Participants: Just me
Where: Windy Hill, 315m/1,037', P52, TuMP, OS 63, NS 318 637 and Craig Minnan, 303m/994', P32, TuMP, NS 322 640
A short walk on a nice and sunny Saturday morning. The roads were quiet so it didn't take long to get to the Muirshiel Country Park Visitor Centre on the moor above Lochwinnoch. There are a number of marked trails from here one of which goes to the top of Windy Hill, a walk of no more than 30 minutes.....
Even if that was the end destination it would be worthwhile as it is a fine viewpoint. The cairn looking south-west to Misty Law with the Marilyn, Hill of Stake in the middle distance.....
The Park consists of high moorland, the Visitor Centre sits at a height of 250m. It is generally very wet underfoot and rough- the walk to and from Hill of Stake is one of the roughest that I have encountered. This is the view across the moorland in the general direction of the Clyde coast, hidden from view of course. There is a disused barytes mine up here.....
It was a bit hazy so the distant views could have been better, this is looking south to the distant Galloway hills.....
Windy Hill was not my final destination today, however. That was another TuMP to the north- Craig Minnan. Another volcanic plug but a different sort of hill altogether.....
It was a bit wet underfoot down on the moorland but I was soon over that and climbing the steep grassy slopes of this fine little hill. From here I was looking to the towns of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir and the Clyde.....
Looking back to Windy Hill.....
Then it was back the same way.....
with a stop at the Visitor Centre for a coffee before the short drive home.
1 comment:
It's a nice area. Following the Gogo Water from Largs past several waterfalls, a deep scenic gorge and woodlands turns it into a full day walk but it's pretty tough going from there to Hill of Stake although very beautiful and surprisingly remote so close to Glasgow/Paisley. A gorge walk well worth a visit Neil if you've any hills nearby in that vicinity still to do.
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