A short recce-The Bell Monument carpark to Shalloch on Minnoch farm

Wednesday the 26th of January 2011
It's not a bad day,so I'm going to take a quick look at the approaches to Shalloch on Minnoch.
This is the beginning of one of many alternative routes to the summit of the afore mentioned hill,and I'm only looking at the non-climbing section.

I park at the David Bell memorial car park.He was a local writer and avid cyclist.

It's close to Rowantree Junction, where apparently a pub and a toll once stood.One road going to Barr and Girvan,and the other going via Stinchar Bridge to Straiton. 

Quote "It was in this location that a body was once found, giving the place the name of the Murder Hole. In his novel about droving in the Galloway area, The Raiders, author SR Crockett "stole" the location and moved it close to Loch Neldricken, north of Glen Trool."

A short walk along the road brings me to the forest road  that'll take me down to Laglanny.

There's a new house under construction.The contractors I spoke to said the last house had burned down.

Continuing on I take a panorama of the 'Awful Hand' as it's called.

Panorama of The Awful Hand on CleVR.com

This panorama is also in full screen at Panogio at The Awful Hand

Now the road runs alongside the Water of Minnoch.

Over the bridge it seems there's a fairly new forest road.I don't know how far it goes.My route is to the right.

Although the farm track is well defined,at a bend in the river it's been washed away.I've a feeling it's been a while since the farm was in use.

Here's the farm with rounded top of Shalloch on Minnoch to it's left.Here's something I didn't know,Shalloch on Minnoch is the highest hill in Ayrshire.I'm out of D & G here.The track now runs alongside the Shalloch Burn.

This is a great idea,all entrances to the main buldings have been bricked up,and only pigeon hole sized openings left for the birds and anything else that flies.

I carry on up stream.The stile's nearly rotten so I don't chance it.The path is still discernible,but the bad weather's taken it's toll and has given way in places.

Now I reach the bridge one is supposed to cross going this route.The iron girders are solid and won't move.The wooden walkway is all but rotted away.It is crossable,but only by shuffling with one foot either side.Eighty percent of our walkers wouldn't even consider going near it.
If we do decide to come this way it'll be by another method of crossing the burn.

I continued another few hundred yards up the same side.There's still some semblance of a track.
If the burn isn't in spate,there seems ample rocks to afford a crossing.There's a fair to middling flow today and I managed to cross,but it wasn't easy,we'll have to make sure Shorty comes along.

This was as far as I was going today,so I retraced my steps back to the farms outbuildings.

There were remnant's of a sheep dip,the head of a three iron and a steel rail structure.
I began the renovations by re-attaching the sheep dip gate.

Back at the main house I switched the flash on my camera and took the above photo through one of the pigeon holes.This picture will certainly bring back memories to those of you of a certain age.It does me !

As I head back to my car there's a snow shower descending on Kirrereoch and the Merrick.
Soon be summer..............................................

N.B For Russell:- Hi Russell,not good looking at the bridge as you can see.But I'm sure it's do-able.
Paddy Dillon gives a route in his book via Cornish Hill.
The last time the Ramblers climbed it (I pulled a muscle) they started closer to Stinchar Bridge at the start of the forest and up along the slopes of Cairnadloch.

Wigtownshire Ramblers-Crocked-Shalloch

Todays title should have read Wigtownshire Ramblers-Shalloch on Minnoch.
But all will unfold shortly.
Saturday 29th March and there are 13 walkers for the climb up to Shalloch on Minnoch.

Rain is forecast and already it looks threatening.
The first obstacle is reached.This goes by the wonderful name of 'The Splinty Burn'




Stepping stones jumping and wading were methods used to cross,and soon everyone is safely over.


Now as we start rising along the slopes of Cairndalloch it starts raining,sleeting and hailstoning.Views of Loch Riecawr and Cornish Loch are seen.These would be spectacular on a sunny day.


We are going at a good pace,but taking plenty of mini-breaks as we climb.At this moment i feel ok,just getting on with it,and taking pictures.

Our target is just over there somewhere.

Suddenly someones kicked me with a steel toecapped boot on my calf on my left leg.At least thats what it felt like.
We stop for a moment to see if i'm ok.
I'll give it another try.
It's no good i'm well and truly crocked,and it's painful.
A senior walk member joins me on my hobble back to the cars.

This is my view for the next couple of hours as we wait for the walk to be completed.
My flask of coffee,my sandwiches and conversing with my fellow returnee helped the time to go quickly.
The walkers were back in record time.Apparently the wind and snow at the summit was so bad that they gave up the idea of lunch and hotfooted it back.
The walk leader sent me the following pics showing me what i'd missed.



Now one day later writing this blog,my leg is wrapped in a crepe bandage.I think it's a pulled muscle.I dont think there's any ligament or achilles tendon damage.
I'm still having to hobble about when walking,but the pain has subsided.
Hopefully i'll be fully recovered for next weeks walk.