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Saturday 23rd Feb Port Bannatyne

This Saturday "The Slackers" will be on the Isle of Bute walking from Rhubodach to Port Bannatyne

This will be our 2nd last training walk before takling the North Face of  Buachaille etive mhor.

Wemyss Bay ferry terminal for the 09:20 ferry...

Please check back for pictures and our trip report...

Come Join our Walk

Inverkip to Largs Via Old Largs Road approx 12 miles

Week 6 of “ The Slackers” training Schedule

Changed our day to Sunday and our planned route this week, couple of reasons.

The Followers mother was hospitalised Friday pm, so we thought we would wait and see if she felt any better allowing the follower to join the walk unfortunately, she wasn’t any better by Sunday am…Get well soon Mrs McK…

A Fantastic February morning awaited us , considering the wet weather the day previous we were delighted, we where down to two men so we decided lets blitz an Inverkip to Largs.. approx 12 miles.

4 miles on we reached the Cross roads

X roads @ Loch Thom

Loch Thom @ Old Largs Road

Couple miles along the road we reached the Border

Crossing the Border

Stopped for light lunch at the top of the hill

#amazeballs

Lunch spot amazing views

One mile from Largs, along the the winding country road, we came across the grave of the late Rev. William Smith- known to the locals as the Prophet’s Grave.  

Rev. William Smith was a minister of the Largs Church from 1644 till 1647- he died after just three years, a victim of the horrible plague that had struck Largs

Further along the Road we reached the B&B and campsite at South Whittleburn Farm

Small Cottage on Old Largs rd

South Whittleburn B&B and campsite

B&B

Almost there .. a few more miles ans we are there :-)

Leitchland from Inverkip via High Lunderston

Inverkip to Leitchland Dam via High Lunderston Approx 6miles  09th Feb 2013

Week 5 of the Slackers training program saw the team take a short local walk from Inverkip to Leitchland Dam via High Lunderston.

In contrast to the previous weeks walk the weather could not have been any worse low mist made for vey poor views for most of the walk.

Old Oak Tree @ Ardgowan

We started out From Inverkip Village via Ardgowan estates enroute to High Lunderston

Old Kirk @ Ardgowan Estate

The Ministers Walk @ Ardgowan Estate

We started our climb passing the Cottages at High Lunderston however views were poor.



House @ High Lunderston



Lunderston Bay

Country Gents

Tracks back to High Lunderston

Back of House

Overall the conditions were pretty bleak and grey as we crossed the moors en-route to Leitchland.

Crossing the fences we made our way to the top of the Bargane plantation which was planted in 1907 here we stopped for lunch.







Chaz on a tricky fence

ooooops ripped pants



Pathup to Lunch

Lunch




 

John finds lunch spot

We descended back towards Inverkip via  Flatterton farm

Noisy Birrds@ Flatterton Farm

Goose @ Flatterton Farm

Cockrel and Chicken @ Flatterton Farm

Knockhill-Largs Circular via Routenburn Cairn

Saturday 02nd Feb 2013

Week 4 of "The Slackers training program

The most fantastic morning I think I can ever remember in the month of January,cold but crystal clear.

“The Slackers” had decided to pick-up the Largs-Knock hill circular at “The Miegle” and Walk towards Largs.

The Path is good at the start and conditions underfoot are good, plenty of leaves on the path which made for a pretty picture.

Signs at the Path start @ The Miegle

 We started to climb  through the woods across the open fields with tremendous views back towards Arran

Fellow Slackers @ start

Isle of Arran in distance

The Climb begins

leafy lined path pity it didnt continue like this

Gate to path (wee Poem)

Litter warning in the "Style of the Bard"

Great Views

Small Farm above Miegle

Snow capped Arrochar Alps from Hills above Miegle

 

First casualty of the day “90Rocks” cuts his finger and doesn’t know how he done it.

Chaz with cut finger

As we continued along the Ayrshire Costal path becomes very boggy in places , the signs are pretty sparse and you need to be looking for them to be able to stay on track.

At the fork in the road we headed out toward the Cairn above Routenburn GC.

Note to all you keen hillwalkers: : This is a deviation from the circular path

path convergence point

Snow capped Arran from the path

Path up to Trig point

Nice view

We climbed to the top of the Hill (to the Cairn) and stopped for lunch and some pictures…

Lunch Break

Isle of Cumbrae from Trig point

View back to Inverkip from trig

Not being 100% sure of how we re-joined the path we decided to make our way down,  we decided to opt for the tourist route back to Largs via Routenburn Golf club.

PPI anyone ?

Small Skull @ way down

Tourist Route back to Largs

Hugo enjoys a run on the Open fairways

"The Slackers" minus 90 Rocks

Before long we were on the promenade in Largs watching the small boats in the pond.

Largs Boat pond

Old Boys @ LArgs boat pond

Fyfe style Yacht @ Largs Boat pond

  Before long it was time for a beer The Royal Oak pubs was the preferred stop for the Aprez walk refreshments.

Aprez Walk @ The Royal Oak

Nice Jugs @ The Royal Oak