Killyleoch Hill

29 October 2013

Participants: Just me
Where: Killyleoch Hill, 240m/786', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 78, NX 878820

Killyleoch Hill only joined the ranks of Marilyns a few months ago. Not as a result of volcanic activity in Dumfries-shire but because it was found that inaccurate measurements had previously been taken at a col somewhere near at hand and the hill's relative height was in fact over 150 metres.

I had intended doing the hill sometime en route to or from the north of England but according to the weather forecasters, today was likely to be the only decent day for hill walking for quite some time. The dreaded Atlantic fronts were piling in to the country bringing heavy rain and strong winds. So it was a case of "seize the day" and I didn't regret it.

It turned out to be another of these hills that is really only high moorland, albeit covered in trees on it's east slopes. This is it viewed from the small village of Dunscore.....

There was space for one car in the bell end of the track to the farm at Newtonairds to the south of the hill. The track wound up through the trees before heading through a gate on to the open hillside. I went through a field containing cows, fortunately of the docile variety, out through another gate, then turned left through two more gates and into another field also containing cows, of the Highland variety this time. They were at the other side of the field and I managed to sneak past them without them noticing me. On the way back, however, they had moved to the part of the field containing the gate so, just to be sure, I kept to the other side of the wall, just inside the trees. The going was ok. For anyone thinking of doing the hill, this is a picture of gates 3 and 4 that you have to go through.....

At the top of the field, I crossed a wall into some rougher ground. A path was starting to form through the bracken and heather; maybe made by Marilyn baggers updating their lists? From this area, there was a good view across the valley to Bishop Forest Hill, which I climbed a couple of years ago.....

And there was also a view south to Criffel.....

Three more wall crossings followed and then the summit was in sight.....

It may not be very high but it is a smashing viewpoint. This is looking west.....

and east with Queensberry prominent.....

 

The foliage is really turning now, not many days left before the leaves are stripped from the trees, I guess. The colours seem to have been really strong this year. On the way down, I passed this tree, not sure what it is but it is certainly a striking colour.....