Kirkland & Green Hills

[McMole]

The forecast for Saturday was for sunshine and a relatively calm though cool day, and so it proved. Too good not to travel south-westwards with Jaywizz to visit a Marilyn or two. With several hills in mind, when we reached the M74 we decided to neglect it and the more southerly summits, and instead headed for the most northerly on our list - Kirkland Hill. The route via Crawfordjohn to Sanquer was almost deserted and we hoped the last stretch would be as well. Just before reaching Sanquer we turned onto the single-track road to Fingland where, as Inca noted in his report, there are very limited opportunities for passing oncoming vehicles. Fortunately the only 'traffic' we met was a herd of cows with calves who unhurriedly moved aside for us.

Kirkland HIll - 4.1km 165m 1.6hr

We parked on the verge about 90m after the cattle grid by the start of the footpath to Kirkconnel.

The path passed through a swing gate after about 700m where we headed uphill beside the fence along a path through the tussocks.

At the crest of the ridge we met an ATV track that led us up to the trig point.

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and the Glen Afton wind farms

After a short stop for photos we continued to take Inca's advice and retraced our steps rather than cut any corners and enjoy the tussocks. On the way back to the main road we did meet two 4x4s coming towards us, but fortunately only after we were back on the lower section which does offer more passing opportunities.

Green Hill - 3km 220m 0.75hr

It was only half past twelve and with good weather continuing Jaywizz drove us back to Wanlockhead where she stopped by a shed on the main road for me to collect Green Hill. She had already been up Green Hill, was suffering from possible side effects of vaccinations, and was willing to delay her appointment with coffee and cake while I visited it. I jumped out and, unburdened by rucksac, took the direct route up and over Black Hill to Green Hill in about 25 minutes.

Looking down my ascent route at Wanlockhead with Jaywizz's car parked by the shed on the right

A metal fence post there doesn't quite mark the summit which is reported to be 12m to the NE. After a short stop for photos I jogged back to the car seeing my first walker of the day crossing the col before Black Hill as I descended. In marked contrast to the empty hills we found just a single unoccupied table for our most welcome coffees and enormous scones at a crowded Big Red Barn forty-five minutes later.