Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

There is Cairnsmore O Fleet and Cairnsmore O Dee and Cairnsmore O Carsphairn - the biggest of the three; or so says an old rhyme. The Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is a grassy summit and offers excellent views.

Terrain

Landrover track for approach; rough open hill ground above with drystone dyke followed for part of the route.

Public Transport

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Start

Green Well of Scotland. Map and directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.5km/7 miles
Time: 3 - 5 hours
Ascent: 656m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NX557944

Summits Climbed

Corbett / Donald: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Maps / GPS

View / Print route map
Buy Explorer 328 - Sanquhar
GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
GPS Waypoints - GPX
View in 3D
Download walk to Google Earth (KMZ file)

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Park just off the A713, at Bridgend farm-house, approximately 1km north of Carsphairn village. There is room for 5-6 cars but take care not to block the road as this provides entrance to the farmhouse and land rover track. The approach to the Cairnsmore from Green Well of Scotland is very direct and easy, initially along the land rover track. Go through a gate and past the old bridge over the Water of Deugh.

Photo - Duncan McNaught

Stage 2

Walk along the land rover track for 2km, through another gate and past a byre before crossing the Banloch burn by stepping stones. The remnants of another old footbridge are still in evidence. From here, the foothills of Willieanna and Dunool can be seen with the Cairnsmore of Carsphairn behind.

Stage 3

Once you have passed through another gate (around .75km after the burn) find a good spot to leave the land rover track and ascend Willieanna, the first of the grassy foothills of the Cairnsmore. From its bald summit a stone dyke can be followed down and steeply up onto the next hill, Dunool. A small cairn points the way ahead up on to Black Shoulder and Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.

Stage 4

Ascend Black Shoulder where the dyke abruptly ends and Beninner and its small cairn can now be seen.�From here, the route up on to the plateau of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is straightforward and is achieved by following an old fence post and faint path. The trig point and large cairn are situated close together at the summit.

Stage 5

The southern and western slopes of the Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (one of three Cairnsmores in Galloway), to the east of the summit the ground is much rougher and the granite is exposed in places. However, our route descends by the the dyke WSW from the trigpoint into the broad corrie to the burn and go through another fence until the land rover track is regained. Return to the day's starting point.

Photo - Mark Klimek

Walk description and other photos: Kevin Pollock

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.