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A usual parking place for the walk to White Top of Culreoch is at the high point on the Gatehouse of Fleet to Laurieston road. From here most folk will walk back along the road a little (south) and turn onto the track heading west. This gives access to the hill from the south, or if you continue along the track into the forest, it's possible to use forest rides to climb the hill from the west. My walk was to be different, choosing to climb the hill from the east, through the grasslands between Benowr and Craig of Grobdale.
From the usual parking place, I followed the road northeast until a left turn took me onto the track for Grobdale of Girthon.
- Craig of Grobdale from the parking spot
- Starting along the track to Grobdale of Girthon
Next, after crossing a cattle grid and stream, a left turn took me onto an ATV track which was the start of the climb to reach the upper slopes of Benowr. There are number of ATV tracks all over the place here abouts, though there doesn't seem to be one going in the right direction. I'd checked satellite images of the area beforehand, so was able to follow some well used tracks, and also using others which haven't been used for years. The area was pleasant to walk and the sections between good tracks had no issues. I followed tracks to the right of the stream previously crossed on the main track to Grobdale of Girthon, and only crossing it again to make my way to the slopes of Benowr.
- Good track near the start of the grasslands section of the walk. Craig of Grobdale on the left and White Top of Culreoch far away on the right
- Nice track heading straight for Benowr
- Looking into the Nick of Knock below Benowr
- Over Fell of Laghead towards Bengray from below Benowr
- Path below Benowr, looking to Craig of Grobdale
- Cairnsmore of Dee, Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and Loch Skerrow from col between White Top of Culreoch and Benowr
From below Benowr a path runs along it's south side, turning up to the col between it and White Top of Culreoch. Then a good ATV track goes straight up to the northeast summit of White Top of Culreoch.
- The two summits of White Top of Culreoch
- White Top of Culreoch summit from the northeast top
- Toward Wigtown Bay from the col between the two summits of White Top of Culreoch
Good views from here, but the true summit lies to the southwest. To get there, follow the ATV track southwards till a low point, then turn right to drop down into the col between the two tops. There's a barbed wire fence to be crossed, and the best spot is to head to the left till you reach a section where the barbed wire has been tied to the fence wire below it. This makes for the easiest crossing point, but you may wish to use a barbed wire cover to make things even easier and safer. Once over turn right and follow a faint path, but when the slope up White Top of Culreoch, on the left, becomes easier, turn up it and pick a good route to the summit. From here enjoy the view.
- Screel Hill and Bengairn
- Over Craig of Grobdale and Fell of Laghead to Bengray
- Merrick, far distance on the left, and Fell of Fleet
- Toward Wigtown Bay and Cairnharrow
- Cairnharrow, Cambret Hill and Pibble Hill
- Cairnsmore of Dee, Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and Loch Skerrow
- Cairnsmore of Fleet
- Criffel, Bainloch Hill and Bengairn