I followed a similar route for these hills as many of the other reports. I considered various permutations - how far along the old mining tracks to go, which way round, where to cross the Garryhorn Burn. At one point I considered following the tracks all the way round towards the Lumps of Garryhorn. Seeing what that looked like from further round and higher up, I was glad I hadn't done that.

The night before I settled on going clockwise, so up Cairnsgarroch first. The thinking being I'd get the leg most people found the most challenging done first. And I'd walk along to the abandoned village, then turn south, find a way over the burn and head up Cairnsgarroch from the north-east.









In the end I only kept to one of those plans. About 300m past the buildings at Garryhorn, there's a track leading through a gate and down to the burn. I could see the way up to Cairnsgarroch, and it didn't look too bad. The vegetation wasn't as rampant at this time of the year as others had found and reported on. So I decided to go that way.

A short distance down I reached what remains of the old footbridge marked on the OS map. One very sharp and rusty beam!



I followed the burn upsteam a short way and found a spot I could cross and not get my feet wet.



Once over, I continued more or less straight towards Cairngarroch. For a while there was an ATV tack to follow, and going wasn't too bad. I joined my planned route somewhere north-west of the small rocky hill Craighit. After that, it was up the fairly steep, rocky and pathless north-east slopes of Cairnsgarroch. This was indeed the toughest section of the day.



I eventually joined a path and the gradient became easier up to the summit. From there I had fine views all around, particularly north-east to the Cairnsmore, and much closer south to Carlin's Cairn and Corserine, as well as the rest of my route over Meaul, Bow and Coran of Portmark.







After a rest at the cairn, I continued on to Meaul.



More great views here, particularly south and east to the Merrick and surrounding hills. Many of the Donalds I've still to do were in fine view from here.





This continued along the Rhinns of Kells ridge over Bow and onto Coran of Portmark. Loch Doon near at hand, and views as far as Ailsa Craig, Arran and beyond to the Mull of Kintyre.









I followed the track from Coran or Portmark down to the old mining village, and explored around there.









Then what felt like a long walk out back to the main road.