Cairnsmore Of Carsphairn

[quagga64]

up at 6 and away for 6:45, went to Tescos in Bathgate to fill up on petrol before setting off about 7 o,clock. Headed up through Forth to Hyndford Bridge turning right onto A 70 Ayr road to Cumnock then down to New Cumnock and on to Dalmellington and headed towards Dumfries for 9 miles to reach a small farmstead at a place called Green Well of Scotland at 9 o,clock. Weather was dry but misty on the high ground but I hoped it would clear before I reached the top. Started off on landrover track then cut off up the side of a small hill called Willieanna and crossed this onto a higher hill called Dunool then along a ridge climbing up to a summit called Black Shoulder, from here it was following a fenceline up to the summit and just as well as the visibility was terrible just the dreaded white mist all round. Reached the summit of Cairnsmore Of Carsphairn in 1 hour 50 minutes, it was very cold and zero visibility. Took photos and a wee video before squatting in the tiny windbreak and eating my piece, there was still some patches of snow around and grass was white with frost, stayed on summit about half an hour but as it was baltic and no views headed off following a drystane dyke all the way down the west side to regain the landrover track to follow back, Was very grateful for the dykes and fences to follow all the way up and down as navigation would have been a nightmare otherwise. Got back to car at 1 o,clock and came home via the M77 up to Glasgow and then out the M74 and M8 this route was 10 miles longer at 86 miles but probably quicker. Got a few messages at Bathgate before getting in about 3:45. Tommy came in with good news from work that he'd passed his skills test he sat last Tuesday at Telford.