Gogo Burn 20 January

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny R, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

It was disappointingly wet as we met in Largs, at least most of us met at the correct location. Rex had failed to find Charles Street and was parked at the Gogo Burn, silly boy, but, by the wonders of modern technology, probably the same technology that got him lost, he made contact with Allan and met up with the rest of us. Jimmy proposed that, given the weather, we do the walk in the opposite direction and make our way up to the picnic area at the burn to take stock.

Looking back towards Largs

As we passed Largs Academy Ian had to avert his eyes and take a few tranquilisers but, with the usual Ooters’ compassion, he made it with our support. Moving out of the scheme and starting to climb we did see a sign saying that a construction company apologised for any inconvenience due to their works, but we carried on undaunted taking note that the path had been widened to take heavy machinery. Still we carried on. The path was becoming increasingly muddy and by the time the ‘picnic area’ was in view it was a river of glaur. We could see machinery up ahead and down below and a new road being dug out of the hillside. At this point we were stopped by a young engineer, who seemed to be in charge, and told we shouldn’t be there and that there was a sign stating the whole area was out of bounds. After a lot of negotiating he reluctantly agreed to lead us through the works as he had the hard hat and hi-viz jacket etc. Another big workman approached Jimmy in what appeared initially was a menacing mood only to ask “Do you come fae Cumnock?” The ice was broken and the big guy explained he had stayed next door to Jimmy for many a year.

Looking up the glan with the new road under construction on the left

Having led us through the diggers, we thanked the ‘boy’ for his help and made for the hillside before stopping for coffee twenty minutes further on. At this point Allan decided that he had done enough for the day and would return down the way he came up, risking the wrath of the workmen. In the event he had a convivial conversation finding out that the works were due to a private hydro sceme being set up by the Stakis Group and that the works would go on until October. On his way down he did find the warning sign which was placed behind an open gate and which could have been (and had been) missed. If we had seen it would we have taken heed and turned back? Knowing our record, what do you think?

The Guys continued up to the bridge to note that a temporary one had been constructed whilst a more permanent feature was at the foundation stage. Crossing over, the task was to get up the hillside and look for signs of the path. By now lying snow was a feature and the path was slippy, especially on the downhill sections. Robert held the record for most falls today, three at the last count. Fortunately he fell on the biggest and most padded part of his anatomy. On the trek back to the ‘steps’ a couple of sleety showers were encountered but, all in all, given the unpromising start to the day, it had been decent weather for the time of the year.

Honestly Mister, we didnae see the sign!

All were reunited at the cars, a tad over four hours from setting off.

FRT was held in The Village Inn at Fairlie.

8 April Another Round of the Gogo Burn

Alan (the newby), Davie C, Davie Mc, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm & Robert

            If John Buchan had been on this walk today perhaps Richards Hannay’s adventure would not have been named ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ but ‘The Three Hundred and Seventy-nine Steps’ for, as soon as we left Largs’ Douglas Park, we were confronted by a Jacob’s ladder of wooden railway-sleepered steps leading heavenward. Half a million steps later (Scribe, I’ve told you a million times not to exaggerate – Ed.) we were seated or standing high above Largs overlooking the upper reaches of the Firth of Clyde. Cameras clicked, or whatever digital cameras do now, as we tried to capture the scene. While the photographers did their thing the brave changed into shorts for the first time this year before moving off again. (Davie Mc would like it pointed out that he had donned his three weeks ago – Ed.)

            Another sharp climb, this time without the aid of railway sleepers, and we found ourselves gathered round a viewfinder examining the view. Though the day was slightly hazy we were able to identify Hunterston Power Station, The hills of Arran and Cowal and the coastal towns of Innellan and Dunoon. And of course Largs was laid out like a map six hundred feet below. A superb view. Digital cameras ‘brzed’ again and continued to ‘brz’ for the rest of the walk (See photos below)

            Now the path sort of levelled out though, as Bob pointed out, it was still upward. A skylark sang somewhere above us and a couple of lost looking sheep stares at our passing as we followed the path gently upward. Coffee was called and we sat down to re-caffeinate. It was a day for taking it easy – the warmest walk of the year so far - but the itch-footed amongst us were desperate to be off again. So off it was.

            The path, or rather sheep pad, we had been following ran out and had to take to the rough stuff - the winter-dead tussocks of carex and the bright green, sodden sphagnum mosses that are typical of these Ayrshire uplands. We plodded on in single file trying to find the best way we could. Quad-bike tracks were found which eased the way for a while and allowed us to take in what view there was as the flat-topped hills closed in around us. Still we were able to pick out Hill of Stake that enigmatic top that we had tried so long to find. It was suggested that this might be a better route to this top but it was wholeheartedly agreed that that was for another day. Today we would follow our plan and the quad-bike tracks easing our way forward. They brought us round Feuside hill to a broad coll between Wee Irish Law and Slaty Law where came the first split in the ranks for the day.

            We had seen the waterfall, the Slatylaw Falls, from the other side of the valley but what was the easiest way to get to it? Jimmy struck off the quad tracks on a direct line taking Johnny and Davie C with him while the rest continued on the tracks. Jimmy’s group were first to find a crossing place on the burn just above the falls closely followed by the others and once we were all across, we settle down on a slope above the falls for lunch.

            Once again the itchy-footed didn’t let us enjoy the sun for too long and we were off sooner than some would have liked. Now the rough stuff came again; nearly a mile of untrodden tussocks and ditches lay between us and the roadhead. Some quad tracks were found as we approached the sheep fank that showed we were still on course and these were followed for a while. Then came the second split in the ranks. Once again Jimmy left the tracks and took a line for the north side of the sheep fank taking Robert and Alan with him. Davie Mc and the rest continued to follow the quad tracks round the south side of the fank. Jimmy’s team arrived at the bridge over the Greeto Burn and that’s where there awaited the arrival of the others. A short break, a laze in the afternoon sunshine was had before taking the road, an untarred, gravelled and grassy road, downward to Largs.

            The walk down that road in the afternoon sunshine was a delight, the yellow of the whin flowers and their scent adding to the pleasure. We ambled down the road and through the town to our starting point at Douglas Park having thoroughly enjoyed a great day out on the hill.

FRT was taken in the Village Inn, Seamill where the young barmaid made us welcome.

Cumbrae 8 October

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

The submarine base on Little Cumbrae

The wind turbine is definitely on the mainland!

As we assembled at Largs there was a distinct chill in the air meaning that we stayed in the warmth of the ticket office until the 10.15 ferry came in. We heated up as soon as we reached our (?) walking pace on the other side and made good time heading up to the Glaid Stone for our coffee stop.

A few spots of rain were encountered on the way down into Millport but jackets were not on for long. Walking through the town we couldn’t help but think that it would be a long day serving in the shops at this time of the year – maybe at any time of the year! On this occasion we did not head up to the golf course and cut across the open ground to Fintry Bay but instead stuck to the coast road. Lunch was taken in the shelter adjacent to the football pitch and to the new helicopter pad where it was announced that we would try for the 2.30 ferry. Once we had reached Fintry Bay the optimists said we could make the two o’clock, so off we went into the drizzle. In the event we reached the slipway at 2.10 and were dry(ish) when we arrived in good time for the 2.30 ferry. (Apologies for all the times. Davie’s obsession with the timings of walks must be getting to me. I’ll go for a lie down before completing the blog!)

Sinister dexter, sinister dexter!

That's better, back again! One thing of note was the emergence of new information posts at strategic points. This information, however, could only be accessed by an app on a mobile phone. This is something to remember for our next visit, assuming of course that there is a mobile signal and that you could read your phone in the open daylight!

Sinister!

The boys who had attended the recent Troon Beer Festival, and who could remember being there, had seen an advert for the Village Inn in Fairlie and so we headed there for FRT and, in the main, we partook of Corncrake Ale, brewed in Orkney. Many thanks to Davie C, whose 59th birthday it was, for buying the first round. A jolly time was had!