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The weather forecast was looking much better this weekend: light winds, little chance of rain, and the cloud clearing from the tops. As I packed the car at 6:30am Glasgow was shrouded in mist and I as I drove south over Fenwick Moor I was debating whether I should turn on my fog lights! As I left the A77 for the A76 to New Cumnock and Glen Afton the mist cleared and the day started looking up.
I parked on the wide verge at NS632069 and set off up the track towards Afton Reservoir. I took the righthand service road and once I reached 400m I found myself in the cloud. At the next junction I again took the righthand track and followed this until I reached the gate at the edge of the forest. Passing through the gate I immediately turned left and followed a 4x4 track alongside the fence that ran south east towards Lamb Hill. This track continued alongside the fence over the tops of Wedder Hill and Millaneoch Hill. At this point the cloud was so thick that I still hadn't seen, or heard, the wind turbines that populate the summit of Windy Standard, but as I continued up the track towards the summit they started to loom out of the mist.
- Wind turbine on Windy Standard.
Reaching the summit I didn't hang about, thought I did manage one photo of the view...
- Summit of Windy Standard.
I then headed south and south west to the top of Keogh Rig, again there's a good track that runs alongside the fence all the way to the summit. Unless you're a fanatical bagger and list ticker, or planning to continue on to Moorbrock Hill I wouldn't bother with this top. The positive was that I was treated to a break in the clouds with good views to the south.
Retracing my steps back towards the summit of Windy Standard I picked up the track and headed back towards Millaneoch Hill. At the bealach (NS627018) between Millaneoch and Windy Standard I turned right and headed for the summit of Alhang. As I climbed up onto the Alhang the clouds finally shifted and I was treated to views of Windy Standard, Blackcraig and the other Glen Afton hills.
- Afton Reservoir.
- Windy Standard.
From Alhang I followed the fence north east to the Summit of Alwhat. I then dropped down to pick up the service track that encircles the reservoir. I had intended to use the firebreak that is shown on the 1:25K map at NS641031 but much of this part of the forest has been felled. I ended up following the Alwhat Burn down to where it joins the Afton Water. A better route would be to descend over Lagower Hill and follow the Afton Water down past the sheppfold, there seems to be a good track alongside the river.
Once back on the service road it was a simple walk back to where I'd parked the car. I was treated to a great view of Blackcraig, which I'd climbed in miserable weather the week before.
- Blackcraig.
A good day out, and a nice route. You could easily drop off the Keogh Rig spur and extend the route by staying high from Alwhat and heading over Meikledodd, Blacklorg, and Blackcriag, though it would be quite a long day!
Keith.
