Auchenroy Climb, Dalmellington May the 1st 2012

Tuesday the 1st of May 2012

After hopefully recovering from my chest infection relapse, I'm going to walk up a small hill with my fellow walker from Cumnock.

After changing our meeting point due to roadworks, we met up at Doon Bridge at the head of Glenhead Glen (that's what the O.S map says, even if it doesn't sound right)

Auchenroy Hill would be our target today.

The above pictures of the Doon were taken from a fairly new (3 years) walkers bridge.

A Carrick Community minibus pulling canoe's headed along towards Bogton Loch.

We started walking in sunshine.

The small Dalnean Hill was our first target.

The Ayrshire Paths Initiative have put some great stiles and gates all over the county. The problem is finding the path.

We were soon looking down on Bogton Loch and over to Dalmellington.

Many Scottish hills have memorial stones, and Dalnean hill was no exception.

We've seen lots of Mayflower recently.

From Dalnean we can now plot our route up Auchenroy. The peak in the middle of the picture above has a cairn. The trig point on Auchenroy is further right on what looks like a little bump.

We can see what looks like paths, but are more than likely animal tracks.

Between us and the hill are marshes, new young tree plantations and deer fences.

(It's now dawned on me that the O.S maps showing tree plantations is up to date. It's just that you can't see the trees)

Looking behind another view of Bogton Loch and Dalmellington.

After carefully crossing one of the new tree plantations and a barbed wire fence (lots of wet potholes),

we found a definite path which we followed south to the drystane dyke then began climbing.

An intriguing section of wall. The dyke is mostly ruined, and if you cross the stile you've a fence behind it.

The dykers must have found a magic mix of concrete.

As we climb it's clouding over. The clouds look like a fleet of invading airships.

Plenty of gates and stiles up here and we find a track.

We rounded the hill with the cairn and continued towards the trig point.

A lovely little lochan sits between the two peaks.

Another high stile gets crossed. 

It's hard to find a path here, and the heather and tussocks threaten to swallow your lower half.

Flush Bracket S5345

We persevere and finally reach the trig point.

My walking partner braves the wind for me to get the picture.

We stop for lunch in a windbreak below the summit.

Distance views are hazy today, but even so I still capture the Ayrshire coast above the county town.

Patna lies below.

To the south, the Galloway hills are easily identifiable. Mullwharchar's in the centre of the picture. 

Another view of Dalmellington and surrounds.

After lunch and surveying the area, it seems impossible that we'll find the more direct path back to Glenhead Glen.

We decide to take the direct route down the steeper slopes to the Straiton road.

We access the tarmac road just above Grimmet farm. I've been looking to see if I could shed light on the name Grimmet. 

There is a meaning from Douglas Adams and John Lloyd which reads :- A small bush from which cartoon characters dangle over the edge of a cliff. I guess that's too new a meaning for this farm.

Early in the 1800, a John McWhirter from Grimmet was a guiding elderly cousin to the young Quintin McAdam of the nearby Craigengillen estate.

Next came Auchenroy farm with pecking chickens.

Then came the pretty Doonview Cottage.

Back at Glenhead Glen, Wood Anemone flowered brightly.

 Half an hour talking to some local mature gentlemen of wit and character finished a very enjoyable day.