Campsite
P1030398 by 23weasels, on FlickrOK, it's not a bad looking day, let's be off. We drive down the road a few miles to the Green Well of Scotland and park up of the verge after the bridge. One other car is there already. Setting off up the track at about 8.30 it's turning into a nice warm sunny morning. Views to the west over to the Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells are inviting. Going is easy under foot on a farm track. We pass Dunool on our right as we head towards Standing Stone Rig, following the path up by the stream, across the small bridge and up the side of the wall heading right for the cairn. No false summits here! Three other guys are draped around the cairn. It's too nice a day to waste on Donalds, I decide - it has only taken us 90 minutes to get here and rather than head off to Windy Standard, Alhang and Moorcroft hills I think we would be much better served by getting over to Corserine and claiming another Corbett. So we head down the fence line over Black Shoulder and Dunool then along the Nick of Disgee back to the path and thence to the car. A nice wee hill that one.
Dunool
P1030399 by 23weasels, on FlickrView towards Merrick
P1030400 by 23weasels, on FlickrCairnsmore
P1030401 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030402 by 23weasels, on FlickrSummit Cairnsmore
P1030403 by 23weasels, on FlickrRoute down over Black Shoulder
P1030407 by 23weasels, on FlickrView back up
P1030408 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030409 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030410 by 23weasels, on FlickrWe drive down the road a few miles to Polharrow Bridge then up the well-surfaced single track road to Forrest Lodge, an estate owned by Fred Olsen and with tracks going into the forest having the most unusual names - Prof Hans Heiberg Drive being one (He was a Norwegian Professor of Silviculture in case you didn't know). Off into the tree lined avenue which soon opens out into a cleared area of forest with our first objective - Meickle Lump - up ahead. Have to say I just love these place names down in Galloway. Anyhow we proceed through the trees, coming to Kristen Olsen Road then through a boggy trail that brings us up to a stile over the deer fence and up the side of the aforementioned Meickle Lump. The heather's bonny, the going steep at first then levelling out as we walk up to the first top, Meikle Millyea which offers good views south to Clatteringshaws Loch and along the broad ridge we'll take to Corserine.
P1030412 by 23weasels, on FlickrMeikle Lump
P1030414 by 23weasels, on FlickrBoggy bit
P1030415 by 23weasels, on FlickrDeer Stile
P1030416 by 23weasels, on FlickrHeathery hillside
P1030418 by 23weasels, on FlickrClatteringshaws
P1030420 by 23weasels, on FlickrAlong the ridge to Corserine
P1030422 by 23weasels, on FlickrMeikle Millyea has its name pinned on the trig point (they do think of everything here) and we enjoy the cool breeze before heading along to the next couple of tops - Milldown and Millfire - all, I later learn, Donalds - yay! We get good views over to the hills in the west. We hear a crinkling rustling noise in the grasses and spot a threesome of dragonflies mating or up to some nefarious business. One flies off before I can get my camera out. The land over to the east is so flat and arable looking - quite a contrast after recent weeks out on the hills. Up ahead the great whaleback of Corserine stretches up to the skyline. I push on faster than Ally who's lagging behind with a sore knee. Great views from the cairn, including over to Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.
Meikle Millyea
P1030425 by 23weasels, on FlickrTo Milldown
P1030427 by 23weasels, on Flickrdragonflies
P1030428 by 23weasels, on FlickrView over to Cairnsmore
P1030430 by 23weasels, on FlickrDungeon Loch
P1030431 by 23weasels, on FlickrCorserine
P1030432 by 23weasels, on FlickrSummit
P1030435 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030437 by 23weasels, on FlickrBetter late than never
P1030439 by 23weasels, on FlickrWe trek down by the Scar of the Folk, with rougher terrain over towards Craigbrock. I head to the Folk Burn for a drink - having neglected to refill my water bladder yesterday was a bad move on such a hot and sunny afternoon. After downing a litre of cool streamwater I feel revived and we set off back into the forest to return to the car park. It's good to see these hills down in this part of the world on a good day.
Craigbrock
P1030441 by 23weasels, on FlickrPeacock Butterfly
P1030443 by 23weasels, on FlickrLast section of descent
P1030444 by 23weasels, on FlickrShrooms
P1030445 by 23weasels, on FlickrLooks like a motorway they're building - definately a "Boulevard"!!
P1030446 by 23weasels, on FlickrAnd another one
P1030447 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030449 by 23weasels, on FlickrYou've been warned!
P1030450 by 23weasels, on Flickr
