South-west Scotland 3- The Mull of Galloway

 17 September 2024.

Where: The Mull of Galloway, the most southerly point of the Scottish mainland, 85m/279', P 63m, Tump, OS 82, NX 157 304

I couldn't have wished for a better weather day for my visit to the Mull, the only slight downside was a sea haze which prevented views of Northern Ireland and Cumbria. The geography of the Mull itself is best seen from the approach road.....

There is a large car park at the lighthouse and an excellent visitor centre and cafe. Also an obligatory signpost and information about the Mull.....

I started my visit however by walking north from the lighthouse along the cliff tops. 

Although there were lots of visitors, I seemed to be the only person doing the cliff walk. It was spectacular rounding several geos with unprotected drops to the sea below........

After about a mile I reached a field with a strange memorial in it- Kennedy's Cairn which was apparently constructed in the 1800's. It was used for trapping ravens and is named after the local game keeper.....

Although I couldn't see much out to sea, the Isle of Man put in an appearance from time to time through the sea fog.....

I returned by the same route with the lighthouse now in full view ahead.....

Unfortunately, the lighthouse is only open to visitors at weekends at this time of year but there is an excellent exhibition so I took in that. Of special interest is the foghorn which is reached by descending a long flight of steps. Although now not in operational use, it is kept in working order.....

After visiting the exhibition and the foghorn, I decided that I had better visit the Tump top! It is on a mound to the east of the lighthouse and shares the area with a couple of water tanks.....

A visit to the cafe and shop rounded off what had been an excellent day out. Now I will have to visit the other extreme points of the mainland, Duncansby Head, Dunnet Head and Ardnamurchan Point.

South-west Scotland 2- Tor of Craigoch

 16 September 2024

Where: Tor of Craigoch, 125m/410', P 38m, Tump, OS 82, NX 008 646

After Dow Hill, I carried on south to Stranraer and as it was still early, decided to continue through the village of Leswalt to bag the Tor of Craigoch. It is an Iron Age hillfort site estimated to be around 2,500 years old. The site is occupied by the Agnew Monument which was built in 1850 to commemorate Sir Andrew Agnew, the 7th Baronet of Lochnaw who was a Wigtownshire MP.

 There was a small car park and a path which went through the gorse to the base of the monument and the Tump summit and trig. Unfortunately the thick gorse obstructed the view but it was still an interesting hill.

South-west Scotland 1: Dow Hill and Shalloch Hill (Girvan)

 16 September and 19 September 2024

Where: Dow Hill, 159m/522', P 34m, Tump, OS 76, NX 193 961 and Shalloch Hill, 71m/233', P 33m, Tump, OS 76, NX 184 958

An Indian summer had arrived so I decided to tick a trip off my list. The main objective was the Mull of Galloway but I had identified a few other Tumps that could be bagged on the way. First stop was Girvan parking in the south car park and following a track which went over the railway line and round the west side of Dow Hill. Where it turned sharp right I took to the hill slopes and soon reached the summit which is the site of an ancient fort and a good viewpoint. I returned the same way.

Dow Hill from the car park.....

Heading up.....

View of Girvan.....

Ailsa Craig.....

Looking south to Byne Hill and the Marilyn, Grey Hill.....

I decided to leave Shalloch Hill for the return journey. It lies to the west of Dow Hill and can be described as an upland grassy field. The approach.....

Girvan from the summit.....

Cloud breaking off the top of Ailsa Craig.....

View to Dow Hill.....

Wee Hill of Craigmullach

 

12 September 2024

Where: Wee Hill of Craigmullach, 427m/1,401', P 49m, Tump, OS 77, NX 482 959

A rare sunny day! This hill had been on my radar for a while, I had climbed the neighbouring Marilyn, Craiglee, some years before but was almost certain that I had not included this top. So it was off to Loch Doon and the car park at the old castle.....

The path up the hill started from the side of the castle and was signposted. It was a bit overgrown initially but once past a small forest everything opened up and there were good views down to the loch with the main Galloway hills beyond......

There was also a view north to Craiglee as I got higher.....

It was a fairly gentle climb to the summit on a good path and I was soon approaching the substantial cairn.....

The Galloway Hills- The Merrick in the centre with the view spreading north to Shalloch on Minnoch.....

It was a great view and I sat at the cairn for a while taking it all in. And I was now sure that I hadn't visited this top last time I was in the area.

The Mount

 16 August 2024

Where: The Mount, 423m/1,388', P 110m, Hump, OS 72, NT 098421

The Mount is a wooded hill south of Kirkurd, it would be a great viewpoint if it wasn't for the trees!

There was good parking at the start of the forest track and I had taken the precaution of reading reports on Hill Bagging so that I knew which tracks and paths to take.  Just past an old quarry marked on the map but not obvious on the ground, I turned right on to another track going uphill and followed that until I came across a small cairn marking the start of a rough path that went easily all the way to the summit.....

There was a large cairn with the actual high point nearby. Unfortunately, the only view was a tantalising glimpse of the Culter hills.....