Four Tops 10 June

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul

The sun shines on the righteous

The shorts outnumbered the trousers

At last the weather had picked up and was more like June should be. The walk was Davie’s favourite four tops in Glen Afton which meant us assembling at the waterworks before heading back down the road for a mile or so before taking a right at the cattle grid at Blackcraig and heading for the hills.

Following the old road we made our usual stop for a coffee by the roadside, or not, as Davie Mc declared that the coffee stop would be at Quintin’s Cairn which was now visible in the distance. So we moved on after catching our breath, and reached the cairn in reasonable time. Just for information, Davie reached the cairn and all other stopping points on today’s walk well ahead of the main party and ‘hours’ ahead of the backmarkers. G’on yersel, Davie!

Holly waits patiently for the stragglers

A pleasant ten minutes were spent taking in the view over Ayrshire until Jimmy spoiled it by saying he could see Auchinleck. Moving on, the next big push took us to the trig point at the top of Blackcraig Hill (700m). This section certainly sorted out the men from the boys, but eventually there was a coming together for lunch. Jimmy was able to point out the Arrochar Hills, Ben Lomond, Dumgoyne, Ben More, Tinto, Culter Fell, The Lowthers, Skiddaw in the Lake District, Merrick, Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, Windy Standard, Ailsa Craig and Arran, and most of the features in between. Underfoot conditions, for those who are interested, were mainly good today but there were some wet and boggy sections to negotiate as Malcolm will testify!

Descending from Blackcraig there was little joy as we knew we had now to tackle the considerable pull up to the top of Blacklorg (681m). Some of us wondered about the feasibility of a bridge or a cable car linking the two tops, but in these days of austerity, it wouldn’t come top of the agenda!

The top sees the joining of three counties, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright, and, after another wee view stop, the steep descent came next. “Just follow the fence from now on and you can’t go wrong” was the instruction and soon we were off the hill and heading for the next wee climb up to Cannock Hill (594m) where excellent views of the reservoir and beyond were to be had.

Coming of this hill and heading for Steyamara, Allan and Malcolm decided to take the easier route back to the cars and veered off left taking the ‘track’ that skirts the hill and emerges at the dam. The others reached their destination which affords terrific views back down Glen Afton. (Your scribe, as Jimmy suggested, couldn’t find Steyamara in the map but Craigbraneoch Hill is shown which is in the same position and is listed at 576m).

The main body arrived back at the cars some twenty minutes after the advance guard having taken five and a half hours to complete the walk.

Jimmy suggested the Thistle in Cumnock for FRT but, even although the place was empty, they wouldn’t let Holly in, and it was too hot for her to stay in the car. Our alternative was the Sun, where we were greeted by the barman telling us which beers were aff . There were no nibbles either as they wouldn’t be in until the next day! Our cider drinkers were coaxed to try dark berry cider which looked like Ribena. It was an experiment and didn’t go down well and wouldn’t be repeated. It is doubtful if we’ll return to this hostelry as it is not very convivial, but then again we seem to have exhausted all the other options in this neck of the woods.

Nonetheless, this was a cracking day out.

The postman is taking too long to deliver that letter

The push to the top of Blackcraig

Lunch at the trig point

Heading down from Blackcraig and up to Blacklorg

Waiting for the backmarkers at the junction of the counties