Scenic start to the new year
Duncanrig Rambling Club met for their first outing of the new year.
Traditionally the first excursion of the year is the club’s ‘mystery walk’ with members unaware of where the walk destination will be.
The only certainty is that a stop will be made en route for a filled roll with tea or coffee and that a meal and refreshments will be provided at the end of the day’s walking.
This first walk of the year is undertaken as a “club” or group walk and gives members the opportunity to catch up after the festive season.
Ramblers benefited from a calm, sunny day with all the hills dusted in a light snowfall and the otherwise bare trees decorated by frost.
The bus headed out over the Erskine Bridge and around the head of the Gareloch to the start of the route on Rosneath Peninsula.
Views down the Gare loch and the west coast over Rhu, Helensburgh, Gourock, the Inner Hebrides and the entire Clyde Estuary were nothing short of stunning.
In the afternoon, the ramblers made their way down the mixed woodland, watched by a local bird of prey, for a late lunch stop in the sun on the shoreline at Kilcreggan.
The excursion then continued along the Clyde shoreline where views of the rusting hull of “the sugar ship” could be had.
On January 28, 1974, the MV Captayannis, a Greek-registered sugar-carrying vessel dragged her anchor amid a fierce winter storm.
The poor weather and high seas caused her to turn turtle off the tail o’ the bank where she has remained, abandoned ever since.
The walk concluded at Rosneath Castle caravan site where, after a quick change of clothes and a freshen up, the group enjoyed some refreshments and a great evening meal before the return to East Kilbride.
A fine and splendidly scenic start to a new year of sociable walking with the promise of many more to come.
Check out www.duncanrig.com for details on all the club activities. Visitors welcome.