A clear day on Corserine & the southern Rhinns of Kells

It was a belated but welcome opportunity to join the guys ‘n gals of ARC today for their walk to Corserine and its southerly Donald’s. This should have been my 7th walk with the group but mainly due to weather it is only my 3rd, still got the next two weekends in the diary as well. It was a bigger than usual group for an A walk today, 21 bodies.
Corserine is a Corbett at 814 metres the highest point of the day although with the ups and downs to the other hills we were probably touching 1000 metres of ascent. This is the southern section of the Rhinns of Kells ridge.
The weather forecast was decent so fingers crossed. A 45 minute drive got us to the walks start. We parked in the decent car park at Forest Lodge, midges’ out but not hanging about here for long.
A decent walk in to the hill, along forest tracks all unusually named after the Olsen family and various other people. We followed the track ‘Robert Watson road’ until the path forks right. Follow the now very boggy track through the woods, cross a stream, until you reach the deer fence/stile, roughly 2.5 miles in.

Polmaddy Gairy on the right

Now you are out in open moorland typical of this terrain. Follow the faint track upwards, initially heading to your right then back. This gets the lungs going and the group is starting to spread out. The ridge is soon reached via Polmaddy Gairy but be sure to stop and take in the views behind you. 

When the top is reached it is now a broad plateau, there is a large stone cairn here but this is not the top, you can see the trig point some way ahead which is the true summit of Corserine, 4 miles from the start of the walk.

Walking towards Corserine trig

To the north there are great views of Carlin's cairn and the rest of the ridge including Meaul and Bow (see earlier blog). 

Carlin's Cairn in the sun

However, we are heading south and there are equally excellent views of our route heading firstly for Millfire, then onto the Donald’s of Milldown & Meikle Millyea.

The Southern Rhinns of Kells

The air clarity was superb so long distance viewing in all directions, plenty of time to try to identify many of the sights.
Although dry the wind had picked up and at this height the chill factor was high so most of us were adding another layer or two.
The walk along the ridge and across the plateau is generally good going, the way ahead is obvious in today’s conditions, just keep dodging about to avoid the many wet sections. This section of the ridge is about 3 miles.

The Merrick

The views of the Merrick and the many lochs in the area are a highlight, constantly changing as the light changes between the sunshine and the clouds but this is what it is all about. The Solway can be seen as can the hills of the Lake District.
Again don’t forget to look back as the ever changing landscape has its rugged beauty on a day like this.
Another stone wall provides guidance onto Meikle Millyea.

The descent is as expected boggier and you are unlikely to keep out of all the water and mud. There is a path of sorts but mainly you are you are following the decaying stone wall. When you finally move away from the wall to make the final section to the forest there is a very steep and slippy section requiring minor scrambling skills. There were a few muddy jackets and trousers after this. 

Finally another deer stile and a short walk through the forest to another road/track (some Professor). Then about a mile and a half back to the car park.
Very little wildlife seen today, highlight was a merlin. Some ravens and a solitary red grouse. 

Loch Dungeon

An excellent walk obviously assisted by the great viewing conditions. On a day like this hill walking in Scotland cannot be beaten. Hopefully more of the same for Ben Ledi on Tuesday and Culter Fell on Saturday.
Time: 5 hours 57m
Distance: 10.55 miles (16.98km)
Ascent: 2957 ft (901m)