Earncraig Hill via Queensberry

Hill: Earncraig & Queensberry Hill
Category: Graham/Donald
Height: 
My original plan was to head north for a walk this weekend but the good people of ADRC were carrying out a walk that appealed. I had walked up Queensberry for a short winter excursion a few months back but the opportunity to add on Earncraig this time was a winner. Earncraig was my last hill still to tick off in this range.
Queensberry is the most southerly of the Lowther Hills and is normally a straightforward excursion. But, we are in May and the forecast today is for snow showers, the say possibly the coldest May Bank holiday weekend on record!!
Blue skies and a very fresh air flow (ie cold) greeted us at the start. We began our outing from the normal bit at Mitchellslacks Farm. Parking permission at the farm granted by the farmer, thanks.

Walk in with Capel burn below

Our route followed the farm track via the green fields full of newly born lambs, jubilant with their freedom plenty of energetic jumping around, that will soon change. The track twists and turns giving excellent views of the surrounding hills and our two targets. 
Body warming up nicely as the track climbs on a gentle heading for the abandoned buildings that could be seen in the distance. The Capel burn below us still running well despite this dry period. The grassy lumps on our left do not look natural, I wonder if mineral excavation or something took place here?

Queensberry Hill's large cairn

After the gate we turned right onto a faint quad bike track that climbs steadily all the way to Queensberry. Last time I was here I missed the track on the ascent but still had a good easy moorland stomp to the summit (697m). A huge clump of rocks marks this top. Excellent views today back over the Solway Firth and Criffel. Moffat hills across the way. Ignore the wind turbines.

Steeper than it looks here

From here we follow a fence line, occasionally boggy with plenty of old rusting fence wire to catch the unwary. The views opening up of the Daer reservoir. As we descended the short but very steep grassy slope to find a lunch spot there was a brief snow flurry. 

The optional descent and ascent but not for us

Through a gate and followed the fence for a short while before heading cross country climbing the grassy slopes to Earncraig Hill (611m). 

Single file to Earncraig

Where the fence meets the wall is the top, rather insignificant. Still good views over to Gana Hill & Wedder Law and of course back to Queensberry.

Earncraig top with Gana Hill behind

Also great views back looking down the glen with the meandering Capel burn back to the cars.

Meandering Capel burn our route back, Criffel in background

The grassy descent from here is variable on traditional moorland mixed with the odd quad bike track down to the well kept Burleywhag Bothy. It has been renovated over the last 3 years, the farmer and his son heavily involved. 

Burleywhag bothy

Apparently used by shepherds from the farm on occasions. This was a new discovery for me.

Earncraig Hill

From there head back passing the ruins and follow the track back to the car.
A good walk on a clear air day so the views of the beautiful Southern west of Scotland were excellent. At times it was a cold wind but dry. Great company helped the enjoyment of the walk. And the sight of the black faced lambs has just reminded me that I have a bottle of the excellent micro brewery, Cullin Ales, Blackface, to open, appropriate, cheers. 

Wildlife: Grey heron, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Raven, Wheatear, Peewit.
Time: 4.55
Ascent: 2141ft (811)
Distance: 8.92m (14.4k)

Not so royal views from Queensberry Hill

Hill/Walk: Queensberry
Category: Graham/Donald
Height: 697m
A cracking hill for a short winters day walk with friends, to rid the body of its Xmas lethargy by way of too much food and drink. The early adventure was getting here as the sat nav took us over a minor mega pot filled track, 5mph maximum, boy glad to get off that.

Start

We parked up at Mitchellslacks, a very nice sheep hill farm. Crossed the bridge passing alongside the right of the farm, dogs going nuts but thankfully they were shut in. Chickens running everywhere but no signs for fresh eggs!!
Headed across the field full of sheep with plenty of amorous rams to keep all happy.

Looking down on the twisted bridge

We opted for the left track taking us alongside the Capel burn. The landscape across the burn looks odd, artificial, we wondered if some of it was old mine bings? When we reached the twisted bridge there was now no track on this side so rather than heading up the gully we went up the grassy slopes to meet the higher path at The Law.

Cut off just ahead

The predicted fog was not present and we had good views up the glen to Earncraig Hill but the top was moving in and out of cloud.
Cant go wrong as we followed the track up the glen until just before the two ruined properties.
For some reason, probably chatting too much we did go wrong, we had walked past the ATV track and just started clambering up the hill in the direction of Queensberry.

Typical moorland

The going was typical tussocky moorland but going was fine. However from this approach it was the hill of false tops. There was always a hump just ahead which we hoped would give us a better view but nope, all that was ahead was another hump and so on.

A bit bleak but keep going

With about 100 metres to go we were in the clouds so our limited visibility gave us false hope but no just another hump. Finally for about 10 seconds the clouds cleared, we could see the false cairn, then closed in again and onwards we went.

Big summit cairn comes into view

When we reached the false cairn at the plateau top a faint track leads on for about 5 minutes then the very big cairn appeared out of the gloom. 2 hours to the top.

A view of sorts but not for long

Sadly minimal views except of some wind turbines nearby so opted to descend for lunch. As there were no views we decided to just return same route.

Looking up the glen from the descent

This time we found the ATV track which took us all the way back to the lower track. But not before enjoying lunch in spring like temperatures taking in the view of the meandering silver Capel burn, just perfect.
A return trek via the higher track back to the car.
An amazing day for this time of year, so mild. Enough views to keep us happy and work off some of the excess of the last few days. Disappointing next to no wildlife to be seen.

Wildlife: Raven
Time: 3.49
Ascent:  545m
Distance: 10.7km