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I had hoped for the first public TR of Bainloch Hill on here to be within the bounds of an already known route, but this was thrown a bit off course. Bainloch is one of the last two marilyns on my internal list that I'd like to do in Dumfries - Bennan being the other. It was meant to be a day of excellent weather, and indeed it was - not one cloud over my head all day.
I paid £5.70 for a return to Sandyhills from Dumfries and, after a relaxing and warm bus journey, I got off the bus at around 11:45. Taking the right as I left the parking area, I came to the Laggan Farm road (first left) in a few minutes.
Road along:
After passing by three majestic oak trees on the left, I came to an old rusty gate that avoids going through the farm itself. It instead took me into the back of an in-the-works holiday home.
Not finished yet:
I passed it by on the right and continued up, but just after I'd curved round to the right, what must have been the owner, drove by in his 4x4. He said I wasn't allowed to continue on the path because of the forestry workings, but that I should use the other path at the other side of the hill instead. I could have done this, but it would have added at least an extra hour onto the day and I had wanted a bit of an adventure anyway. I instead turned around and went through the clear felling area over to the long dry stone dyke that follows the hill almost to the summit. It was a freshly-cut site and there was machinery to the west of me, but luckily no one nearby.
Looking back through the brash:
I made it to the wall and awkwardly followed it up - it was a bit blocked so had to briefly join the boggy field to get past. I also realised that the deer fences were going to be a bit of an issue. I made it into an area of deciduous woodland where the gradient was steep and picked a point to crawl underneath the fencing.
Don't know how I managed it:
After this it was an easy but sweaty climb up the contours of Fairgirth Hill. At the top of the first ridge, I could hear a distinctive bird call. It turned out to be a Jay (which I have never seen before). I saw another three throughout the day but didn't manage to bag a photo of any of them. At the same point, as I was standing still, a male goat started to walk towards me, thinking I was a fellow goat. It got right up to me on the other side of the dry stone dyke before it looked up agasp and sprinted off back down the hill 'meh-ing' to his other friends. They reappeared below me a few seconds later.
Goats:
Some deer too:
The way up looked relatively clear:
I made my way back down again to the boggiest section of the day, present on other TRs. I had to carefully manoeuvre around the burn as my boots are no longer waterproof, but I got wet feet anyway.
There was some fascinating lichen past the burn:
The way back up again was equally steep and very slippy as a lot of rocks were around. The fence is fallen in a few places here so I would advise crossing at one of these areas, rather than trying to climb over at a previously undamaged area. I followed it slightly too far, but made my way into the very deep heather and up to the top in no time.
Red Admiral Sunbathing at the Summit:
Cairn:
I have saved all the views until now as they are absolutely spectacular. Bainloch Hill has some of the best views I've had on a marilyn so far.
Lake District:
Galloway Coast:
Cairnsmore of Fleet:
Galloway Forest Park, with Rhinns of Kells and Range of the Awful Hand:
Cairnsmore of Carsphairn:
I had my lunch at the summit and sat around for a good half hour before setting back off. The feeling of the sun on my back felt great. I decided that I would descend the way I would have came up had I not been advised otherwise.
Considerable bog on way back down to fire break:
Following the firebreak down:
I joined the path and went right, eventually ending up at a large expanse of clear felling, with a forestry vehicle nestled away at the far end. I didn't see anyone else on the way down, except another Jay and some inquisitive deer. There was an empty farmyard to pass through, as well as two huge deer gates.
Red or Roe?:
After making it back, I passed through the area where I saw the holiday home and followed my steps back to the main road. I had just under an hour and a half until the next bus so thought I'd pay a visit to the Sandyhills-Rockliffe coast path. It was packed full of dog walkers, but the views made up for it.
Solway Bird:
Fish Traps:
'Needle's Eye':
Beach patterns:
Lone painter:
Equally pleasant journey back home again.