Gateside/Kirklee Reservoir Circular.

A circular 8.5 mile, grade C+ walk on the outskirts of Beith in North Ayrshire. We will park cars at Geiland Estate, outside Mocha Jaks coffee shop postcode KA15 1HD, which opens at 10 am so there may be time to get a coffee to go. The walk will commence at 10.15 walking through the grounds of the former school of Geilsland and the neighbouring estate grounds of Speirs School. We will then walk up a quiet country lane to the hamlet of Gateside, crossing the road to walk up past farms following an old cart road. We cross a stile (picture one) cross a field (may have cows, although there were no cows present when I passed through on the recce) and come onto the Bigholm Road, a quiet country road that will take us down to Kirklee Reservoir where we will stop on the banks to have lunch (picture 2). Following lunch we walk around the reservoir, cross a small stream (picture 3), stepping over/ducking under a broken fence, past a row of ruined cottages and follow a track (picture 4) which leads onto a country lane. We follow the lane down and turn into the old right of way 'Davies o' the Mill' past the ruined cottage where Douglas Semple, author, outdoor and vegetarian enthusiast, friend of Ghandi resided. We follow the old right of way across the field up through the trees, over a stile (picture 5) coming close to some gorse bushes until we are back on the Bigholm Road. We then descend on this quiet country lane back to Beith. The last few 100 yards are unfortunately on pavement walking beside the 737 road until we reach Geilsland Estate where hopefully the Cafe will still be open should anyone wish refreshments/toilet.