

Emerging on to tarmac we turned left and headed towards Newmilns, passing Parkerston en route. Crossing over the main road in Newmilns we started to climb up the opposite side of the valley passing the well-used dry ski slope as we did. Lunch was called for at the entrance to the cemetery where a convivial twenty minutes were passed. Weather conditions had been excellent for walking, dry and bright but with a fresh breeze to keep us cool. September and October, so far, had provided us with arguably the best walking conditions of the year.

Covenanter's monument in Newmilns

After lunch we continued up the road and past Cronan (pronounced Crinan, according to our local experts) before turning right at the road to Intax and briefly following Fouilpapple Road on our descent and then taking a left on to Burn Road and on down in to Darvel and back to Davie’s.

A familiar sight!

Hold your breath, we did not partake of FRT today as we were going out in the evening to belatedly celebrate Gus’s 60^th birthday at our preferred curry house and hostelry in Kilmarnock. A great night was had and the lack of fluid earlier in the day was more than made up for.

P.S. For those interested in how long the walk took us, the answer is three hours and fifty-five minutes.