At the current time you must:
A short, but very rough linear walk to a martyr's grave in the wild moorland north of Muirkirk.
Rough and wet moorland path - faint in places.
None to start.
Priesthill Farm, north of Muirkirk.
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Access to the start of this walk is via a long and rough farm track, unsuitable for vehicles with a low ground clearance. This farmland is in active use for sheep farming, so please shut any gates opened in the process of driving to the start point. There is space for one or two vehicles at Priesthill Farm itself, otherwise there are spaces further down the hill adjacent to a farm building. Please don't cause an obstruction to the farmer - he is very tolerant but also trying to earn a living! The start of the footpath is well signposted from the farm, but the promised white waymarkers are pretty sparse and it is easy to lose the faint boggy path.
Nonetheless, head out across the moorland following those markers that remain, if in doubt just maintain a straight heading and the monument will soon come into view. This marks the spot where the Covenanter John Brown was fatally shot by Graham of Claverhouse in 1685. As well as farming, Brown worked as a carrier, moving goods around on horseback leading to his nickname of 'The Christian Carrier'. The impressive memorial is one of several in the area dedicated to some 82 local martyrs who died for their faith.
The monument was erected from money collected at a sermon preached here in 1825 by the Rev John Milwaine, and led to the enclosure of the grave as well as the engraving of an epitaph on the stone in the form of an acrostic. Close to this point is the source of the Ponesk Burn, a tributary of the River Ayr as well as a very indistinct footpath to the former village of Glenbuck and the source of the River Ayr at Glenbuck Bog.
Enjoy the panoramic views at this location before retracing the outward route to Priesthill Farm.
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Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.
