Black Craig of Dee and Benniguinea

N.B This post will be light on description since it's late.

Tuesday the 9th of March,and since we're doing quite a bit of climbing with the ramblers this summer,I need to get in trim.
Opening the map randomly, Cairnsmore of Dee(also known as Black Craig of Dee) and Benniguinea were the first hills I saw.
I've climbed up here with the Wigtownshire Ramblers,but I seem to have mislaid the post.(I've found it now,it was back in August 2008 and it's here Previous Walk
I'm doing it in reverse today.The last picture will be a map of my route
Parked at Raiders Road car park Clatteringshaws end.Forest road to 'The Labyrinth'
Part of Art in the Forest,it must have running water in the summer season.
Laggan O'Dee farm.
Still plenty of frost about.
Over the Laggan Burn.
As I gain height I take a picture of Benniguinea.
North of the 'Rig of Craig Gilbert' a couple of stone piles at the bottom right of this picture.
First glimpse of Clatteringshaws.

Ascending from this side there's lots of rocky outcrops.
The summit of Black Craig of Dee.
A couple of self indulgent ten second delay pictures.I took some video that I may upload some time.
Views over to Dalry,New Galloway and Balmaclellann.
A very frozen Lochan.
Clatteringshaws again,beyond Benniguinea.
A lorry with a topped up trailer heads along the Queensway.
Snow topped Galloway Hills.

The mast on Benniguinea.
There's no recognised path,but the drystane dyke goes all the way back to the Raiders Road.I'll chance it.
Reaching Clatteringshaws Fell,my two hills are behind me.Animal tracks have helped a little,but much of the way from Benniguinea has been boggy and tussocky.Heavy going.
Lovely views over Clatteringshaws...
...and this is the way I went.
Not too taxing a day.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Black Craig of Dee

Saturday the 2nd of August and heavy showers forecast.Woke up feeling rough,but decided a walk could only do me good.We number thirteen today as we meet at the walk start at Clatteringshaws visitors centre.
Black Craig or Cairnsmore of Dee via Benniguinea is where were headed,and the forest track opposite the visitors centre is where we begin.

It soon warms up and people start stripping off coats..

..as we get views of neighbouring hills.
Things change quickly as we take the Benniguinea track-it starts pouring down.
Coats and waterproofs are hurriedly donned.

It's still raining as we reach the slopes of Benniguinea,and when the question 'Who wants to go up and see the tower' was asked,there was a notable silence.

At this point we leave the good track and head into heavy and boggy heather.

This is where i start finding it heavy going.

At least the rains now stopped and the views are coming.

Now we're on the slopes of Black Craig of Dee and the contour lines on the map are fairly close.
I've done harder and higher walks,but i'm struggling up here.I'll make it though.

Halfway up and the view back to Benniguinea and Clatteringshaws loch.
Coming to the summit and i'm well behind the group.The walk leader drops back to accompany me the last stretch.I hope i'm as thoughtful when i lead my first walk.

After a bite to eat,a cup of coffee,and some of the deputy walk leaders glucose sweets i'm ready to take pictures again.


At 1617 feet the Black Craig of Dee isn't particularly high,but the views are extremely good.

Again back over Benniguinea and Clatteringshaws Loch...

...down to New Galloway,Balmaclellan...

...Earlstoun Loch...

...and Dalry(St Johns town of Dalry to the uninitiated).

Now it's time to begin the return route.
We're heading for the Raiders Road which will take us back to Clatteringshaws Loch.

A mix of crag and heather on this first part...

...carefully tread or should that be trod..

..then back into the rough stuff..

..with the fence returned to it's original position,time for a short break

Over the Laggan Burn.I wonder how many Laggans there are in Scotland and Ireland.Quite a few i'd have thought.

We've reached the Raiders Road where some of the walkers get themselves more aptly kitted out for this stretch.

We're alongside the River or Black Water of Dee,there a good flow here today.

Part of the 'Art in the forest project' this ’The Path’ is a 50 metre labyrinth by Jim Buchanan.

Now across the A712 to..

..Clatteringshaws Dam...

..where a few of us take a close look at the outflow pipe.Wonder why they're letting so much out,the dam level is quite low.Perhaps they've had a long range weather forecast!

A short climb and over a fence(or in my case a wall-where i took a tumble)...

...and we're alongside the loch.

With a couple of walkers taking the waters edge route we're back at the car park.
Although i struggled for some of the walk,i thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'll sleep well tonight.