A wee jaunt up Cairn Table (Muirkirk)

[Johnny Corbett]

From the car park i headed straight up the path to the summit and returned the same way. It was icy in parts and also boggy and would be a very boggy walk in wet weather although there wooded walkways over the more boggy sections. The summit has a large memorial cairn as well as trig point and various sheltered spots for having lunch and there is also an information board at the car park. As it was a nice day i got all the views including Arran and Ben Lomond as well as others. A fine wee walk and ideal for someone just starting out.

Info board

Cairn Table

Towards Arran

Path

Towards Galloway

Summit

SE

South

Muirkirk

East

Summit again

Ben Lomond direction

Dog friendly, the gate was padlocked

[rockhopper]

that's a heck of a cairn, Johnny, and a cracking view point - especially on a day with such great weather - haven't been in Muirkirk for some years but didn't know about this hill - cheers

[Graeme D]

Fantastic to see that JC. Cheers! Cairn Table is one of the defining hills of my youth, and I honestly couldn't say exactly how many times I have stood by that cairn. I was back in Muirkirk in August ..... but for a funeral, not for walking. It has been getting on for 10 years since I last walked those moors, but I have definite plans for a big route around there in the summer of 2014 to mark an important anniversary.

[ChrisW]

Good stuff JC, nice to see some crisp winter sunshine and just a hint of snow...a lovely wee wander and by the sounds of it you did right in going during a freeze

[Johnny Corbett]

that's a heck of a cairn, Johnny, and a cracking view point - especially on a day with such great weather - haven't been in Muirkirk for some years but didn't know about this hill - cheers

Cheers, there's another 2 north of Muirkirk also which i hope to do over the winter.

Nice pictures. You're right about it being boggy in less frosty conditions. Did you notice any of the original tar laid by John McAdam as an experiment? You see it if you take an alternative path from the top, left of the main path up with the boardwalks, just before you get back to Muirkirk. I don't have a map so thats the best way I can describe this path

I didn't notice the original tar. I think the hill has a fair bit of history which i was totally unaware of before climbing it

Fantastic to see that JC. Cheers! Cairn Table is one of the defining hills of my youth, and I honestly couldn't say exactly how many times I have stood by that cairn. I was back in Muirkirk in August ..... but for a funeral, not for walking. It has been getting on for 10 years since I last walked those moors, but I have definite plans for a big route around there in the summer of 2014 to mark an important anniversary.

Glad to bring the memories back and will do report on the north two also once i climb them

Good stuff JC, nice to see some crisp winter sunshine and just a hint of snow...a lovely wee wander and by the sounds of it you did right in going during a freeze

Thanks Chris, it was chilly on the summit though