BACK ON TRACK
Striding out on their first walk of year
A walk on the recently opened John Muir Way saw 2015 get off to a striding start for members of Our Lady of Lourdes Hiking Club.
This 215km footpath, which stretches from Helensburgh in the west through to Dunbar on the east coast, is named after the Scot who founded America’s national park system.
The challenge for the local hikers was the 12km section from Helensburgh to Balloch, following well marked forest tracks and walking paths.
The morning was bright and clear and all the indications were that the day would remain dry and clear albeit cold.
The ramblers were dropped off close to the Hill House, in Helensburgh, from where they walked east along a cycle path before turning south at Daligan and taking to a trail through the Bannachra Muir Forest.
The going was fairly easy, the atmosphere relaxed and there was plenty of time to talk and exchange stories of festive excesses.
After an hour on the footpath, half the group broke off and made a short, sharp detour up on to the 313m summit of Ben Bowie.
Although modest in height this little hill provides a really excellent view down on to Helensburgh and out over the Clyde estuary and on this particular occasion the views were just about perfect.
Their colleagues, meanwhile, carried on a short distance to another small hill from which there were clear, uninterrupted views out over Loch Lomond and onto snow covered Ben Lomond.
There could hardly have been a nicer spot anywhere to just sit down in the heather and have lunch and wait on the Ben Bowie group catching up.
A n o t h e r c o mpl e t e l y s e p a r a t e a n d somewhat quirky attraction close to this l unch spot was t he presence of a f ully
On their way up through Bannachra Muir Forest decorated “Christmas tree” in the form of a “dressed” growing pine tree sparkling i n t he s unshine with al l i t s Christmas trimmings.
A somewhat unusual sight in a quite remote spot. There was a marked reluctance to get going again but it had to be done and so it was on to the south east towards Balloch.
Part of this section of the trail involves walking on what is called The Coffin Road and passing The Coffin Stone on the way.
It was difficult not to think about the sad groups of mourners who would have passed this way in days gone by, carr ying their dearly departed loved ones to their final resting place.
The f i ni s h of t he walk was down by Stoneymollan and around by Lomond Shores and on to the waiting bus at the side of the River Leven, thus completing a most enjoyable hike.
The cl ub’s next outing will be t o t he Girvan area on January 17 and members can sign-gupp at the club’s meeting tomorrow night (Thursday).
There will also be a presentation on the itinerary for the year.
For more information about the club visit their website at www.ololhikingclub. co.uk or e-mail ololhikingclub@yahoo. co.uk, alternatively call Charles on 01355 222464.