A wet day for a Rememberance Day trip to Cairn Hill

Hill: Cairn Hill
Category: Sub2k/Marilyn
Height: 451m
The forecast had changed from Friday’s dry winter day to heavy rain and very poor visibility. Choice long lie, bacon roll etc or walk. The walk won.
Out with ADRC today where we started the walk from the Wanlockhead Road. 

Start

Dogs going nuts at Glenim cottage as we went past. We headed up the estate road with the water racing down the Glenimshaw burn. There has been a lot of rain, the plains below New Cumnock were amazing where the Nith has flooded. Kites, buzzard and crows circle above, maybe a shoot yesterday and looking for carrion.

No gold panning in that water today

A cautious leap over the fast running burn to head up another estate track before cutting off and heading for Yell Hill. Before doing so we stopped for Remembrance Sunday at 11am. Poignant this, in the pouring rain, thinking how much worse it was for the soldiers in rain and mud and their relief when exactly 100 years ago it came to an end.

Sheep trail on Yell Hill

On again and nae views now, in the cloud and rain just a case of head down and plod on. 

Cairn Hill

Reached the fence and followed this to fairly quickly arrive at the gate and the stones of Cairn Hill at 451m today‘s main objective. Great views from here apparently but certainly not today.

No long distance views

A descent down the wet and boggy moorland to the ruins of Kirkbride church and the graveyard, our lunch spot. A brown hare speeds across the large field below, the sheep totally ignoring it.

Kirkbride kirk

The Kirk was originally established circa 10th century. The current ruins circa 16th century. A large grassy area with only a few well spread headstones dating to the mid 1750’s and 1800’s. Wonder if there are more unmarked graves in this enclosure? It’s full history is fascinating a worth a search on the internet. Mysterious deaths etc.
The sky was brighter to the south but not for us,  we were heading back north across similar terrain. 

Waterlogged tracks

There is a real feeling of remoteness here in this sparse landscape. Particularly this final moorland section knowing Threehope Height and the Lowthers are ahead of you but they cannot really be seen in full today. Need to repeat this on a good day these views could be excellent.

Glenimshaw burn

Then we regain the estate track and make our way back to the cars. Still light rain but at least there are better views of our outward route but not the tops.
A wet day but another good walk in good company.

Wildlife: Grey Squirrel, Brown hare, Kestrel, Red Kite, Buzzard, Crow, Chaffinch, Red Grouse, Red Legged partridge.
Time: 4.17
Ascent: 485m
Distance: 13.7k