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Setting the alarm for 3:45am
meant that I was geared up and leaving the Bell Memorial car park for just after 8am. A nice morning, still T shirt weather but the tops covered in clag which would hopefully lift before I was on the higher ground.
It's a nice easy start to get the legs going. A walk of about 100 yards north on the road then take the first right hand track which drops down and past Laglanny ( a white house on the left of the track).
- Back towards Laglanny
The track makes for easy walking and I was quickly down at the bridge I needed to cross before turning right straight after the bridge and heading down to Shalloch on Minnoch farm.
- Heading towards Shalloch on Minnoch farm
This track runs parallel with the burn just crossed and there are two old caravans on the left of the track halfway to the farm.
- SoM farm
At the farm I stopped to check my route, I knew I needed to follow the burn but I couldn't see an obvious route. I headed over to the ruins in the picture below and behind the ruins I could see a line of trampled grass heading back towards the burn so took this route.
- SoM farm
It's fair to say that from the ruins to the burn is damp but it's only a couple of hundred yards. I had taken my WH notes with me, the bridge in the picture didn't look very appealing, not sure when the photo was taken but it has deteriorated somewhat since the pic was taken.
- I don't think so
Walked up the line of the burn and quickly found a safe crossing point and got to the far bank ( I was going to say with dry feet but they were already wet from the stretch from the farm to the burn). On the far side I followed more flattened grass up the side of the burn all the time looking for the fire break I needed. After probably a couple of hundred yards I could see a gap in the trees and I climbed up in to this area but it seemed to be heading south east when I needed to go north east. Looking round I could see a green patch about thirty yards away to my left and worked my way through the trees to find the fire break I was after.
There follows a tough spell of very wet ground, fallen trees that needed to be clambered over, squeezed under or by passed (lovers of Crock pre deforestation would enjoy this). It was hard and slow going and at one point I may have drifted too far to the right and found my way into an even wetter fire break which had large tufts of grass up to my waist and lots of small hidden holes which meant that when dropping in to them the water would cover my boots and reach half way to my knees.
- Obstacle course
Eventually reached a wide fire break running across the hill rather than straight up and down, at this point I turned left and squelched 40 yards to reach a burn. Here I turned right, crossed the burn to keep it on my right. After about 50 yards I came out into a much wider grassy area which was a bit of a lift as it was also a bit drier. Another 20 minutes and I was out of the forest and on to the open hill.
- the fire break opens out
- Leaving the forest behind, looking back
Once out in the open there is a gentle breeze which is appreciated after the hard work to get to this point from the farm. The first part of the climb (once clear of the forest) is the steepest and coming up and over a rise I get my first glimpse of the top with clag still swirling round.
- Open hillside
After a few minutes I was at the top but it had taken me a lot longer than I expected - 2hrs 40 mins. My initial plan had been to walk along the ridge taking in a couple of Donalds and then The Merrick with the knowledge that once I was down at Loch Trool I would still have just under 12 miles of tarmac to cover to get back to the car.
- Made it
- True top
Decision time, I don't think I have enough time for the planned route, I could either take in the two Donalds in a circular route or head straight back to the car and nip down to Loch Trool and do Merrick, I decide on the latter option which means heading back through that bloomin forest.
The only plus is that it's downhill, it's still hard going and I just retrace my steps rather than trying to find a different route.
Back at the "bridge" I chose the same burn crossing and after splashing through the long grass back to the farm I gave myself a 5 minute breather before the easy track walk back to the car.
- Burn crossing
- The hill tops now clear
Back at the car in four and a half hours, only 649m of ascent but this hill makes you work for it.
