Day 4 Houston to Kirkmichael

Starting off on another old railway track made a good 14 mile start to the day. Colin and Marion stay very near the meeting point of route 75 and route 7. So we’re now on the latter which will take us to Carlisle.

Renfrewshire has a diverse mix of very rural and old industrial places. Today was about greenery. Even Irvine was surprising with the regeneration around the harbour contrasting with the architectural gems new towns are renowned for.

The Ayrshire coast took in Troon, Prestwick and Ayr. Golf courses dotted liberally with even some women golfers being shown off as proof of their modernity. The play was a bit slow I have to say.

A queer mixture of rich and poor with the sea refusing to take sides. Robert  appears now in serious statue form. Troon is gearing up for the Open.

Then inland to Kirkmichael, which turns out to be a charming wee village founded on weaving.

Day 3 Tarbert to Houston

The shortcut was that 6 miles of today was on ferries. Gloriously calm they showed off the scenery to good effect to Portavadie then Gourock. In between the hills of the Cowal peninsula have striking views down the Kyles of Bute.

The single track road thankfully was free of the promised logging lorries, though that perhaps accounted for the new road surface. A sweeping descent to Dunoon then over the water to the mainland.

So today was mostly on NCN75. On the mainland this winds its way along the coast trying to pick out the pretty spots of Gourock and Greenock. This is a tough job in Port Glasgow.

It says an old railway line to Johnstone: you go steeply up to access it, then down again as the path is closed for a crucial bit. Then flat, taking in the Quaker villager Quarriers.  And then to Houston where friends await.