Blue sky winters day on Common Hill

Common Hill Douglas
Sub 2000/Marilyn category 488m
Final Xmas visitors left yesterday and the forecast for Friday & Saturday is poor so today was a must do. Another short hill required from my winter list so I decided to clear my last wind farm hill from the list, Common Hill at Douglas.
The car was frozen solid as were the minor roads on my journey and I was pondering the state of the Common Hill track with the recent snow and freezing conditions. Only one way to find out.
Arrived safely at Douglas but my front wheel drive powered system does not like these conditions, a slip and slide trip.
This is a short hill so I decided to park in Douglas itself and extend the walk, lovely day and nothing else to do but enjoy the great outdoors. Car temperature showing -1.5deg, cool. If you are in a rush you could drive up and park at the wind farm entrance which would take off circa 2.5m from my trip distance.

Icy Station Rd

Along the main street, past the primary school, turn right and head up the only road ( Station Rd, I presume there was a railway station at some point), towards the lower farms and then the turbines behind.

Approaching where station would have been

 As expected this stretch had not been gritted so walked the grassy stuff at the side. I had been given a pair of Yaktrax Pro which were still in the box. Will I, won’t I try them, not yet.

Windfarm notice

I arrived safely at the wind farm entrance cattle grid but was surprised by the name of the hill farm (Hagshaw Hill), was I at the wrong wind farm, where is Common Hill? I hadn’t thought a map would be necessary but checked my GPS and yes it did go to Common Hill. 

Track to Common Hill

There isn’t a lot to say about the route, follow the icy track up, keeping the trees close to your right but do not follow any of the tracks into the trees. There was a strong icy breeze and most of the turbines were rotating. Hello, a white van is coming down towards me, there are other people around. Turned out to be quite a few workies on site but I never got the chance to speak to any.

Trig just visible to right of left turbine

After a few false tops you are well and truly amongst the turbines and then at the next group of turbines a trig point can be seen. Follow the track below the hill then back around to another turbine leaving a short hop through the snowy tussocks to the trig.

Snowy crossing to trig

Once again if you can ignore the turbines the visibility is excellent on this clear, crisp, blue sky day. Not far away is Tinto but it had a reasonable head of cloud covering its higher reaches and this had remained there all of my walk, disappointing if you put in the effort to see the views from there. 

Tinto in cloud

All the hills, as far as the eye could see, were covered in snow, a lovely winters day. Behind me Cairn Table and its summit cairns clearly seen. 

Cairn Table

Sadly, if you wanted to count the all of the turbines in the 360 degree view you would be well into 3 figures. I know the green energy argument but at some point tourists will not return.

Common Hill trig

There were fresh footprints around the trig so another body has been here recently.
Simply followed my route back, nice views of Douglas below. Many impressive dwelling properties and another area rich in Covenanter history.

Douglas in the valley below

I did not use the Yaktrax so will experiment with them on another day. Although this walk is close to traffic today (traffic on m74 easily seen) it was nevertheless a silent walk, bar the sounds of the turbines blades turning and the noise from the occasional descending jet. Plenty of contemplation time. Wildlife sightings zero apart from a tup standing his ground on the track.
Got the kids for a couple of days so possibly my last outing of 2017. This hill was at the back of the queue but because of the weather it turned out to be not so bad after all. No such thing as a bad hill!!

Distance: 7.71m (12.41km)
Ascent: 1115ft (340m)
Time: 2.35

Surprisingly good views on Wether Hill

Wether Hill
Sub 2000/Marilyn 535m
The winter solstice today, so it was appropriate to pick a short hill for the shortest day. I also needed a break from all the Xmas preparation, the weather forecast is positive so decision made.
My original plan was to pick up last Saturday's incomplete walk and finish Benbrack. However, as I drove past Loch Doon heavy fog/mist along with light rain was encountered.  Should I turn back but no, I drove to the start but no change in the conditions. If I can't get a view I tend not to climb when on solo trips. But, I had a back up plan, a straightforward hike up the wind farm to Wether Hill, a sub 2000 not yet completed, so drove on a mile or so.

Walk start

It was still light rain but getting a little brighter so I decided to go for it. Interestingly the light rain hitting my phone was producing multi colours pin prick size drops on my screen, what was dropping down on us? I have had sand in the rain before but never this. A rainbow spectrum of dots.
There are no signs, just a locked barrier, so I checked the GPS and yes this was the start. I had no great expectations for this walk but the views from the top ended up being really good.
You cannot get lost, simply follow the dirt road. On your left there is a track to a private property, Yellow Craig, expensive looking gates and a CTV sign, no unwelcome door knockers here. Cannot see the house but there is a small stretch of water, looks like private fishing, nice.

Castle Craig rock formation

Soon after that there are good views of the craggy rock formation, Castle Craig, from this angle they do indeed look like a ruined castle.
There is another barrier, this time the official wind farm entrance. As I go through loud mooing begins, my nemesis are around. I trundle up the path and there standing staring at me is a big black beast. Soon the hills are covered in them. At least today all they did was stand and stare as I walked through them, still heart rate up a notch.

Lingering mist

The fog and mist is still lingering in lower stretches but makes a nice image.
The track loops back on itself once behind Cornharrow hill. If you wanted some moorland walking you could go directly over this from the barrier rather than follow the track. 

Wether Hill on right

Once around the bend the main turbines are in view along with an operational service centre. Wether Hill is up with the turbines on your right. Although I simply followed the track you could again simply cross the moor, your choice.

Track to Wether Hill summit

Once the track reaches the top turbines your choice left or right, it is a circle. In either case walk until you reach a cattle grid then simply follow the faint boggy ATV track until you spot a very small insignificant pile of stones near the middle turbine. GPS confirmed the high spot. I actually went right and continued over the moor a bit to get some views and check height as map suggested this was the summit before returning and going to the higher top.
Thankfully the weather had cleared so fine 360deg visibility.

Bail Hill Arch

Benbrack Arch

If you can ignore the intrusive turbines there were cracking views today from here. All 3 red sandstone Striding Arches could be clearly picked out. My original target Benbrack and then Colt Hill arched on top plus Bail Hill, half hidden.

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

 Cairnsmore of Carsphairn still had some snow on top. Cairnsmore of Fleet to the south looking like an inversion. The Rhinns tops nearby, again low mist below. Plenty of pockets of fog/mist still lying in places. Many other sights just made my day, from low expectations to this, wow.

View South

Had a chat with some workers repairing a turbine, one guy hanging out the top. The told me it is a straight ladder climb inside the turbine but that the newer bigger turbines have internal lifts.

Turbine under repair.

A walk back down the track and survived my staring cows once more. 
Not much wildlife today, a couple of flocks of goldfinches, a raven, some grouse and a pheasant plus the white butt of a roe deer jumping into the trees.
So not at all a wasted day and Benbrack is still left for another day. Back to the Xmas food preparation!!

Ascent: 934ft (285m)
Time: 2.35
Distance: 7.64m (12.26km)

A beautiful winter walk on Manquill Hill

At last a winter walk in beautiful crisp snowy conditions, particularly welcome after the poor December so far. A group outing with the ADRC today and a high turnout. The walk objective was to head up Manquill Hill and then proceed onto the higher Benbrack, the location of one of the Striding Arches, but the walk ended up just being the first hill.

The drive was fine for a while but once we cleared Dalmellington the gritters appeared to have gone on strike, no evidence of grip at all, so a slow careful journey to Carsphairn. After that the side road to the walk start was another 6 miles of sheet ice on a minor road, great care indeed, were we mad, would we meet another car coming opposite? Thankfully no incidents but just getting out of the car was a challenge, it was an ice rink.

Walk finally underway and the route initially followed the Southern Upland Way path. An electric fence to get over first. Normally the Way track would be clear but with the snowfall it was more a case of spotting a marker post and heading for it.

A nice start to the morning but already the clouds were darkening, more snow? A couple of roe deer bounded off to the trees, stunning deep brown coats, white rumps clear even in these white conditions. Only wildlife seen today.
Actually feeling quite warm, enough to remove my mid layer, hat and gloves. At tea break I realised my GPS watch had not started, no doubt my fault, so a belated recorded trip info.

We soon reached a crossroads with different options for the hill but we opted for the direct route up to Manquill Hill. The snow was much deeper here and the lead walkers were doing a good job trailblazing the hard work, breaking the new snow for the rest of the group.

There were good views looking to our left of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, great light, mist covering the middle, good chance it was an inversion up top.
However, the one drawback so far was the pace of the walk. We were averaging about half the pace I would have expected. With hindsight some of the party probably should not have been on the walk, in normal circumstances maybe but in these conditions maybe not, but once started we have to go at the pace of the slowest.

A brief respite on the top of Manquill hill followed with a short downhill walk with views up Benbrack, albeit the top was covered in cloud. As it turned out by the time we got to the bottom of Benbrack the leader was concerned at the pace and that time was against us as the hardest climb still to be done. The main issue was not the walk out as the white conditions would have made the light ok, but the issue of driving the 6 miles of minor road, in ice rink conditions, in the dark.

Sadly we agreed to abort, wise decision, the hill will still be there for another day.
On the way back we pass the Manquill bothy. Apparently this derelict bothy was renovated with govt money (our money), for the benefit of Southern Upland Way walkers, looked after by the mountain bothy association, but then a couple of years later it was taken back by the landowners and closed to the public. No wonder some landowners are derided.

On a happier note the light conditions today were fantastic, at times it was like being in a solely black and white landscape. Then a glimpse of blue sky gave some colour, an odd lower hill had the oranges and browns to give yet more colour, photos from ordinary cameras cannot do this justice.

Overall it was an enjoyable walk but no doubt we would have finished in the dark had we continued.
A check with another walkers GPS gave this data:
Time:4.23 hr
Distance: 6.7 miles
Ascent: 400m approx.

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)

Panic on Nutberry Hill

A crisp last day of Autumn, not to be wasted indoors. I chose the sub 2000, Nutberry Hill 522m, remote moorland but should be snow free. Minus 2 degrees on the car warning as I approached the start from Strathaven. 

The only trail marker spotted

I parked just at the farm entrance, beside the Martyr’s grave signpost (the last signpost I spotted on the trip), enough room for one car without blocking access, I hope. 
You can almost see Nutberry Hill way in the distance up at the far tree line but it is hidden behind. As I looked I did not imagine the panic that would occur later on the walk, but more of that in due course.

Cold start 

An exciting outing today as I was using my new GPS for the 1st time, indeed any handheld map GPS. Always been map and compass but if you don’t want to be labelled an old dog learn new tricks. Chuffed I had downloaded a track/route from Google earth, would it work?
I walked the icy and rutted farm track, take left branch which is a clear follow all the way to Priesthill, where I had to make my first decision. Go to the left as there is the ruin of an old fence with stile!! Or actually go up the short tree line and emerge onto moor. Out with GPS and it seemed to suggest the tree line, fine.
Now onto the big open moor and the first objective was the Martyr’s grave of John Brown. Just one of many Covenanter memorials in this area but this one is well remote and hidden from view.  
Thankfully the recent cold snap had hardened some of the ground but still many plunges into deeper stuff. The poles were well used today. The wind was biting but I was well wrapped up.
As I am reluctant to stop and put on my reading glasses I followed my memory and trekked across the moor waiting for a high point which never materialises in the lower slopes. Just tussocky moorland and no features, couldn’t even see the tree line anymore.

Spotted the grave in distance

No obvious trail to follow other than sheep lines but I thought the grave must be nearby. Stopped and GPS out, well I was west of my purple line so angled in the direction of the grave waymarker and before long I was looking down on it.

John Brown's grave

Another GPS check and a line at 10 o’clock should get me to this hilltop. Other reports have headed for the trees but the weather was bright, should not get lost, so follow my more straight purple line.
There was plenty of zig zagging avoiding the reeds and wet bits as much as I could. Finally I reached the fence line and stopped to get an apple from my rucksack. Good view ahead of Nutberry Hill, half an hour I imagine.

Snowy Arran behind turbines

What are the views, well mixed. Great if you like wind turbines not if you don’t. 
However the better views included Arran, Middlefield Law, Cairn Table, Lowther Hill radar station amongst others.

Windfarm nightmare

I climbed over the barbed wire fence managing to avoid ripping my trousers and made a bee line for the right angle corner to then turn up to the trig. This was by far the heaviest going so far, much deeper tussocks, lots more deep water, much of it hidden, so I angled slightly away from the direct line and headed for the next fence.
This was now easier walking apart from the buried stumps of the previous fence that I kept tripping over, but it took me without incident to the corner and then up the short pull through the more grassy slopes to the trig. 
Pleased, I went to get my GPS to check my trip data and to my horror it was not attached to my rucksack strap. I had bought a protective cover which could not be used with the secure clip but it seemed to have a decent attachment to my strap.
Lots of cursing, panic and I immediately set off downhill trying to retrace my steps but in this terrain I soon realised this was a lost cause. The last time I looked at the unit was just before the first fence, no need to look afterwards since as a I had a clear line of sight to the trig. But the terrain just after had been so rough it could have fallen off in that.

Gps lies on tussock at 9oclock could not be seen when I planted poles from other side of fence

I took the shortest way I could back to the fence but had no clear marker as to where I crossed it. I leaned over and stuck my poles in at a point I thought was around my crossing and walked up this side of the fence to a gate I had noticed just after crossing, eyes focussed on the ground. 
No joy so walked back the other side to my poles. Again no joy, almost greeting, my new toy!! I picked up my poles and miracles as I was looking down to adjust them I spotted the black cover on a tussock. Wow what relief. Look at the snap how jammy was that? Get the lottery ticket bought.

Zoomed Lowther Hill radar

GPS safely tucked away I headed back and decided to eat my apple, as I had eaten nothing in my panic attack at trig, chomp and bit my tongue. Real pain, more screams, blood flowing, this was definitely a hill to remember.
No more dramas on the descent, I just made the most direct line I could back to the farm and onto the car. 

Weather front looming

Just as I reached Priesthill the winds increased somewhat and looking back the sky was blackening, so much for the clear day.
Back at the car I reflected that despite everything I had enjoyed it. The going was mostly awkward walking but at least the skies were blue and I was dressed for the cold. 
However, lessons learned, proper attachment from now on and see if it has a set up ‘find my GPS’ to my phone. Sub 2000’s always seem to bring more drama the big boys!!
Thankfully my watch GPS functioned fine so I still had my walk data.
Wildlife: buzzard, raven and grey wagtail.

Time: 3.56
Distance: 7.94m (12.79km)
Ascent: 978ft (299m)