A fine winters ramble on Lamachan Hill

Back on home turf and out with ADRC today but ironically after my five D & G hills this week I was back in D & G for more fun. Another glorious blue sky day was forecast albeit with the possibility of high and very cold winds up top. Our target the Graham/Donald of Lamachan Hill 717m, from Glentrool.

Fence walking

Parked at Caldons burn area and headed up the opening track. Quickly the old route had disappeared as the area has been deforested. We had to clamber along a narrow, boggy and tree debris littered route clinging to the fence at times, really not good enough for a national forest park looking to encourage visitors.

Raptor tree

We then had to walk along a new forest track before veering off and started climbing a bracken rocky area, no more ‘easy’ walking. Within the ugly deforestation debris there is always that lone one left standing allegedly for the raptors but I rarely see one being used. 

Getting steeper

The gradient was more or less continuous until the summit of Lamachan.
As we climbed towards Mulldonoch the route twisted and turned so there were plenty of opportunities to look back and take in the great views of the Galloway hills, Merrick, Mullwharcher, Corserine etc. Looking down Loch Trool looked dark and imposing.

Gentle scrambling

At one point when we looked down we could see an old remote and isolated farm building at Glenhead and one of the group mentioned that his grandmother was brought up there, also related some amusing anecdotes but what a hard life it must have been.

The big stane

The winds were picking up, getting much colder but not as bad as feared. Loch Doon now in view on my left looking much larger than I remembered from a few years ago when I fished it.

Just one more top to go

We had a quick lunch in the shelter of the rocks on top of Mulldonoch 562m.
From Mulldonoch the top of the patchwork snow clad Lamachan still looked a fair bit away. Most of the climbing had been done but from Mulldonoch we dropped about 50 metres before making the steeper ascent of Cambrick Hill then the plateau to Lamachan cairn. 

Sunlit snow

However, overall the ascent was now straightforward. Walking at group pace it was slowish at times, I think the bigger hill was catching a few out, but there you go.

Snow topped Merrick

When we reached the top and the small stone cairn the photo shoot was short and we were glad to head downwards with the biting wind now at our back.

Descending Craignaw on left

The descent was via the Caldons Burn, a mostly untracked descent although faint paths appeared and just as quickly disappeared. Craignaw was in our sights as we descended, If I had been on a solo trip I would probably have ticked this one off as well. 

Crossing Caldons burn

An interesting descent. There was a lot of criss crossing of the Caldons burn, the stone dyke, ice patches, many boggy sections and some good views, all combined kept the mind concentrated. The odd small but noisy waterfall to enjoy.
Eventually we all survived intact, well some muddy backsides, and reached base. A good walk in excellent varied company helped the day pass quickly and the weather was better than expected, a real bonus.

Time: 5.34
Ascent:758m
Distance: 13.2km