Day ninety two - Troon to Brodick

 31st May.

A Cloudier and misty morning but it soon cleared to bright sunshine and hot.

Looking back to Troon 

Followed the coast, sometimes on the beach, to Irvine where there is an interesting bridge.

Unfortunately it seems to be derilict at the moment although there are plans to resurrect it and more in the old harbour. The whole section on the far side rolls out to meet the other bit to complete the footbridge.

Steam tug at the Heritage Center 

There is a marine heritage center there but I didn't have the time or the inclination to go in so continued on an inland loop around the river and railway.

Until meeting the coast again at Saltcoats where there is a long promenade.

That leads to Ardrossan and the ferry terminal to Arran.

It arrived in Brodick, a typical tourist ferry port and I walked out to the little campsite in Glen Rosa.

Perfect apart from the midges.

20 miles walked 200 meters ascent.

Day ninety one - Mauchline to Troon

 30th May.

A clear sky all day but the wind was slightly stronger, especially as I neared the coast, which kept the temperature better than yesterday.

On the way out of Mauchlin.

There was one poet who lived in Mauchlin for a while that I had heard of, a certain Robert Burns. He actually met his wife there.

It was very agricultural for a while until I got to Failford and re-joined the River Ayr through a nature reserve.

Magnificent Beech tree 

It was difficult to see the river as the path was high above it and the valley heavily wooded. 

The bluebells were finished but must have been spectacular, unfortunately the squirrels are the wrong colour.

After reaching Annbank I left the river and headed for Prestwick. It had been nice walking in the shade of the trees but I was now forced out into the sun.

Last shady path leaving Annbank

A long straight walk down the road past all the car dealers and superstores on the outskirts of Ayr.

Luckily the breeze was blowing up the road from the sea so walking was quite pleasant. I could also see the hazy outline of the Isle Of Arran ahead.

Into Prestwick and down to the beach for the walk to Troon.

Past the Royal Troon Golf Club.

To find my B&B.

View from the bedroom window.

21 miles walked 350 meters ascent.

Day ninety - Muirkirk to Mauchlin

 30th May.

All I can say about the weather today is SCORCHIO.

Ironworks buildings

Out of Muirkirk past the Kames Motorsport track and the old Ironworks to the moor again and the site of McAdam's works.

Click on picture to enlarge.

The route travels down the River Ayr starting on the open moor and getting progressively more wooded further down.

The path wanders away from the river at times.

And then rejoins at others.

The banks became progressively steeper and more wooded.

There would have been a nice lunch stop at Sorn but the hotel is closed and there is nothing there but expensive houses.

Sorn church.

The route continues close to the river, at times fairly high above it.

Lots of beautiful Hawthorn.

Under a huge railway viaduct outside Catrine.

Then up to Mauchline where I had booked a b&b.

A very hot walk, again the shower was much appreciated.

Bridge height marked in feet!

18.5 miles walked 400 meters ascent.

Day eighty nine - Spango Bridge to Muirkirk

 28th May.

A sharp frost overnight, I had to scrape the ice off the tent, but when the sun came over the hill the temperature shot up and it stayed hot and sunny all day.

There is an official path from Spango to Muirkirk but the first section appears only on the map.

The interesting thing is that the 1:5000 map shows a different path to the 1:25000 map?

There are some interesting geology information boards along the way but they need a lot of cleaning but unfortunately even the ones I could read wouldn't photograph.

After Fingland the path is very clear, in fact it is a track most of the way.

Across what would be a bleak and desolate boggy moor in normal conditions but was very pleasant today, still a bit wet underfoot in places.

Down from the moor to Muirkirk and a welcome shower at the campsite.

Looking back to the moors.

Muirkirk is associated with a couple of poets who I have never heard of and also the home of an ironworks. More interestingly, to me anyway, is that it was where the McAdam tar works was and where the macadam or tarmac road surface was developed.

17.5 miles walked 700 meters ascent.

Day eighty eight - Daer Valley to Spango Bridge

 27th May.

A bright windless morning but the clouds thickened by mid afternoon, clearing again in the evening.

Down through the woods to the road, along for a bit then the long climb up and down and up to get to Lowther Hill with its golf ball.

It was very windy on the top and needed a jacket for the walk along the service road to Green Lowther.

And back again to Lowther Hill, just because Green Lowther is the highest point.

Down then to Wanlock Head, the highest village in Scotland where there was a gold panning competition taking place.

Gold panning competition tanks.

Wanlock Head 

There is also the highest pub in Scotland where I had a long lunch to get my phone charged and catch up with the blog. FC

Interesting bike

On down the Wanlock Water where there were a number of people panning for gold ( not competitors).

Up and round the forest to reach Spango Bridge.

Obviously a popular camping spot as it looked like a campsite.

I went back up by the river a bit to escape. Must have been an annoy Roger day as there had been a hen party cackling away in the  pub too. 

16 miles walked 1000 meters ascent.

Day eighty seven - Over Phawhope to Daer Valley

 26th May.

Another bright sunny day and very warm. The other bothy dweller never spoke and only grunted when I wished him good day as I left.

The road away from the bothy

I had walked about two miles when I suddenly thought I had left my rubbish bag in the bothy. I had a debate with myself about going back for it but in the end the carrying on faction won.

The watershed at Ettrick Head

When I stopped for five minutes at Ettrick Head I found the rubbish bag, good job I hadn't gone back.

There is an unusual footbridge a little further on before starting the climb to Croft Head.

Looking back from the climb to Croft Head

The last time I came this way I took the alternative low route through the forest due to the weather and it was great to get toth views today.

Meadow Pippet's nest

Down to Moffat where it was very hot out of the wind.

Got lunch, gas, provisions and some insect repellant (Smidge) before heading for Beattock and section of road walking.

Looking back to the A74(M) corridor 

Back to the forest and hills, although there is a lot less forest with all the felling going on, releasing all that stored CO2 so they can get all the grants and allowances for carbon capture by replanting. Maybe I'm just being cynical.

On to Brattleburn Bothy, I didn't stop but kept on up to Beld Know and Hods Hill where I met two people heading for the bothy. I suspect that it would have been a very sociable night if I had stopped.

Daer Reservoir 

There were some works going on and the road across the dam was closed but it there was no one about so I managed to circumvent the security fence and take the shortcut.

Up through the woods and along a hill path where I met some people out for an evening stroll and had to explain once again that 'No I'm not doing it for charity, only sanity'. I found some water and went on to pitch on nice soft mossy patch.

Only slightly midgy

At least I'm going north again, at Beattock I was 17 miles south of Kirk Yethholm!

21.5 miles walked 1400 meters ascent.