A fine day for a recce at Loch Doon

Looking forward to getting out of this draining lockdown with one of my key objectives for the year is my completion of the Donalds. The most awkward one left is undoubtedly Mulwharchar. There are a number of potential routes that I have researched, none of them looking great and a involving a long day whatever route.

I had been chatting to local worthies on my ramblings around Loch Doon learning from there experiences. The route from Glen Trool is clearly a long slog over rough ground and I am told to avoid unless there is a car at each end when it could be a memorable outing. Another route leaves from Forest drive or near Loch Riecawr the map suggests a lot of rough ground.

The Rhins looking cold up there

With my desktop research my and walking knowledge my preference, which thankfully was backed up by the locals feedback, was to head down from the southernmost point of Loch Doon to cross the small bridge marked on the OS map SE of Hoodens Hill.

So, the recce today was to find out if the bridge still existed and assess the ground from the bridge to Hoodens Hill.

No gritters out today but survived the icy drive along to the castle parking area where with relief my walk started. A crisp clear morning with low cloud hovering over the tops of Coran of Portmark and Meaul. No cars parked today but no doubt it will be full on my return. I had debated parking further on but it would only have saved 5 minutes as the barrier was closed before Forest drive.

Gala Lane just before it enters Loch Doon

A straightforward route admiring the renovation of Starr cottage, part of it looks like a bunkhouse so wondered if it is now a hostel of sorts? 

There is plenty of deforestation around so the track is in good condition. Briefly took the wrong turn at the junction, map out, turned back and now can't go wrong!

Take some trees away and the wind blows the front line down

A mix of open deforested ground, some forests still intact and plenty of trees wind affected and blown over. Hoped for some different bird sightings but it is barren so far.

The cloud was low over over Corserine. The wind was chill enough down here, up there it would be a lot colder, sub zero wind chill I imagine.

First view of The Dungeon Hills, Mulwharchar the peak mid left

Now out of the trees and wandering down the track both Hoodens Hill and Mulwharchar have looked close for a while but seemingly not getting any closer. 

Closer up the new bridge. This area still shows trees on my Harvey map 

Arrived at another junction to find a newly built forestry bridge, definitely a higher standard than the one I was looking for. A check of the map but I suspected that this water is the smaller Kirriereoch burn. Crossed and kept going up the new track to soon find its end, a turning point for the vehicles. 

Ahead the bridge I was looking for

Not all doom and gloom as the good news was the grassy trail heading onwards. And there it was directly ahead, another bridge, more substantial than I thought it would be and over a bigger and wider water. This had to be Gala Lane. A remote but quite stunning spot, no Covid walking hoards here. 

Beautiful remote with the objective ahead

More optimism was that there was a faint track heading off through the rough ground towards Craigmawhannel. No further today but the ridge of Hoodens hill was probably only 15-20 minutes walking away.

Time for lunch and reflection. It was almost 2 hours from the start so four hours to add and still no climbing yet. I reckon that from here to traverse both hills and return to here would be 3-4 hours. So an 8 hour day. However, it could be reduced. If I did it as a solo trip I could cycle to this point probably taking 2-3 hours off so worth thinking about.

The return walk was no hardship particularly once the views of Loch Doon opened up. This is one beautiful spot on a day like this.

Loch Doon ahead

Overall it was a perfect day for a recce and the learning was positive reinforcing my initial thoughts. Roll on when I do it for real.