A glorious winters day at Wanlockhead.....Comb Head/Cold Moss via Lowther Hill

 Hill: Comb Head/Cold Moss

Type: New Donald

Height: 622m

Another cracking winters day to take advantage of before next weeks predicted mayhem. Last minute decision so decided that Wanlockhead was worth a visit, been a long time.

When I looked at my list of missing New Donalds/Tops there was this hill called Comb Head which I had never even heard of. As it turned out it is linked to Lowther Hill which I had been up a few times but not to my knowledge crossing over the other side to Comb Head. Traditionally it would have been up the ridge to Green Lowther.

A beautiful crisp morning with more blue sky than cloud. Wanlockhead village was as dead as it normally is, who lives here?

The route is straightforward as it follows the Southern Upland Way for the full ramble. The only issue was that I had to trek up to Lowther HillI first. I have to confess that I had forgotten how steep and continuous that slog is. There was even solid patches of snow to negotiate.

I spotted some people ahead and made the mistake of trying to catch them rather than going at my own pace. Catch them I did but when they stopped to chat I could hardly get the words out for sucking in breath. They must have thought what a numpty. Probably right. Still pushing the fitness was my positive.

Reached the big golf ball in the murk but it quickly cleared.

So onto the new section for me, Climbed over a fence to find there was a gate further on.

I could see the objective. Good views but the valley down below was still covered in cloud. The only negative after huffing and puffing my way up Lowther was that I was descending about 120m. Of course it was going to be climbed later.

The SUW does not get much usage here but although on the slightly boggy side the track was faint but clear. There were a few deep last minute spotted holes at the side of the track, could be interesting with a full coating of snow.

Now back up the way with a low sun keeping my head down, There are plenty of marker poles but in this sun very difficult to spot. Still plodding along I reached the first top but beware this is Cold Moss not Comb Head which is further along with a short drop and reascent. It is an interesting optical illusion as both of these tops look higher than the other from each top but Comb Head is the top with nothing to mark it when I arrived. Good views over to Durisdeer hills, wind turbines in other directions.

A cold wind had risen so backtracked just as a female Hen Harrier glided low over the heather. I used to see these regularly at Wanlockhead but it has been a few years since so happy with that. A Red Grouse broke cover but the raptor did not follow it.

Huffed and puffed my way back up to Lowther and had my food stop in the SUW bothy/shelter nearby. Welcome relief from the biting wind.

Back the same way looking at the village and surrounding hills. Cloud was building but no issues. As I entered the village a lone dog was barking. No people. Not even another dog to egg on the other one.

Cafe closed for the season so no warm drink. Overall a satisfying short winter walk.

Ascent: 656m

Distance: 11.1km

Time: 3.15

Wildlife: Raven; Hen Harrier; Red Grouse

Time for a 'New Donald'....Beninner

 Hill: Beninner via Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Type: New Donald

Height: 710m

My first big outing of the year turned out to be longer than expected and a walk of two halves. The objective being the addition of Beninner, a New Donald. I wanted to complete the full Donald listing. Some, like today, I am sure I have been on the top but cannot remember or do not have a record.

Defrosting the car was fine with the anticipation of the weather forecast of a blue sky day ahead.

Set of from the Green Well and followed the traditional path which has been improved but at a future cost I suspect. This looks like the foundations of a possible wind farm route, certainly not created for walkers.

We walked past Willieanna and Dunool to reach the horizontal dyke which we followed to the wee bridge.

Follow the dyke to the summit

Looking back the walk in

The standard trek up to Cairnsmore of Carsphairn followed. The weather was perfect, blue skies, cool and great visibility, so we had a few stops taking in the views, glorious indeed. They were really getting our breath back stops but still great views.

Loch Doon just in view

Windy Standard wind turbines

The feel good factor was there until we reached the top and the landscape of wind turbines came into view. Time to look elsewhere which was towards the real target of the day Beninner. It looked further away than I expected but I knew it was only about a 30 minute ramble.

Beninner ahead

Headed down the now more challenging surface, more rocks and hidden holes to reach the fence at the Nick of the Lochans, but where were the lochans?. Spectacular view looking back to the crags of Gairy of Cairnsmore.

The lochan

The first of many fences/walls was now scaled, electrified but thankfully no current. A faint track led us to the cairn at Beninner, passing one very small lochan. target achieved.

Looking back to Cairnsmore

Lunch break along with good views but a deep cloud had came over and temperatures had dropped rapido. Time to move on.

Heading towards the hills

We decided to descend via the ridge of Beninner before aiming for Willeanna but this was really rubbish terrain, which started bad and got a lot worse.

Willieanna behind main tree plantation

This was the best of the going

We descended to the burn but finding a crossing point took time and the walking beside the burn was challenging. Finally across the burn we contoured Black Shoulder where initially the going was rough ground but okay. As we contoured below Dunool it was traditional Galloway tussocks and wet ground underfoot. But that was a walk in the park compared to going round Willieanna. At least the sun was back out and I was too warm, never happy!

Well the farmer here does not want you to cross his dykes with barbed wire doing a good job of preventing any climbing. Finally found a bit alongside the horizontal wall. In retrospect we should have followed this round the base of Willieanna. But we went diagonally across the field to reach the ascent track. Big mistake, horrendous slow walking. New tree plantation. Every step was avoiding a big hole most filled with water. Throw in the tussocks and it was no fun at all. It was a long final crossing.

With huge relief we reached trail not too far from the start.

Overall a good walk to get the fitness going again. Would vary the route if doing it again. The descent of Beninner to the track was tough enough but in other conditions when all the grasses, reeds, bracken etc had grown forget it.

Surprisingly for a bright and at times warm day insects were flying but not one bird or animal was seen or heard. No meadow pipits or corvids. What is happening here?

Ascent: 745m

Distance: 14.41km

Time: 6.23

Wildlife: None

Not as easy as it could have been.....Cacra Hill

 Hill: Cacra Hill

Type: Sub2k

Height: 471m

After deciding against the Wiss today I drove to what I thought was going to be the easiest of my selection of walks. On a normal day it probably would be. I still had Turner Cleugh in my legs and the snow up top was going to be even worse. Just as well I didn't know that before I started.

There are a few route options but I had read about a forestry road for a new plantation that went further up than the OS maps showed so worth a try.

Limited parking at the gate but the snow showed no tracks going up and I doubted anything would arrive in the afternoon.

Follow the deer

The area has been replanted with the trees about a metre high. I laughed as I followed the deer prints occasionally darting off to nibble a tree. It is surrounded by a deer fence but the tracs show they are there inside.

The track winds up about 2/3rds of the height before a memorial is reached, left by the owners happy with their work/profits.

The track turns away from Cacra Hill but an ATV track could just be seen. I followed it and then the fun began. Everything looked quite straightforward until soon after joining the track kept plunging deep into snow holes which continued the whole way up.

Summit is high point middle of snap

Closer now top just ahead but this stuff is deep

I reached a ridge which the map showed was fairly flat to the summit. I was tempted to leave it for another day but I had come this far and I could see top. But if anything the snow had drifted even deeper up here. This was now a test of mind over matter. This is a piddling wee hill but it was taking it out of me. On I went to another high point with no marker, again spot confirmed by GPS and OS maps. At least the views were good but the winds had picked up and it was near feel like freezing temperatures.

Summit looking back

Steep & deep

Sun setting but getting there

At least heading back to the track I could follow my upward steps so slightly easier walking.

Came across these tracks but not sure what they are, small bird?

The sun was starting to set and it was pretty cold now. Glad to have bagged a couple of hills today. My legs were burning at times but a good day out. Time for shower, beer, food in whatever order.

Ascent: 265m

Distance: 4.7km

Time: 1.41

Wildlife: Raven; Red Grouse

Turner Cleugh Law in the snow

Hill: Turner Cleugh Law

Type: Sub2k

Height: 551m

I needed to blow away the cobwebs and the ideal solution was to tick off some Border hills. I never tire of visiting the Borders so hears hoping this is a good trip. I hoped that the snow would not have been as heavy in this area as up north.

Parked in a solid ice parking area, just getting boots on was tricky. I knew that the initial ascent was 100 metres of very steep walking. There was more snow than I hoped but here goes.

Hard work already

I initially followed the small barbed wire fence at the trees but the wind had been blowing the snow here, where it had gathered and was knee deep. A buzzard dropped out of the trees only feet away but it was more focused on survival than me. It looked like a vole type in its claws as it flew away.

Struggling I headed off a bit to my left towards a gully in which deer had created a channel, slightly easier walking for a couple of minutes.

Cairn on horizon

Better appreciation of gradient looking back 

This was taking me away from my route so another direct assault heading steeply towards a large cairn. I was puffing away as the terrain was borders tussocks so the snow bits were deep. This was hard going. No idea what the cairn was for, possibly a memorial for some shepherd.

Happy to spot this ATV track

After I left the cairn I spotted an ATV track about 25m to my left, was I a happy chappy. It hadn't been used for a while bit still it was much easier going.

Summit looking south

View north Broad Law in the sun

All good things come to an end as the track veered away so I went cross country again for the final section. At least I could now see the fence that lies behind the summit but I could not find anything to mark the high point. A good look around and definitely nothing higher near here. My GPS and OS route planned agreed this was the spot.

Good views heading down

So another one bagged. Across the way was The Wiss, another of my trip targets. On the descent I studied the Wiss route, straightforward enough on a good day but no obvious ATV tracks. I didn't fancy another full snow walk today, maybe tomorrow.

Looking across to the Wiss, summit on plateau well beyond top treeline

I followed the ATV track quite far down before cutting across to the trees, found deer gully and back to my starting place.

It was a short sharp walk, made tougher by the snow. Another step towards proper hill fitness. Good views, burning legs and a snow skelped face.

Ascent: 238m

Distance: 2.1km

Time: 1.08

Wildlife: Buzzard; Raven