EK News Article by Charlie McGrillan

Having undertaken their last three walks through snow and ice, two of which required the negotiation of some deep drifts, it was with some relief that Duncanrig Rambling Club viewed the prospect of an easy ramble on firm ground as they headed west towards the Inverclyde area for a 9-mile walk above our own Firth of Clyde following the route of the Greenock Cut and the Kelly Cut to finish at Wemyss Bay. Although the main attraction of the Greenock Cut for walkers is the splendid view over the waters of the Clyde, the Cut itself is of historical interest. It is an aqueduct built by the engineer Robert Thom to provide water to the factories of Greenock as well as drinking water for the inhabitants which it did from 1827 till 1971 and the main reservoir Loch Thom was named after the engineer. The only steep climb of the day took the party the one hundred yards from the coach onto the good level track alongside the sparkling, clear water of the Cut. Although the weather was rather dull the walkers on the first section enjoyed the open outlook over the river towards the Holy loch and Dunoon and north over the cranes of Greenock to Kilcreggan and Helensburgh then beyond to the hills of Argyll as they passed the original stone bridges and occasional bothy. There is nothing breathtaking about the path so the scenery was able to command the full attention of the admiring ramblers. As they approached Shielhill farm a few patches of snow were still visible above on the shoulder of Dunrod Hill before the walk took them through a short section of Shiellhill Glen which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and on to the visitor centre at Cornalees where, after being treated to a flypast by a skein of honking pink-footed geese, the ramblers were made welcome for an indoor lunch. The latter section of the walk alongside the Kelly Cut took the group through the rough heathery terrain of Leap Moor on a good but muddy track. The views of the Clyde, however, were obscured until they came to the Kelly Reservoir where the route turns west and the ramblers were able to identify Toward Point on the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula with the Isle of Bute behind and the peaks of Arran beyond as they began to descend and enter the sheltered woods beside the Kelly Burn with its dramatic waterfall before arriving at Wemyss bay and the waiting coach. A short trip took them to Largs for their well-earned social hour.