South Ayrshire ramblers 3 lochs from Loch Doon. April 2012

Leaders briefing on the shores of Loch Doon.

Some of the walk was on good forest roads.

Loch Riecawr with Shalloch of Minnoch in the background.

Coffee stop at the kiddies play area.

Tunskeen bothy.

Loch Macaterick.

Todays group.

Today Saturday April 14 I joined South Ayrshire ramblers for a 12 mile walk around three lochs starting at Loch Doon. We parked beyond the castle before 16 of us  started out on some excellent forestry roads to take us to Loch Riecawr where a coffee stop was enjoyed in the kiddies play park overlooking the loch.Turning off the road we followed a track to Tunskeen bothy which is in incredibly good condition for its age , obviously there is someone  looks after it and stocks it with dry firewood etc., a welcome sight I am sure for some wearie walkers. After we had our lunch here it was onto  the tussocks and bog for 2 miles which was quite testing particularly after all the good roads in the morning stretch. Safely back on the road the leader then took us to Loch Macaterick which sits in a glen surrounded by many of the Galloway Hills including a snowy capped Merrick. The last part of the walk was a very twisty path through the forest back to the cars at Loch Doon. As usual the group thanked the leader for his efforts, ably supported by his sister whose combined knowledge of the local  area  has to be commended and made this another memorable day out .