I left home at 03:15 this morning en-route to Ayrshire before continuing onto Dumfries and Galloway.
After almost five hours of driving, I reached the starting point of Brown Carrick Hill.
Hill: Brown Carrick Hill
Date: Friday 21st September 2012
Company: Just myself
Time: 50 Mins
I parked beside the viewpoint where there is room for a couple of cars. I would have liked to use the tarmac track up towards the transmitters, but today there were a good number of cattle on and around the track. I therefore set off directly up the hill from the viewpoint to avoid the cattle.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
Looking towards transmitters on 279m top of Brown Carrick Hill:
As I ascended the hill, I got increasingly good views back towards Ayr.
Looking back towards Ayr:
On reaching the 279m top, I got yet another transmitter photo to add to my collection
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Transmitters on 279m top:
Ayr:
The transmitters are fenced-off with “MOD Property Keep Out” signs. It was easy enough to skirt round the side of the fencing to carry on towards the summit.
Skirting round the fencing:
I set off up this hill without a map or GPS, so I visited each knoll to ensure I did summit the hill.
Looking back to the 279m top from the summit of Brown Carrick Hill:
From the summit knoll, I decided to continue on to visit the trig point. I was glad that I did as the trig point is a much better viewpoint than the summit knoll.
Looking towards the trig point from the summit of Brown Carrick Hill:
The Arran hills looked nice and clear today.
Arran Corbetts (zoom):
Mushroom:
Trig point on Brown Carrick Hill:
At the trig point, I got a really good view across to Ailsa Craig. Nice to see Ailsa Craig, but somewhat annoying that our planned trip there tomorrow was cancelled at the last-minute by the boatman, as he decided to take out a fishing party instead.
Ailsa Craig from trig point (zoom):
From the trig point, I made my way back to the 279m top and then back to the car.
I was now in two minds about what to do next. I did consider continuing down the coast ascending more easy Marilyns. However, it was such a good day my preference was to get up higher.
The first time I ascended Shalloch on Minnoch, I hadn’t heard of “New" Donalds. I therefore didn’t ascend its North Top – Caerloch Dhu. I decided to head for Caerloch Dhu and also re-ascend Shalloch on Minnoch.
Hill: Caerloch Dhu and Shalloch on Minnoch
Date: Friday 21st September 2012
Company: Just myself
Time: 2Hrs 45Mins
The first time I ascended Shalloch on Minnoch, I went in from the Memorial Car Park. I recalled this ascent being awful! This time I decided to make for Caerloch Dhu first, starting from the road high point. A 433m start.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
Start of walk from road high-point:
It wasn’t long before I realised that anything I had gained from the 433m start was lost with the tough pathless terrain - heather on top of moss and loads of tussocks.
Looking back towards the small wood:
Taking photos during the ascent wasn’t very successful, as the ascent was directly into the sun and I kept getting lots of lens flare.
Caerloch Dhu:
Looking back towards the starting point from slopes of Caerloch Dhu:
It was good to reach the summit of Caerloch Dhu as the underfoot conditions were much more pleasant on the wide ridge.
Looking towards Shalloch on Minnoch from summit of Caerloch Dhu:
Looking towards windfarm and Ailsa Craig (not zoomed):
Looking towards windfarm and Ailsa Craig (zoom):
The traverse from Caerloch Dhu to Shalloch on Minnoch didn’t take long.
Looking back to Caerloch Dhu from slopes of Shalloch on Minnoch:
After visiting the first cairn, I visited the trig point and shelter and then made my way across to the summit cairn, a few hundred metres further on.
Looking towards the trig point and shelter from the first cairn:
Trig point and shelter:
Looking across to trig point and shelter from the summit of Shalloch on Minnoch:
It was good to see the Merrick. I will likely also be re-ascending the Merrick in the next week or so.
The Merrick from the summit of Shalloch on Minnoch:
From the summit of Shalloch on Minnoch, I returned to the car via the same route.
On reaching the car, I drove a short distance along the road towards the nearest Sub2000ft Marilyn. I parked just off the road a short distance from Brandy Well.
Hill: Craigenreoch
Date: Friday 21st September 2012
Company: Just myself
Time: 1Hr
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
The initial ascent from the car was steep but short-lived, as I soon reached a track ascending the hill.
Track ascending Craigenreoch:
I followed this track as far as the edge of the forest and then followed another fainter track up the steep hillside.
Looking across to Shalloch on Minnoch and the Merrick:
The ascent to the 552m top was hard work but thereafter it was a really pleasant walk out to the summit.
Easy walk towards the distant summit of Craigenreoch:
View from Craigenreoch:
Summit trig point of Craigenreoch:
Big sky from summit of Craigenreoch:
From the summit, I returned to the car via the same route.
At end of today, 59/118 New Donalds and 777/1554 Marilyns – half-way!