Sunday 3 April 2011

4 Seasons Walk in the Kilpatrick Hills Nr. Glasgow with ADRC.

Walkers starting out.

Not a variety of daffodil I am familiar with.

Climbing the Kilpatrick Braes.

A friendly shepherd +dog in the back.

Looking back to the Erskine Bridge.

"Shaun" came to see us at our coffee stop.

Loch Humphrey.

Loch Humphrey fish ladder.

Ascent to Duncolm Hill.

Today's happy ramblers.

A view of the City of Glasgow.

Rock climbers learning the ropes!

On our way down.
Todays walk with ADRC was a wee bit like going abroad for some of us we ventured to the North side of Glasgow to a place called Old Kilpatrick for a 7 mile circular walk into the local hills.First of all I will start at the beginning in Ayr where we assembled and normally  have our trusted Vice Chairperson to organise cars etc but today she is in Tenerife sunning herself and I was charged with managing this part of the day's outing. I would like to report Madam Vice it went like clockwork and we were soon on our way. After negotiating unexpected road closures near the walk start all 11 of us were eventually safe on our way.Up the aptly named Kilpatrick Braes we gained height fairly quickly and were rewarded with wonderful views "doon the water" to Greenock and beyond. Whilst we were having our usual coffee stop "Shaun" the sheep paid us a visit she was obviously very used to walkers and posed for photos in return for a wee bit of our sandwiches.Arriving at the wonderfully named Loch Humphrey which is home to the Bearsden Angling Club we admired a well constructed fish ladder.First real hill today was Finloch before we climbed to the summit of Duncolm (401M) the highest peak in the Kilpatrick Hills. Our walk leader pointed out to us through the hailstones the many lochs and resovoirs surrounding us. It was not a time to hang about the top as  the wind also howled so we quickly made our way down to a sheltered spot for lunch where thankfully the hail and rain soon gave way to sunshine.Over to Greenside Resevoir and then to the summit of the Slacks (365M) where we stopped to again admire the views which included the Ochil Hills in the North, Tinto Hill nr Lanark in the South,Ben Lomond in the East and to cap it all a very distant Ailsa Craig in the South.On our way down along the track we came up in the morning we stood to admire young rock climbers practising their hobby on one of the lower crags. Rather them than me was overheard more than once. Now back  to the cars and the end of a very enjoyable all season walk. We had wind,rain.hail and lovely sunshine well it is April and we are in Scotland. Thanks again to our walk leader for pointing out all the places of interest including DuMbarton in DuNbartonshire now there is something I did not know.

1 comment:

  1. Madam Vice ? Sounds a bit like Miss Whiplash,oh sorry! I see what you mean now.
    You had all four seasons in one day I see,great pictures though.Looks a great walk.

    ReplyDelete