Cairnsmore of Dee (Black Craig of Dee)

Today was my first outing with Ayr rambling club and very enjoyable it was, a great little hill with challenging terrain, blue skies, superb views and good company, a good day.
There are three hills in the Galloway area with the title Cairnsmore. I have already climbed Carsphain and Fleet so I was glad to add the third. Cairnsmore of Dee is classed as a sub 2000 at 493 metres. The names in this area are fabulous and I believe that Dee is part of the 'Rig of Craig Gilbert'. It is also another hill from the book 'The Hughes'.

View from parking area

We parked just up from the main carpark at Clatteringshaws loch, too mean to pay the £3 daily parking charge. As it turned out the machines were out of order, a free parking day!! There is a cafe and toilets here.

To begin with we took a slight detour to visit Bruces stone, another one? Actually commemorates Bruce's first victory over the English. Then retraced our steps and started our walk proper following the track just across the road from the visitor centre. The aerial mast on Benniguinea is your objective. Follow the forest track for a bit then the muddy track at the first junction until you rejoin the mast track. You can opt to stick to the track. When you break the trees there are good views looking back.

Easy going, gradually gaining height, until just before the mast plunge to the left into the heather, the track has disappeared. There is a cairn at the mast if you want to bag that. 

Benniguinea mast in distance

After a short but very rough walk across this stuff the destination is in sight, albeit still a fair bit to go.

Cairnsmore of Dee appears

There is no proper track and when you do find what you think is one it is very wet, muddy with boots sinking in deep gloop, glad the gaiters are on.
The terrain is typical of this area, deep tussocks, boogy ground, care needed or twisted ankles at best. The best route seems to be low down keeping close to the trees but your choice.

Looking back to Benniguinea

Once over the short descent look up at the hill and pick your route. As mentioned there are short stretches of 'trails' to follow quickly disappearing. New and wet moss clings lightly to large rock slabs, but beware they are eager to give way if you stand on them, another potential danger.

No false summits here once you are up you are there with the trig and cairn almost together. A small new cairn stands a bit away not sure for why. A couple of the ladies decide the height gained was not enough so onto the trig they clambered, good on you.

Mini cairn

The views over the Galloway range are superb, Clatteringshaws loch in view below, the Merrick straight ahead, Corserine to its right and Cairnsmore of Fleet at 8 o'clock.

After lunch in the sun, we simply follow the same route back although as an option the Hughs book describes a circular route. Once on the main track we met families lightly dressed in summer gear, t shirts etc looking at this bunch of loonies heavily clad wondering where we have been.

Very little wildlife about today, a pair of ravens, some meadow pipits but we did get a red kite as we drove out.
Distance walked 7.28 miles, with 483 metres of climbing.
I enjoyed it, glad I was there, better in than out.