No Bull at Dungavel Hill

[Chris Mac]

Dungavel-Hill.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

With plans to go a bigger walk somewhere further north, they were altered to drive south in less than an hour to climb two more local Sub2000 Marilyn's, Dungavel Hill and Lamington Hill. I had enjoyed the look of Dungavel from Tinto back in March 2015, probably because it was about the only view we could make out from the summit that day.

So we were due some good views from Lanarkshire and it looked like we picked the perfect day to make amends.

Dungavel was first up, now when it comes to hill walking you can end up with some epic mountains and hills to traverse, scramble up/down, slide down, ridge walk, do epic multi-day trips and so on. Sometimes though, it's nice to keep it simple and Dungavel offers this to the max, no bull, just a field to enter and a hill to cliimb, that is it, no messing:
DSC_0227 20170708_143554 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

And definitely no bull:
DSC_0228 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Enter the field, follow the quad track until it runs out at the thistle patch:
DSC_0229 20170708_144210 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Lowthers will appear on your right, Cairn Table also comes into view behind you:
DSC_0237 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cairn Table:
DSC_0239 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Common Hill, one by one each of these local hills have been turning blue...
DSC_0240 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

To avoid the thistles as Y had her walking troosers in shorts mode, we veered left to ascend the slightly less steep (although it's fairly steep all round) side of Dungavel Hill where the fence is:
DSC_0243 20170708_150140 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Summit ahead with Culter Fell behind:
DSC_0252.1 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Directly north sits the bulk of Tinto and to the east the Pentlands come into view, this is more like it:
DSC_0252.2 20170708_151337 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Dungavel Hill summit with trademark fallen trig point:
DSC_0253.2 20170708_151631 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

South:
DSC_0254 20170708_151648 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

West:
DSC_0255 20170708_151700 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

To the east and slightly south sits the Culter Fell range with Lamington Hill, our next target for the day, just below and to the left of Culter Fell:
DSC_0256 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Lowther Hills to the south:
DSC_0258 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Tinto and locals:
DSC_0263 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

View to the east:
DSC_0265 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

DSC_0266 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Culter, Lamington & co. zoomed, Lamington Hill dead centre:
DSC_0267 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Tinto Hill, blocking the view north:
DSC_0276 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Fallen trig and Cairn Table:
DSC_0278 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cairn & Culter Fell, looking forward to climbing it:
DSC_0279 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Summit view enjoyment:
DSC_0280.1 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Panorama looking east:
DSC_0280.2 20170708_152353 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Satisfied with our warm-up walk, we head back to the car which is a simple case of choose a straight line and descend, no nonsense, keep it simple:
DSC_0283 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Of course I can't resist turning round and running saying "bull" but I get laughed at as by now Y is satisfied that there is indeed no bull in this field.

The descent:
DSC_0284 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We veer slightly left on the way down, again to avoid the thistles, reaching the wall with the parked car waiting at the end:
DSC_0287 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

At the gate I spot an older, broken bull sign and decide to pop it on the wall so it can be read when entering or exiting the field:
DSC_0289 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

To be fair, there is probably much more chance of meeting a bull outside the Dungavel Hill field!

Job done, another local hill explored (although there wasn't much to explore of course) and fine views enjoyed:
DSC_0290 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I didn't even change out of my boots as we made the 10 minute drive along to Lamington for our next target for the day...

[desmondo1]

Hi Chris nice report. I am intending to do this next week and hope the sign re the bull is one of these permanent features that often are inaccurate as in your case, bulls I can live without lol.

[Chris Mac]

Hi Chris nice report. I am intending to do this next week and hope the sign re the bull is one of these permanent features that often are inaccurate as in your case, bulls I can live without lol.

Cheers Des, hope you enjoy the walk, it's a quick one so you should combine it with Tinto or Lamington Hill nearby, both just a short drive to reach. Aye there was no sign of the bull for us so you hopefully you'll get lucky.

By the way beware Cairnpapple Hill... I see you've still to climb it, the Cows own that one too with it's trig point-trough combo!!

[desmondo1]

Good tip ta. I am over in your home Arran this weekend brill