Back to the old mine settlement

[Coop]

No views today.
Went anti clockwise thinking it would be a better route - probably worse.
Highlight was seeing 2 red kites, a plover, a buzzard , some geese and a frog!!
High grassy tussocky ground on the ascent and descent, spongy wet ground with lots of underground streams, holes everywhere - watch your ankles folks.
It's slow going.

History of the area board

Some pics of the old mine settlement

When going upto Coran of portmark , try and find the atv track early otherwise you have a fair bit of rough ground to cross- not good going!!!

Coran of portmark

Bow- still nothing to see 😃

Heading up to maeul and looked back - Finally a bit of a view down to Loch Doon

Maeul

And finally - Cairngarroch didnae dussapoint - nae view's still 😄

Now to get down through this wet swamp again!!
If you head NW through the wall there is a very faint path which will lead the way handy in the mist - like today.

The way down and ahead

The bridge I crossed- very gingerly!!

Looking back

And finally some more ruins of a time in the past !!

Go when it's been dry for a few years - don't think it'll make a difference on these hills !!
Cheers folks

[prog99]

I remember this being horrific in the bogs and then nice up top (Bow & Corran of Portmark were our final 2 Donalds and tops)
We went clockwise, it got the worst of the bogs out of the way early.

[Coop]

I remember this being horrific in the bogs and then nice up top (Bow & Corran of Portmark were our final 2 Donalds and tops)
We went clockwise, it got the worst of the bogs out of the way early.

1st time I went clockwise, just fancied the change really. It is a nice walk when up top ( shame I was in the cloud )

[prog99]

I remember this being horrific in the bogs and then nice up top (Bow & Corran of Portmark were our final 2 Donalds and tops)
We went clockwise, it got the worst of the bogs out of the way early.

1st time I went clockwise, just fancied the change really. It is a nice walk when up top ( shame I was in the cloud )

You enjoyed the bogs so much you went back. I've got a video of me jumping on a section of bog with the hillside around rippling.

[Coop]

Said I'd never go near some of the Donalds again after I finished them. Now I find myself going round for a 2nd round.
Must be mad about the hills - or just mad 😄

[thedonalds]

Back in the day one used to be able to drive up to the old mine area, which saved some miles there and back, but as far as I know that's not been possible for a fair number of years.

[Fife Flyer]

Having visited the aforementioned trio of hills (twice), my first visit sticks in my mind even though it was 9 years ago. I had never walked through grass that long before or since. Did them anti clockwise both times & the thought of doing them clockwise is not something I ever contemplated as going across the bog etc first is not very attractive.

[Coop]

Having visited the aforementioned trio of hills (twice), my first visit sticks in my mind even though it was 9 years ago. I had never walked through grass that long before or since. Did them anti clockwise both times & the thought of doing them clockwise is not something I ever contemplated as going across the bog etc first is not very attractive.

Looking back now I honestly think clockwise may have been better. At times up top the other day I was saying to myself- ive still got that swamp to get through 😄