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For my next Galloway peak I'd decided on Bainloch Hill, as the weather was to be sunny but very windy...I thought that the approach through forestry would mean it would only be cold and windy when I reached the summit. I reckoned this was to be a short easy walk with most of the route along forest roads, then along a good forest ride to the open hillside, then the only "bad bit" through thick heather to the summit...what could go wrong?
I started in a good parking spot just south of Fairgirth. The walk initially followed the road past Fairgirth and Doonside, turning right onto a track heading for Bainloch Forest.
- Fairgirth Loch early in the morning
- View along the valley with Dalbeattie Forest on left
I entered the forest with nice easy walking to start with, but then reached the first obstacle, a fallen tree from storm Arwenn, right across the track. This was very easily by-passed on the left, then I continued along the route only to reach the next wind fallen trees. Only this time there was a row of about six or seven of them, right across the track with at first glance, no easy way around. Turned out I could get past on the right, by going up the drainage ditch and stream, shoving the branches out the way at I went.
- Starting through Bainloch Forest
- Looking back at the row of broken trees, which I managed to get through by using the ditch to the left as looking at it from this side
After this it was now a case of finding a way up through the trees on my right to get onto the open hillside. From other walk reports I knew that a nice easy forest ride at NX893573 was to be the easiest way to the summit. On the way to this there was yet another two trees blocking the track...by-passing them on the left. As I progressed along the track there was devastation of the forest on the right with many dozens of wind fallen trees. It was like this until I reached the small cairn marking the start of the forest ride to the open hill. The forest was a complete mess here, but I started along the ride to see if it would be passable. Unfortunately there was no chance of getting by, so it was time to retreat and find another route.
I retraced my path back along the track to NX891571 where another small gap is to be found in the trees, which I believe some others have used to get to the top.
This starts with tussocks and a hidden stream, the Joy's of Marilyn bagging.
- The tussocky start through the trees
This soon narrowed with only a boggy stream to walk up.
- A narrow boggy stream to follow
But I could then move over to the right to find easy going between the lanes of trees.
- Getting better now...looking back along my route
Then I reached more wind fallen trees, lots of devastation to the right, but only a little on my direct route which was easily by-passed, soon reaching the edge of the forest.
- Some of the mess, but easily by-passed
- Light at the end of the forest
- Bainloch Hill
I now took note of exactly where I emerged from the trees, and made my way up to the not too far off summit. The walking was pathless through thick heather but easy enough.
- Solway Coast
- Bainloch Hill summit
Finally I reached the summit cairn and some good all round views.
- Mersehead Sands
- Criffel
- Toward Bengairn and Screel Hill
- Bennan and Bishop Forest Hill, a couple of easy Galloway hills, faint in the far distance
- Solway Coast
- Urr Valley
Return was to simply retrace my steps all the way back to the car. Soon after rejoining the forest road I saw another jap in the trees at NX889571 where a half decent looking path followed alongside a stone wall. This could be another possible route to the summit if it isn't impassable by fallen trees. Follow wall till it meets another, then turn left to follow that one till it emerges from the trees and continue steeply uphill till below the summit. Could be worth a try, but if it doesn't work, don't blame me.
- Back at Fairgirth Loch on my return