Barony Hill, Dailly

A walk of contrasts - open moorland views, a summit ridge and idyllic woodland walking. There's even a ruined castle or two.

Terrain

Country lanes, earth footpaths and faint, grassy tracks - very wet in places.

Public Transport

Bus route 58/60 between Ayr and Stranraer.

Start

Village square with war memorial outside Dailly Parish Church. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 11km / 6.75 miles
Time: 3 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 309m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NS270016

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Walk Description

Stage 1

A 'Dailly Trails' board in the village square offers a large scale map of the route out of the village; follow the B741 east as it passes the church and curves right to reach a crossroad. Cross when safe and head up the surfaced minor road as indicated by the metal oak leaf path marker. This metal post will quickly become familiar as the walk progresses, representing the Colliers' Oak where local mine owners used to meet with the Laird of Dalquharran. Continue up the road, gradually gaining height and enjoying the views over the Girvan valley, and branch left as indicated by a red waymarker arrow before reaching the farm at Balcamie.

Stage 2

Follow the rougher farm track between pleasant hedgerows and across Mill Burn before reaching a minor road at Gettybeg. Cross the road and on to the access road for Whitehill dairy farm. Just past the farm buildings take the rough rocky track continuing uphill and go through the gate as the track degenerates into an earth path. Upon reaching another gate resist the temptation to head straight through and begin the ascent across the moorland to the summit ridge, instead turn right to follow the field boundary downhill.

Stage 3

Pass a ruined sheepfold (and inexplicably a green waymarker arrow) and step across a small stream to reach a set of wooden steps. Go over these and follow a faint path through the grass towards a wooden post by a small cairn. Cross the next fence via a stile and stride out across the rough moorland on a soft and spongy bed of wet sphagnum moss. Link the wooden posts together to identify the easiest route, before reaching a stile immediately below the final summit ridge.

Stage 4

Again, follow the wooden posts on a narrow path, supplemented by the metal oak leaf waymarkers. Turning around the views along the valley to the Firth of Clyde are impressive, and the wooden bench adjacent to the triangulation pillar on Barony Hill summit offers an ideal location to rest and absorb the scenery.

Stage 5

The descent route along a narrow trod through some particularly wet ground is clearly marked, so attempt to find a dry route down to the farm track at Glengee Wood. Go through the gate to enter the woods and follow the track as it winds downhill. Look for a footpath branching left after about 200m, and follow this pleasant path contouring through the trees with occasional glimpses of Dailly nestling down in the valley. Cross a couple of ladder stiles straddling a farm track by Glourie and enter picturesque Falfarrocher Glen, a wonderful mature woodland with a good earth path descending down to a minor road which should be followed by turning left to reach the B741 at a junction.

Stage 6

Go straight across towards the metal oak leaf marker and follow a narrow footpath through a final patch of woodland across wooden duckboards and footbridges to reach a path alongside the Water of Girvan. Follow the river bank past the ruins of Drummochreen - a former seat of the McAlexander clan on the north bank of the river possibly built in the late 16th century and now little more than a pile of rubble. However - the much more intact remains of Grade A-listed Dalquharran Mansion can be seen on higher ground across the river, built in 1786 to a Robert Adam design in a similar style to Culzean Castle and expanded in 1881. The roof was removed in the 1960s to avoid taxation and there are suggestions that the currently-ruinous building will form the centrepiece of a new golf course development.

Stage 7

Continue along the riverside path until a green wooden bridge across the river is reached. Cross this to reach the ruins of the old Dalquharran Castle - built in 1679 and the former residence of the Kennedy family before the larger house further up the hill was built. Continue southwest along the riverbank before recrossing the river at an ornate footbridge - erected in 2002 - and turn left to return to the village centre.

Route: Phil Turner

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