Coran to Cairnsgarroch with a three trees waypoint

[McMole]

We parked opposite the track to Cairnsmore of Carsphairn which we'd climbed the day before. In contrast to the low cloud we'd had then, this walk started just after 10am in bright sunshine and sun lotion was applied. The forecast, however, promised showers in the afternoon and it didn't lie.

On the track past Garryhorn looking at Coran of Portmark beyond Knockower

Ruins around the lead mines

A capped shaft with chimneys on the hillside

Routefinding was easy all day, but I'm sure there was a better way from the lead mining village ruins up towards Knockover. Like Fife Flyer we crossed a stile through a wall under a tree into a really tussocky field. I looked for the path shown by the OS on their maps, but it doesn't exist.

Jaywizz at the stile

Walking beside the fence gave the easiest route. When it turned to the left we climbed over it and a short distance uphill found an ATV track that had probably started not far north of the stile. This led us almost to the summit of Coran of Portmark which it bypassed. There was quite a strong breeze so we stopped in a sheltered spot before the summit for our lunch.

VIew along the ridge to Corserine with Cairnsgarroch off to the left

Mullwharchar with Merrick behind it and Kirriereoch Hill to Shalloch on Minnoch to the right

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn free of clouds.

Zoomed shot along the ridge past Bow to Meaul

It was about 12:45 when we reached the cairn and the sky was now overcast and as we continued south over Bow we could see see showers approaching.

Looking north from Bow back to Coran of Portmark

They arrived, as promised, at about 1pm. Our stay at the trig point on Meaul was very short and followed by a rapid descent to the east and out of tthe now quite strong wind. A short traverse found the wall that then led us to the Cairnsgarroch summit cairn.

The trig point on Meaul - Jaywizz with gritted teeth instead of her usual smile!

Following the wall to Cairnsgarroch

Cairnsgarroch summit

I'd read weaselmaster's report on aiming for 'three large trees' when descending Cairnsgarroch.

The three trees over 2.5km away come into view from near the Shepherds' Cairn.

This was a fine way down and we could have improved it by aiming earlier for the fence shown on the 1:25,000 map that runs down towards the three trees. When we did so we found an ATV track heading in the right direction.

On the ATV track heading for the trees

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn back in the clouds.

Finding it sooner would have cut out some tussocky and boggy terrain. From there it was a case of following the track back to Garryhorn farm.

The ford and stepping stones at Garryhorn

The ford there had about six inches of water running over it and the first couple of stepping stones were submerged, but I managed to run across them without getting much more water into my boots. As I did so Jaywizz took the direct route and splashed noisily over the ford judging that her boots were already full of water. Surprisingly she wasn't keen on repeating her crossing for the camera.

This was a fine walk despite the deteriorating weather, and from reading other WH reports our route back seemed easier and possibly a bit shorter that the usual one over the girders of a decrepit footbridge and back via the lead mines.