annick walk time

Aug 31 2012 by Ian Russell, Kilmarnock Standard

IT’S TIME for the popular Annick Valley walking festival.

This weekend sees the third year of the festival which centres on Kilmaurs, Stewarton, Lugton and Dunlop.

There will be a huge range of events and activities taking place with something for everyone.

In Kilmaurs the opening ceremony will take place tomorrow, Friday at 1.30pm at the Jougs with Kilmaurs PS pupils taking part in a sponsored walk.

To take part and encourage the kids on their walk, contact Marianne Bradley on 01563 538388.

What could be better after a walk than a pie and peas supper? Make your way to the Masonic Hall for a ceilidh at 7pm with the Susan MacFadyen Ceilidh Band. Tickets are £8 and include your supper.

Then take part in a range of walks and activities on Saturday and Sunday including pony and horse riding taster sessions, cycling, bowling and tennis.

In Stewarton join in with the Lainshaw Primary and Nether Robertland Primary schools and support them on their sponsored walk on Friday, at 9.30am. Please let the school know on the following numbers if you want to get involved: Lainshaw Primary School – 01560 483653; Nether Robertland Primary School – 01560 482035.

On Saturday meet the Rangers and explore Lainshaw Woods and discover a host of wildlife including willow warblers, dippers, herons and more. Bring your flask and sarnies and take part in a more strenuous walk on Sunday lasting approximately three3 hours as you explore rolling farmland looking for roe deer and buzzards or join local historian Jim Blades and take a leisurely stroll around the town as he brings the history of Stewarton to life with his own blend of verse, prose and song!

In Dunlop and Lugton you canjoin Dunlop Primary School pupils and celebrate the first year of Dunlop’s involvement in the walking festival with a sponsored walk around Millennium Wood. That’s on Friday, too, meet at the school at 9.30am.

Bring the family along to Millennium Wood and take part in a bug hunt and pond dipping with the Countryside Rangers on Saturday at 2pm.

For full details of all the walks and activities, times, registration information, pick up an Annick Valley Walking Festival leaflet, visit the events page at www.deancastle.com or contact Howie Pitman on 01563 554739.