Curleywee and Lamachan Hill, Glen Trool

Summary

The Galloway Hills have some challenging pathless and tussocky terrain - nowhere more so than on the lower slopes of Curleywee and Lamachan Hill, as visited on this route. Above the hard going, Curleywee is a fine conical peak and a superlative viewpoint, whilst Lamachan has a more extensive, plateau-like summit.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Good tracks for approach, but very poor tussocky terrain - completely pathless - on the lower slopes of these hills. Better hillwalking higher up.

Getting there

Start

Bruce Stone car park, Loch Trool.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NX415804

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 17km / 10.5 miles
Time: 6.5 - 7.5 hours
Ascent: 949m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Fiona / Donald: Lamachan Hill
Donald: Curleywee

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Explorer 319 - Galloway South

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Walk Description

User reports (10)

Stage 1

Park at the car park at the end of the public road up Glen Trool. A short detour is worthwhile to visit Bruce's Stone along the path leading south. This is a cairn erected in 1929 to commemorate a battle in which Robert the Bruce - with just 300 men - defeated an English army of 1500 heavy cavalry by luring them to the steep banks of Loch Trool. This act of guerilla warfare was a first shot in the long campaign the Bruce fought before securing the crown of an independent Scotland. The cairn has a great outlook across the loch.

Stage 2

Beyond along the track that is the continuation of the road - signed as Loch Trool circular and access to the Southern Upland Way. The route winds downhill, and soon crosses an old stone bridge. Ignore 'The Buchan' on the right and stay on the main track, signed for Gairland Burn. Further on, ignore a signed path off left for Gairland Burn and Loch Valley, keeping along the track which eventually crosses the Gairland Burn by some fine waterfalls.

Stage 3

As the track approachs Glenhead, bear right to stay on the main route. It now leads to a bridge over the Glenhead Burn, joining with the Southern Upland Way which comes in from the right. When a larger forestry track is reached, bear left along it. The route crosses the Sheil Burn below some waterfalls, and finally leaves the trees behind at a gate. Continue along the track until just beyond its high point, there's a stone sculpture on the left and a view of Loch Dee. The sculpture is the Giant Axe Head, weighing 1.5 tonnes; it is shaped like a giant neolithic stone axe and has runic text inscribed upon it. It is one of the '7 Stanes' made by Gordon Young and situated across Galloway's mountain biking areas.

Stage 4

The walk becomes much tougher at this point. Leave the track a short distance beyond the stone and head up the shallow depression leading southwest. The going is completely pathless and over exceptionally trying tussocks. After 300m or so turn SE to make a rough ascent, aiming for White Hill - it's tough, but the ground does slowly begin to improve as you get higher.

Stage 5

Once atop Whitehill, continue along the ridge to the more distinctive peaked summit of Curleywee. This is a wonderful viewpoint, taking in most of the major Galloway ranges as well as the Cree Estuary, the Machars peninsula, backed by the Isle of Man if conditions are clear, and even the Rhins peninsula, itself backed by Northern Ireland.

Stage 6

The higher and bulkier - but far less distinctive - mass of Lamachan Hill is the next objective. Head WSW along the ridge. The slope soon steepens - keep slighly left of the ridgeline and a couple of chutes of scree for the easier terrain.

Stage 7

Cross the col and a drystone dyke to pick up a bit of path(!), and continue up the ridge to Bennanbrack. Looking back, Curleywee takes on the fine conical form that leads some to regard it as the most shapely of the Donalds.

Stage 8

Beyond Bennanbrack the route leads onto the extensive and featureless plateau of Lamachan Hill. There is a shelter cairn of sorts at the top of a drystone wall coming up from Caldons Burn, but the highest point is unmarked a little to the north of this. Nevertheless, this the highest summit of the day.

Stage 9

Whatever descent you take from here, you are going to encounter rough going. The Caldons Burn route in some guidebooks has been all but blocked by forest felling and overgrowth - avoid it. The descent by Sheil Burn in other guides is also extremely rough, and new forestry at its foot is becoming impassable. Probably the best option is head down the open slope east of the Sheil Burn at first, down to around 550m, then following a rough ridge which descends to the ENE. This is extremely tussocky and hard going, but avoids any problems with forestry. The outward track can be rejoined a short distance W from its crossing of the Dargall Lane (an odd name for a burn). Turn left along the track to retrace your outward route.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Newton Stewart Hotels

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