Arrangements for 9 October

Cumbrae
Be at Largs ferry terminal in plenty of time to catch the 9.45am ferry to Cumbrae.
The nature/direction of the walk can be decided on the day.
In the event of a very poor weather forecast, check the blog after 6pm on the Tuesday for an alternative.

Bute 25 Sept

Alan, Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Hugh, Iain, Ian, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The ferry was running so, after a coffee at the nearby cafe, we took the 10am crossing to Rothesay and were glad to see the bus waiting for our trip down to Kilchattan Bay.
It was 11.15 when we set off to do the loop round the bottom of the island which comprises the first leg of the West Island Way. The forecast had been iffy, but it was very warm for the time of the year, and soon layers were shed as we made our way along the path by the shore. Care had to be taken not to trip on the rocks and sections were muddy due to recent rains, but progress was good. Two lady walkers, a local doctor and her cousin from Canada, were also doing the walk and we took time to chat to them before overtaking them. They in turn took the lead as we stopped for coffee in the bay just after the lighthouse. By this time the sun was breaking through and the rest of the day was to be blessed with wonderful autumn sunshine.
From here we headed up and inland following the numerous signposts, past the lochan and making our way up to St Blane’s for lunch. We could have spent a while here but, ever mindful of the bus to catch, we set off again at about 1.15, making our way up the track and then over the field to the climb up the grassy hill. Here, we passed the ladies, who had stopped for a breather, before chasing up the slope ourselves, meaning that  some of us had to stop to recover before continuing down the other side.
Sections of the steep descent were muddy and very slippy but we made it safely down to Kilchattan in plenty of time for the bus at 2.16. In fact, we had reached the bus stop with twenty minutes to spare and enjoyed passing the time by sitting on the benches overlooking the bay.
Today’s numbers were two hours and forty minutes for the five and a half miles, plus two submarines.
FRT was first of all taken at the Taverna Bar in Rothesay, as we had forty-five minutes to kill before the ferry, and then continued at the Station Bar at Wemyss Bay.
The Sage of the Valley’s official description of today’s walk was ‘fabulous’. Or was it ‘superb’? No matter, all agreed we had had a cracking day out in unexpectedly terrific weather.

Arrangements for Wednesday 2 October

Meet chez Derval Davie at 9.30 am for scones and coffee. The walk  will be a valley circular. Although the second half of the walk is a road walk, boots will be required  for the first half going through the wood.

Rothesay ferry

Checked Calmac site. The ferry seems to be running normally.

Greenock Cut 18 September

Alan, Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Hugh, Iain, Ian, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

The Killie crew, including Gus’s pal, Billy Whyte, had taken coffee across the road in the café before meeting up with the rest of us at the ticket office at Wemyss Bay in anticipation of the Kilchattan circular walk on Bute. However, we were informed that the 10 o’clock sailing was ‘aff’ due to 'technical issues' and that the next sailing would not be until 11.05 – too late for us. A quick decision was made to adjourn to Cornalees to do the Greenock Cut, but not before we had politely inquired if we could get our £3 back for the parking. Suffice it to say that the answer was not positive. (Had we checked Calmac’s website before we left, it would have made no difference as there had been no notification of that cancellation on it.)

We were ready to start at about 10.15 and went in the anti-clockwise direction on an overcast, but dry, morning. The walk has been described many times before, so suffice it to say that we took coffee at our usual spot half-way down the hill, and, just as someone said that we usually get rain on this walk, some very light rain began to fall, but only for a few minutes, time enough to put the rain jackets on, and then get them back off again.
The next stop was, again, at our customary lunch spot where a pleasant fifteen minutes was spent before moving off in ever brightening conditions. As we approached Cornalees we were passed by groups of girls going in the opposite direction and, as we do, we made conversation, only to find out that they were 6^th year pupils from Kilmarnock Academy setting off, maps in hand, to do an overnighter for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Back at the car park we met some of their leaders/teachers, but they had been relatively new to the school and didn’t know any of our KA guys.
Today’s numbers were two hours and fifty-five minutes for seven and a half miles.
A brisk walk in decent conditions followed by FRT (with chips) at Drouthy Neebors in Largs, and it was good to have Davie C back with us. It was even better to have a fit again Holly back!