Glasgow Canal Walk 29 September

Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Hugh, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

We assembled at the Counting House for a coffee before setting off on our canal walk. The weather was good with blue skies and not too warm, a typical autumn day. Our route was the usual one i.e. up to Speirs Wharf and then along the path beside the canal. Having passed Firhill we encountered the only obstacle of the day in that a section of the path was closed. No matter, the diversion was well signposted and all we had to do was go down on to Maryhill Road, emerging opposite the big Tesco’s, and walking up to Maryhill Burgh Halls. A path behind the Halls took us back on to the canal path until we left it at Maryhill Locks and followed the River Kelvin Way.

There were a number of possibilities open to us from here, but the one we chose was to cross the bridge leading into the Botanic Gardens (and the public toilets). From there we went down Great Western Road, turned into Park Road, and found Woodlands Road which we followed to Charing Cross, before taking to Sauchiehall Street and Hengler’s Circus (Wetherspoon’s) for lunch.

The walk had taken just under two and a half hours, and we had covered just over seven miles. As we sat having lunch and some beers, although a cheeky wee merlot was the choice for Rex, there were a couple of light rain showers, the only rain we had seen on the day. A most pleasant hour and a half was spent and for a couple of us, no names mentioned, it turned in to a three-pint day to accompany a satisfying, very reasonably priced lunch.

A cracking day out and thanks to Malcolm for buying the first round to celebrate, belatedly, his 70^th.

Arrangements for Wednesday 6th Oct.

 Meet in the Dean Castle car park at 10.00.a.m. Walk from there to Craufordland  , Fenwick and return. Alan Stewart is willing to join us for all or part of the walk especially if the pace is not too brisk. He is also going to join us in Weatherspoon’s for F.R.T. and a catch up. Peter has been consulted for the following week and he is also in favour of joining us. Details will be finalised and posted next Wednesday evening.

Wednesday 29th buses

 According to a revised timetable the buses from Kilmarnock are 8.45 or 9.30 so the 8.45 must be the option.

Annbank Circular 22 September

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Iain, Jimmy, Kenny R, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

On an overcast morning we decided to do the familiar walk in a clockwise direction meaning that we would go the longer way out to the Wallace and Burns memorial at Oswald’s Bridge and return the shorter route on the Auchincruive side of the river. This walk has been covered many times before so what follows is only a brief description.

Walking down from Annbank we found the River Ayr Way adjacent to Privick Mill and followed the path until a choice had to be made i.e. go high up the steps, or stay low and negotiate the landslip. Some went high, some went low. Those who had gone high reached the point where the two paths met first, although they didn’t know it, and, assuming that the others were in front of them (since the low path was the shorter in length), walked on, past the fishermen’s shelter where we have often taken coffee, and stopped on Tarholm Bridge. Coffee was taken here and by this time it had dawned on them that they, in fact, were ahead of the others. It took a few minutes for the rest to arrive claiming that the debris from the landslip, although not dangerous today, had slowed them up a fair bit.

Crossing the bridge, we took to the path on the other side of the river and made steady progress as underfoot conditions were good, even the usual mucky bits were easily dealt with. By noon we were seated at the memorial for our twenty-minute lunch stop.

Having walked across Oswald’s Bridge we followed the path past Auchincruive noticing a sign for a café, only open Friday to Sunday, up to our left. This is certainly new. We were back at the cars at one o’clock having covered the seven miles in three hours, a quick time for this walk. The rain forecast for later in the day had not arrived certainly was not imminent according to overhead conditions.

FRT was taken outside at the Tap o’ the Brae where a pleasant hour was spent discussing, amongst other things, the Georgian architecture of the area! It should also be noted that Waspy has not lost his touch.

 

Arrangements for Wed 29th Sept.

 Meet in the Counting House Glasgow for coffee around 10.00.a.m. The walk involves making our way up to the canal and walking westwards towards Clydebank. The return route will take in Kelvingrove Park and probably lunch in Weatherspoon’s in Sauchiehall Street. An alternative walk will replace this by phone on Tuesday evening should we be faced with a terrible forecast. 

Buses leave Kilmarnock bus station at 8.45.a.m. or 9.10.a.m.