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Originally had no plan to head out this weekend as the good weather during the week was forecast to disappear by Saturday. However, Saturday’s weather turned out significantly better and, with a much improved Sunday on the cards, decided to go after all. Looked for somewhere close at hand and Carsphairn fitted the bill being only about 50 miles away.
Didn’t have to get up too early then off down the M77/A77. Parked in the wee car parking space careful not to block access at the Green Well. Then off on the bike down the track toward Garryhorn, through the farm then on to the lead mine ruins.
Hadn’t been on a bike for several months and it showed – hard going on the uphill sections even though they weren’t exactly steep. What with the time at the start and then the time to find somewhere to leave it, am not sure whether the bike saved much time on the outward stretch which was probably only about 3 – 3.5km. Better on the return leg though.
After locking up the bike on the other side of a dry stane dyke, set off uphill in a westerly direction.
Cairnsgarroch
The ground was covered in clumpy long dry grass with boggy bits in between – made for hard going at times. Further uphill, found a quad bike track which could maybe have been joined earlier.
Black Craig
Loch Doon
Followed this track until taking a little diversion off to the summit of Coran of Portmark.
View towards the rest of the day’s hills
Carlin’s Cairn zoomed
Then off to the south towards Bow which is a New Donald – didn’t take long and there’s very little descent/reascent required.
Loch Doon
Had a look over towards Cairnsgarroch to try to work out a descent route for later on – could see some steeper craggy sections which looked best to be avoided.
Onwards towards Meaul.
Meaul trig point
Now for the out and back southwards to Carlin’s Cairn. Had previously thought about adding it when on Corserine but didn’t as it was in clag at the time. That would probably have made sense as, although Carlin’s Cairn is corbett height at 807m, there isn’t much descent/reascent on the Corserine side.
Some views over towards the Merrick and co but they were rather hazy.
Cairnsgarroch
Nice walk nonetheless.
It did cloud over a bit but brightened up on reaching the large cairn.
Looking down into the cairn
Corserine
There was still a little snow clinging to the tops of the cliffs
Stopped for some very early lunch – nice and warm sitting in the sun. Had been using today to try out a new pair of boots – so far they seemed to be OK
Then back off northwards until nearly at the summit of Meaul - then off to the east and down to the bealach (King’s Well on the 1:50,000).
Stopped to retighten laces and have a seat in the sun. Found a comfortable rock to sit/lie on – must have dozed off and on as ended being there for nearly half an hour.
Impressive looking dry stane dyke all the way to Cairnsgarroch
Cairn at the top of Cairnsgarroch and some more photos
Cairnsmore of Carsphairn in the hazy distance
Then just a case of finding a way back to the lead mine. Headed off down the broad ridge in a more or less direct line towards the ruins. Was watching out for the crags and further down go to a point where I couldn’t see over the edge. Went to the west then sort of zigzagging down some relatively steep ground before getting back on to the direct line.
More of the long dry grass tufts and boggy sections along with some areas which had been burned off. The 1:25,000 shows a bridge over the burn at about NX524930 – wasn’t quite what I was expecting but was able to use it to get across - probably wouldn’t have been hard to cross without it though.
On the other side just followed the dry stane dyke back to the ruins. More tufty grass and bogs but didn’t take too long.
Got to the bike, some more photos then a nice cycle back to the car. Passed a group of walker near the farm – the only people I’d seen all day.
