Finally views from Haggis Hill

Hill: Haggis Hill circuit including Craigenreoch

Type: Sub2k

Height: 565m

The forecast was excellent so the day to finally see the views from Haggis Hill circuit. However, as I approached Stinchar Bridge, once again the clouds were enveloping the big hills, surely not?

I met Dick at the small parking area at the high point of Nick of the Balloch where we looked at the clouds but optimistically agreed it would lift. Our only concern was whether we would be able to cross the burn after the descent from Haggis Hill near the end of the walk. But we will only find out when we get there.

Clouds over the Galloway hills

I have not added much commentary on this blog as it is a repeat of Decembers outing, the snaps will tell their own story.

ATV track

One change at the start was following the ATV track up the hill rather than the direct grassy slopes.

Now off the ATV track and a view of Rowantree and the upland moor

Craigenreoch from Rowantree. Good but sodden track at times

Dick on Craigenreoch

View south from Pinbreck Hiil, twin volcanic plugs just visible

Looking across to Changue & Haggis Hill

New lochan on Changue since my last visit

Haggis Hill stone

Dramatic landscape at the base of Glengap and a fordable burn

Contouring Glengap through the Nick of the Balloch

Beautiful finish with snow on the flanks of Black Gairy (Merrick)

On the final section we kept to the higher ground contouring with the slopes. More awkward walking, as my hip was telling me, but better than the road walk. Next time I think I will ascend Glengap after crossing the burn and take the ridge back to Rowantree. I suspect the views will be pretty good.

A cold wind but mainly crisp blue skies. Excellent views all round. A super walk and a good blether with Dick, excellent company as always. 

Ascent: 483m

Distance: 9.5km

Time: 4.09

Wildlife: Raven; Skylark; Red Grouse; Buzzard and plenty of fat sheep ready to lamb.

A walk in the clouds.....Haggis Hill circuit

Hill: Haggis Hill (510m) circuit including Craigenreoch (565m)

Type: Haggis Hill Dodd & Craigenreoch Sub2k

Where to go my weekly walk? Dick had recently mentioned the Haggis Hill round and that seemed a good place to relive some memories. I had only completed the round once before and that was a grim day with poor visibility. I was told then that the views are good so decision made. Looking at the weather forecast the brightest was Wednesday morning becoming cloudy later.

Unfortunately my trusty Harvey's map of the Galloway Forest did not include these hills. So, once again, I put together a straight line between hills rough route on OS maps. The only issue was I could not remember exactly where I started the last time. I remember a small parking area going up the hill road to Barr, named the Nick of the Balloch, time will tell.

A grey start to the walk

An early start and a bright red sky as I set off. By the time I approached Stincher the clouds were already down. I found what I thought was the parking spot in the gloom along with now a drizzle. Out of the car and I had to motivate myself as I could not really be bothered, going home and back to bed seemed a better option.

Always the fool, gear on and where to start going up this hill? I had thought there might be an obvious footpath through the wet grass from previous walkers but nope maybe this was the wrong starting place. Just head up desmondo.

Clouds lifting or falling?

My memory did recall a steep start but this seemed more brutal. There is no doubt that recently without much high walking, little cycling or gym my fitness has taken a decline. As I huffed and puffed with regular stops this slope confirmed that. 

For a brief moment a moorland view

I reached the top at Brandy Well after 170m of direct ascent where I had a view of the barren countryside ahead, relieved. That lasted about 5 minutes before the clouds descended not to lift again during the high level walk.

The ground was soaking wet and my right boot clearly has a leak somewhere as the front of my foot was already squelching, the joys.

At least a track to follow

Initially I was plodding across the heather until I found an ATV track just before Rowantree Hill. 

Craigenreoch the highest point

Ultimately I then just followed this in a clockwise direction over the named hills of Craigenreoch (the highest point); Polmaddie; Pinbreck and Changue hills. 

Gloom

The visibility remained at about 50 - 80 metres throughout so all I was looking at was the track, some fencing and the odd tree. Apart from a lone curlew  the only sounds were me splashing through the sodden terrain and my chuntering to myself, nobody to offend.

Haggis Hill

I had forgotten about the steep descent from Changue until out of the mist loomed the genuine haggis shaped mass of Haggis Hill. The cloud thinned enough to torture me with a view of the climb ahead before closing down again. I know it is not much of a climb but with my mindset today it felt much higher.

Marker stone on Haggis Hill

Not too breathless I reached the small standing stone at Haggis Hill and knew the worst walking was now ahead and I had two burns to cross!

Time to head down

I am not sure if I descended from a different spot than the previous round but this was in the very steep category and I don't quite remember it as bad as that. At least I was out of the cloud so had a good view way down. Care taken as any tumble could be a long roll down. Down below me was a large stone sheep pen, I don't remember that. Slowly I edged my way baby steps down to the burn. As I descended I did think that I get myself in some pickles when on my own.

Thankfully the burn wasn't running too fast but it was wide and on my side previous heavy flows had severely eroded the bank so no step downs. After a wander I found a tussock in the middle that I could step on and a straightforward leap to the other bank. 

Steep slopes

One thing I did remember was that this last section was the worst of the going, trackless rough ground and another burn to negotiate. Wonder why I remember that?

Decision time the car is beyond the V

After circling the mass of Glengap Hill I reached another sheep pen. Decision time as I could see the burn I had to follow heading up the hillside. Two decisions were the rough/stony terrain and then crossing the burn higher up where it was much steeper and from here I could see a number of waterfalls. Or cross the burn here and head up to the road.

I was not in the mood for the gamble so forded the burn and headed up to the road close to the Witches bridge. Relief at walking on the road, don't say that too often. As I walked I could see below that there was an old ATV track that could have been followed so maybe for the next time.

The cloud was back down it was cold, windy and damp so I was well pleased to reach the car.

Well how to sum up? It was needed exercise so a tick for that. Fair to say not the best walk that I have had. And I do need to come back as I have still not seen those views!

Ascent: 513m

Distance: 10k

Time: 3.08

Wildlife: Curlew; Raven; Red Grouse; Grey Heron; Buzzard: Kestrel

Craigenreoch and Haggis Hill

It was good to get back out with the ARC once again but what a weather difference from warmth of the last outing. Last night I was sitting in the back garden, sun lotion on with a cheeky beer. Not today, totally different, a grey and wet day forecast.

The start on Rowantree hill

Still the group were doing a circular walk encompassing quite a few hills including the Marilyin, Craigenreoch (565m), along with its outlying hills Rowantree and the quaintly named Haggis hill. Sadly not many quality photos as normal as the conditions were just too wet.
From Ayr we drove past Straighton southwards on the Glentrool road until we reached the Bell memorial, then a sharp right leads you onto a single track road for about half a mile and a parking area on the left has space for 4 or 5 cars.
The rain had already started so wet gear on. Immediately into the walk and a stiff pull gets the heart and lungs going but it is not too long before the top of Rowantree hill is reached.

Craigenreoch trig ahead

From the top and in the distance the trig point of Craigenreoch can be seen in the gloom. It is an easy and straightforward approach, but very wet underfoot walk. The record rain over the last has been well held in this mossy moorland although it is probably never fully dry underfoot.

As we reach the trig the rain and clouds ease briefly to let us see on our left the Solway glistening in the distance. On our right can be seen the ridge, including the small trig on Haggis hill, that we will be returning via and directly ahead the trees that will be our turning point.
The very brief weather interlude ends and we continue by following the helpful fence as well as the shepherds quad bike trail. Everyone is sopping wet by this time but the banter is good.

Typical terrain

On the route we topped Polmaddie, Pinbreck & Changue hills but I was not getting my map out to check as we walked. A short up and down from Changue and we reached the single stone trig of Haggis hill. In some ways the single stone seems more authentic than the piles commonly seen. 

Haggis hill trig

The weather has eased and we start to get views again particularly good looking down to the meandering Balloch burn. A big puddle is in view, Loch Bradan I think. I did check later and apparently the hill was named because it looked like a haggis!! Not in my eyes but a good name nevertheless.

Balloch burn

A very steep descent on the wet grassy slope keeps everybody concentrated and after fording the fast running Balloch burn, some more even wetter feet, but at least it was lunchtime. Very pleasant break it was beside the noisy running water. If you walked back up the glen you would reach the ‘Linn of the Darkness’ waterfall, what names!

Looking back to Haggis hill

A short squelchy moor walk followed and a then short but sharp climb brought us to the road that we left our cars on. This road is on the pass of fabulously named ‘ Nick of the Balloch, a historic smugglers path. You could follow the burn up to the waterfall at the Witches Bridge, then follow another quad bike track instead of taking the road. 

Final stretch

Back to the cars and the inevitable comparisons about which brand of wet gear performed and which didn’t. My newish Jack Wolfskin should have performed but I was wet on the chest. It is possible that I did not have the zip fully engaged so will try again but still disappointing.
All in all a shortish and straightforward days walk. Good company but crap weather. I will need to return on a better day to fully enjoy the landscape.
Ascent 1588 feet, distance 6.38 miles and 4 hours including stops.