Green Lowther

13 January 2012

Where - Green Lowther, 732m/2,403', Graham, Map 71, NS 900120
Participants - Neil and Ben

I always think that the Lowther hills provide good value walking for short winter days. Especially as there is a tarmaced road all of the way from start to summit thus avoiding any chance of muddy boots. Just right for today as my boots had not fully recovered from the mud bath on Grey Hill earlier in the week! For only the third time this winter, I had to scrape ice off the car, but it showed that a high pressure system had definately moved in and that a fine day was in prospect.

The other advantage of the Lowther hills is the high starting point- the village of Wanlockhead which claims to be the highest in Scotland.....

There is also ample parking and I got the car into a space right next to the building at the start of the private road that runs all the way to the summit. These are among the best known hills in Scotland because of the radar and radio stations on their tops and these installations do add a sense of the different to the walk, especially the "golf ball" on the top of Lowther Hill. There was a good view of the days objective from a point not far after the start.....

They may be industrialised hills but a lot of grouse shooting also takes place. Grouse were everywhere; Ben had a great time raising them! Evidence that this is prime shooting territory was the number of mink/stoat traps, although I have yet to see anything caught in one.....

The road winds up and across the hillside to the top of Lowther Hill but most of it can be avoided by diverting on to grassy tracks which though steeper, are also more direct as they cut out all of the corners. They are also easier on the feet. In no time at all, we were approaching the "golf ball", which I think is quite artistic and attractive.....

The sign restricting access to the site had disappeared and all of the gates were open although there was nobody about so we just followed the road through the compound. The main top of Green Lowther was about a mile away and despite the road, I find this a grand walk along a broad ridge with wide ranging views. This is Green Lowther from Lowther Hill.....

The area is becoming even more industrialised with the construction of the Clyde wind farm at the side of the M74; some of the turbines can be seen to the right of the summit in the picture above and in the next two pictures. I suppose that it is only the presence of the radar station that saves the Lowther Hills from the march of the turbines. This is approaching the summit of Green Lowther.....

and this is the trig set amongst the clutter of the radio station masts. Not artistic here at all, just an ugly mess. And not a place to hang around at but it was easy enough to move away from the installations to look at the views.....

I decided to stay high for as long as possible so retraced my steps along the ridge to Lowther Hill......

before descending by the service road.  I got a good view of Wanlockhead on the descent; I guess that surrounded by hills it must be a very cold place in the winter time. Today, the frost never lifted from around the houses.....

I find the village a really interesting place; on previous visits I have wandered round the Museum of Lead Mining and had a look at some of the old mining areas. An interesting full day can be had combining the hill walk with visiting the various places of interest. But not at this time of year; today it was back in the car and a drive to the nearest place that sold a cup of hot chocolate!