Wild day on the north Rhinns

Gloomy start

Today’s walk was with the good folk from ADRC where we were climbing the North Rhinns of Kells, our route taking in Coran of Portmark, Bow & Meaul. I completed this walk a few months ago and would not normally return to a hill so quickly but I was attracted by the prospect of the forecasted blue sky, snow covered outing, a different perspective from the last time. How wrong was that forecast but yes indeed it was a very different perspective.
My first warning flag was when I went out to pack the car and the weather was very mild, cloudy and light rain, not the expected scraping the ice off of my car. Yesterday at the golf I could not get a tee into the ground it was so hard, how different.
When we arrived at Carsphairn and started the walk the hills were clad in a low grey shroud, optimism in our car as we shouted 'it will burn off'. An odd blue sky spot suggested, maybe? There were other cars in the parking area but they were heading up Cairnsmore.

Lead mine chimney stack in view

There is a longish walk towards the abandoned lead mines, as we passed the farm there was a blind ewe running in circles. It heard but could not see us, a bit sad. Now the drizzle had strengthened to medium downpour so waterproof trousers donned.

Ruins with low clad hills

Snack time and a short break at the lead mine ruins, these were the last shelter on the walk and afterwards we proceeded up the quad bike track towards Coran of Portmark. The wind had strengthened along with the rain and this continued all the way up.

Snow patch

Although there were some snow and ice patches but the majority had melted. This was simply head down and plod on. Endurance more than pleasure so far.
After a couple of hours from the start we reached the cairn at Coran of Portmark and it was conference time. 

Coran cairn

The group agreed to continue the walk to Bow and then reassess. The next section is a straightforward ridge walk with a fence to guide us in the gloom but we were still in the grey mass of low cloud, Loch Doon is down there somewhere.
At Bow another conference. The original plan was to walk to Meaul and return more or less the same way we climbed. Majority vote was to just return, reasons included: the miserable weather; no prospect of it changing; no views; it was not a new hill for most and no shelter for lunch.

Descending for lunch

So off we went back down to the lead mines, a few slips on the sodden grass and then had a belated lunch. Luckily some decent views as we descended but looking back the hills remained in cloud.

Looking back clouds still cover the hills

Overall it could be viewed as a bit disappointing but there were enough positives, I had some decent exercise and a good chat with various people. Not at all a wasted day.

Time: 4.36
Ascent: 1678ft (512m)
Distance: 8.63m (13.89)