Ness Glen - Wee & Big Hill of Glenmount

Today's walk to us through one of the most exciting gorge walks that you can get in Scotland despite its low level, Ness Glen which begins at the dam in Loch Doon. We walk downriver towards the village of Bellsbank but turning off through the woods at Craigengillan Home Farm, taking the path to Little Shalloch. We then went up Wee Hill of Glenmount followed by the main objective Big Hill of Glenmount. Finishing with a hike across to Glesser Hill and down the slopes to the cafe and our starting point. An interesting circular route that you can guarantee few folk have walked. The water in the Glen was a rumbling, tumbling cascade all the way downriver. We had had some rain recently which livened the water flow up, but it must be even more spectacular with a greater overflow from Loch Doon and the water cascading naturally down the sides of the glen to rush into the flow. 

Ness Glen

Ness Glen

 I appreciate that the main water outage from Loch Doon is in a different location from the dam but at very high water this dam is also used. As you can see from the pictures the the variety of the shades of green were just spectacular. Borders lined with wild garlic, yet more of the stuff!! A good walking path with the tranquil sound of running water. Under different circumstances you can see the brown trout in the holding pools and I have seen salmon this far up the Doon. There is even a salmon ladder to the side of the dam wall entering Loch Doon. You never know your luck.
Our walk also crosses over the track to the Dark Star observation site, the first in the UK. For obvious reasons better visited on a dark clear starry night. 

You can detour off and have a look at the observatory and the fort, yes a fort and you could shorten the walk but I would not recommend this unless you were short of time. Our walk continued for 10-15 minutes or so, along a clear woodland path, bordering the river, until we cut into the woods on the left hand side after going over a stone bridge. A short scramble through the woods brought us out into some fields populated with sheep. Do take care as cattle could be in these fields as well. Almost immediately we spotted a fox in the long grass just ahead. It had a magnificent orange coat, I doubt I have ever seen one that colour before and my first daytime fox this year. Amazingly as we headed up the small hill another fox appeared, this time a traditional dark red, rusty colour. I presume from the same family. This one disappeared over the hill towards some sheep, sending into the air some dozen or so crows, I wondered if a lamb carcass was over there. From the hilltop we climbed you get a good view of Bogton Loch, near Dalmellington.

Bogton loch

Time for a break and some food plus jackets on, it was cooling down and threatening to rain, bonny Scotland in June.
We next followed a clear track to Little Shalloch (266 metres). You are now crossing a fairly bleak moorland landscape, plenty of sheep with their lambs, farmers quad bike tracks, a few lochs dotted about but mainly lots of moorland grass. If you were in bad weather a compass & map would be required. From here we had a view of our main goal, Big Hill of Glenmount, although its summit was slightly covered in cloud as per the picture.

Big Hill over the moor

Some of the walking was difficult tussocky mounds, water concourses, hidden holes etc all good ankle breaking stuff. So the decision was made to directly climb the ridge which gave us more solid footing and better views. We were even regularly seeing skylarks instead of the meadow pipits earlier. The skylarks never ending song from high in the sky is one of natures great moments.
On up we went to the Wee Hill of Glenmount (322 metres) fairly easy walking, good views all around now particularly to the west. Once at the top we realised that, not for the first time on our trips, we had not looked at the OS map too closely and that the ridge now ended here. To get to our goal we had to descend about a hundred or so metres to climb back up to the Big Hill of Glenmount (382 metres). It actually wasn't too bad walking, we had time on our side and even if we had read the map properly it is likely that we would have chosen this route. On the way back up we had the close company of a raven, soon joined by another two. Good for us but maybe not so good for the lambs. Ravens are making a comeback but are being accused now of some brutal attacks on newborn lambs and even the mother themselves, which is allowing licences to be issued for some culling to take place. A difficult decision.

Loch Doon from Big Hill

At the summit we had super panoramic views. Once again it proves you do not need to go very high to be well rewarded with the views and scenery. Get the OS map out and have a look for yourselves: the Merrick Range; Shalloch on Minnoch range; the Rhins of Kell; lochs Doon, Finlas, Derclach And Bradan in the distance. What more do you need? 

Merrick range & Loch Finlas

The last stage was a tramp across to Glesser Hill and back to the cafe. Most of this was the hardest walking of the day. Although it was fairly level elevation this was the worst of the ankle breaking stuff you get on these hills. I was glad when it was over with only one good scare.
Finally the views over the north end of Loch Doon were a good way to end the day.

Moi at summit

The walk was around the 4 hour mark and like most of the ones we do a reasonably fit person would cope with this just fine. Just get out there and enjoy it.