Autumn Weekend - Newton Stewart 16 - 18 September 2022

It had been some years since the club had chosen the SW of Scotland as a weekend venue, the trip was well overdue. The area is comparatively quiet and offers superb hill and coastal walking, often in remote areas.

Sixteen members made the journey on Friday 16thSeptember, some returning on the 18th, others staying longer. The group was based in Newton Stewart which providing lots of alternative walks, high and low. These weekends are about walking but also socialising, the entire group meet in a suitable hostelry on the Friday evening where different groups agreed their programme of walks for the weekend and beyond. The social highlight is always the Saturday evening when, on this occasion, everyone met for a very enjoyable meal and blether at the Crown Hotel in Newton Stewart.

The weather was kind on both Friday and Saturday but with clag down on the higher tops on the Sunday.

The walks enjoyed were as varied as the terrain in the area and included a number of the local hills as well as some very enjoyable coastal walks, one group took time to explore the Burns country in South Ayrshire on its way home.

For many it was a hill walk on the Saturday and a more relaxing coastal walk on the Sunday, the remainder enjoyed the hills on both days. Hills included the highest in southern Scotland, and a Corbett, The Merrick. This plus another Corbett together, three Donalds and a Donald top were tackled by the A Group where other were happy to have reached the top of the Merrick, a fine hill and vantage point.

Another hill to the south, Benniguinea was also climbed, the views form it of Clatteringshaws Loch and the Galloway Forest park were spectacular.

Another hill climbed was Cairnsmore of Fleet, close to its summit is a memorial to the crews of no less than 8 aircraft that came to grief on the hill in WW2, there were no survivors. On the way down the walkers came across several Cherry Laurel trees, covered in cherries but sadly not of the edible type.

All-in-all another very successful club weekend to add to the cub’s list. The next weekend, based in Ullapool, is scheduled for May 2023.The club’s next regular walk will be on Sunday 9th Oct to An Socach a Munro to the west of Glen Clunie. Please visit the club’s website for more details about this and all aspects of the club.