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Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 6:48 pm
by Gordie12
Having been down in Galloway over the last two weekends I had this Corbett left to complete the group of four. It would have made sense to leave this hill for a day when the weather was rubbish in other parts of the country but once I have a hill in my head I just have to go and walk it so it was another 3:45am alarm call.

Dawn arrived between Ayr and Dalmellington and it looked promising with very few clouds visible. There is a lot of construction work going on in the area and the road is down to one lane with traffic lights at the parking area when using the WH route at Green Well. Initially I missed the turning and realised I had gone too far when I arrived in Carsphairn so drove back to beyond the Green Well to see if I could find a lay-by on the Ayr side away from the works but there was nothing so in the end I just went back to Green Well and parked up.

Walking by 7:30am, it was blue sky, a nip in the air and the gentlest of breezes.

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Parking area


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Start of the walk


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It doesn't look very appealing for a walk but within 50 yards of the start the construction work is left behind and it's a pleasant walk along a good track heading directly for CofC.

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Last night I read some reports on this hill and I think it was Pete R who mentioned a cow s*@% issue, I can confirm that all is well and the track is clear :lol:

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No cows, only sheep


I assume these must be the hills I walked from Forest Lodge a fortnight ago.

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Looking up the glen


I decided I would do the walk clockwise (opposite from WH route) and as I got to the top of the track the clag came in and shrouded the tops :( :( :(

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Clag coming in


A wall came in from my left and ran parallel with what was now a narrow grassy path. I reached a point where the wall and path turned straight right and seemed to be heading towards the mid point between CofC and Black Shoulder so instead of following it I found a way over the wall and barb wired fence, dropped down and used stepping stones to cross the burn then start to climb the hill close to a wall which seemed to be heading in the right direction. Suddenly the mist lifted for a few seconds and I could see the bridge mentioned on the WH route about 200 yards off to my right and the wall that I thought was going off in the wrong direction did a sharp left turn and was heading straight up the hill so I worked my way over to it and joined the normal route a lot higher up the hill.

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It's arrived


The initial climb is steep but there is then a short step where the gradient eases before a final sharp climb and quite quickly I'm on top of CofC.

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Last steep bit before the top
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The top was completely clag bound and there were no views to be had in any direction. The furthest I could see is a small lochan that looks to be about seventy or eighty yards from the summit cairn.

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No point in hanging about, a few photos and off back down the hill. This time I stayed with the wall and down on the lower slopes it was really wet (much wetter than my route up the hill).

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The bridge I missed on the way up


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Looking back - still clag bound


Just as I reached the main track I met a guy coming up the way and we had a chat for ten minutes before heading our different ways. Another chat with a couple of guys heading for CofC with their dog and before long I was back at the car.

I had planned to come back by Black Shoulder and Willieanna but with the clag down I just stuck with the main route as there would be no photos on higher ground this morning.

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View back up the glen


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View back up the glen


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Back at the car - busy place just now


Turned in to a shorter walk than planned at just 3 hrs but with the forecast for this weekend, at least I got out.

Not much in the way of wildlife sightings, one fox before 5am near the Kingsway (in Dundee) crossed over the dual carriageway and walked down a path with a mouthful of something that had been caught unawares.

I've loved the Galloway Corbetts over the last couple of weeks. Today was a bit disappointing but that was just down to the change in weather.

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:17 pm
by rockhopper
Have been looking through your recent reports - you're fairly getting through the donalds ! Some nice walking country down here and some interesting geological features - cheers :)

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:58 am
by Gordie12
rockhopper wrote:Have been looking through your recent reports - you're fairly getting through the donalds ! Some nice walking country down here and some interesting geological features - cheers :)


Never been to Galloway in my life till a fortnight ago - been 3 times in two weeks :shock:

Having completed the local Corbetts in the area I'm keen to get back and do some more Donalds so I'll do a bit of research before my next trip (fairly pushes the mileage up on the car though).

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 8:35 pm
by Robdye
A fine walk done today, mainly good underfoot and will keep this in mind for a return in winter.
A good tip at the moment(Oct 2016) , due to heavy construction work with traffic lights- is to park in old road-lay-by on the opposite side of the road from the normal park/start , there is ample parking away from all of the hill construction lorries and machinery negotiating their entry into the track at the moment, it does look like it will go on for a while.
:wink:

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:17 pm
by SecretSquirrel
Gordie12 wrote:Last night I read some reports on this hill and I think it was Pete R who mentioned a cow s*@% issue, I can confirm that all is well and the track is clear :lol:


I didn't write a report when I did this hill, only a blog report - but I CAN concur with PeteR. On the way back, passing a barn and cow herd, I ended up knee deep in sludgey excrement :( I had to shout on my other half and reach out with a walking pole for her to help pull me out :lol: :lol: My worst fear was the suction pulling a boot off - cr@p covered socks seemed a horrible proposition!

Thankfully I managed to keep both boots on & got a bit of wash down in a burn before going back to the car :) ... We spotted another couple soon after, and she hadn't been so lucky, filthy trainers in hand and a mud line (cr@p line) up to her thighs :? :shock: :lol:

The smell in the car on the drive home does not bare thinking about :lol: :lol:

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:44 pm
by Gordie12
SecretSquirrel wrote:
Gordie12 wrote:Last night I read some reports on this hill and I think it was Pete R who mentioned a cow s*@% issue, I can confirm that all is well and the track is clear :lol:


I didn't write a report when I did this hill, only a blog report - but I CAN concur with PeteR. On the way back, passing a barn and cow herd, I ended up knee deep in sludgey excrement :( I had to shout on my other half and reach out with a walking pole for her to help pull me out :lol: :lol: My worst fear was the suction pulling a boot off - cr@p covered socks seemed a horrible proposition!

Thankfully I managed to keep both boots on & got a bit of wash down in a burn before going back to the car :) ... We spotted another couple soon after, and she hadn't been so lucky, filthy trainers in hand and a mud line (cr@p line) up to her thighs :? :shock: :lol:

The smell in the car on the drive home does not bare thinking about :lol: :lol:


Clearly I got lucky with this one - I'll take gaiters if I go back :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 1:47 pm
by PeteR
Ah, the slurry-fest...........I remember it well :lol: :shock: Glad you avoided it though.........It's not pleasant.

Nice hills round these parts, although the three times I've visited the Green Well I've missed the parking area every time :lol: Shame the clag rolled in for you on the top.

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 8:37 pm
by Huff_n_Puff
You are doing some great advertising for the Deep South :lol: :lol: looks interesting despite the clag.

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 5:35 pm
by Gordie12
PeteR wrote:Ah, the slurry-fest...........I remember it well :lol: :shock: Glad you avoided it though.........It's not pleasant.

Nice hills round these parts, although the three times I've visited the Green Well I've missed the parking area every time :lol: Shame the clag rolled in for you on the top.


I pretend I missed the parking area due to the roadworks, truth be told, I'd have missed it anyway :lol:

Re: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 5:37 pm
by Gordie12
Huff_n_Puff wrote:You are doing some great advertising for the Deep South :lol: :lol: looks interesting despite the clag.


Next target - the hills west of Loch Lomond so back to the A85 then the slow drive down the lochside (hopefully the hills will be good).