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The forecast was for wall to wall sun so I decided to try for a horse shoe including the corbett Brown Cow hill. It always takes me ages to finally pack up and get away. I tend to be an everything and the kitchen sink type so as well as the rucsac full of essentials I take a camera, phone, binocs, mp3 player, bivi bag, dog biscuits, dog bowl, dog treats and anything else that would make the day more enjoyable. I parked up by the side of the A939 on the right hand side in a forestry clearing just south of Cockbridge Farm. I then went through a gate into the field opposite and crossed the burn just below on two H bars the farmer had put down. I then followed a snowy track up the west side of the Cock burn to the east of Corgarff Castle. The track takes you to the wide saddle between Brown Cow and Carn Oighreag. I then carried on to the south west over difficult peat hag ridden ground to eventually crest the summit plateaux of Brown Cow. The highest point is in the middle of the 3km long top and gave very pleasant walking over short springy heather. Lots of mountain hares in their white coats, some red deer and plenty of grouse lekking. Lovely views of the back of Ben Avon and Glen Builg. On the last top, Cairn Sawvie [820m], I veered to the north west and after another down and up went over Meikle Geal Carn a nice stony top as it's name would suggest. I then carried on keeping to the east of a very new electric deer fence [ see photo ] and on to Little Geal Carn. I then turned north east and finished off the horse shoe by going over Cairn Culchavie. From there, after a cuppa and enjoying the terrific view of the upper river Avon I descended to the track which comes in from Corgarff. There were some keepers out shooting and that took up my interest for a while. I could clearly see them on the ridges and tops on the opposite side of the valley. After hitting the track I then had a long walk back to the car. Total time 6 hours and about 560meters of ascent. This walk would be lovely on a summer day. I had a very cold wind for most of the time but apart from that I enjoyed it. Hope you do!
- The track for a start