Long Cairn & Louden Hill

Another cracking action packed day out with the good folks from KOIR. Officially Autumn ends this week but we have been in winter dress for a while now. Today was a crisp blue sky morning, few clouds, cold but just the ticket.
Starting in Darvel this was a circular walk to Long Cairn then across to Louden Hill and back via the old railway line to Darvel. For a sedate tranquil farming area this place is packed full of history, more of which later. Today it felt that there were more fences to clamber over than in all my walks combined this year, not quite but there were a few.
At the start it was much colder inland than at the coast with black ice the initial obstacle but no injuries.

Walkers go past Long Cairn behind photo flattens out the humps

A pleasant combination of river, woodland, moorland and farmland took us to the Long Cairn.
‘The Long Cairn, the longest in Scotland at 335 ft, with a history of some 5,000 years. This chambered cairn, although robbed and disturbed long ago, held the burial chambers for 5 long dead chieftains‘. 

Still cold here no sun yet

An opportune spot for a snack before crossing the wooden bridge at the ford over the Tulloch Burn and then continued along this road – part of which was the old Edinburgh Road – to link with Loudoun Hill.
A swift dash across the busy road and we walked up to Louden Hill. A frog was on the path, should you not be hibernating?

Louden Hill

The beautifully formed but compact volcanic plug of Loudoun Hill, 1054 ft above sea level, might be small in stature but on a day like today it did not disappoint. The small effort was rewarded with panoramic views back down the valley over Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, the Firth of Clyde and Arran. Cairns Table and Cairnsmore of Carsphairn clearly seen. Strathaven can be picked out. There is a plaque on the summit of Loudoun Hill to commemorate Wallace’s victory of 1297. You may also see, if you look hard, the ruins of two houses – aptly named “Nae Place” and “The Back of Beyond”! 

Up the slope

But before we got the views we had to get up there and we followed the path up the south face of Loudoun Hill, some mild scrambling, hand holds required, which provided us a challenge albeit not quite the rock climbers route.

Summit & trig

Then lunch at the top, soak it all in, just ignore the hundreds of wind turbines. If you want to see what Salmon’s legacy has done to us this view says it all.
The wind picked up, temperature dropped and now back down the other side, all the traps well hidden by the fallen leaves, a few slips, wet bums, but no damaged bodies only egos. 

Looking west down the valley

The remainder of the walk followed the old railway line and it was pretty much a bog fest and also many more fences to climb. The cattle had walked all of this so you can imagine the gloop at times. 
At Darvel one of the group tried to take us through some inhospitable habitat, one of the few that beat this group. A retreat was made down to the road.
Still a super day, fab weather, great humour as always, no pity taken on the fallers!! A visit to the Black Bull and home, a very satisfying day out. 


Distance: 8.91m (14.34km)
Ascent: 1057 ft (322m)
Time: 4.47