Stranraer and Wigtown Ramblers . 3 Glenapp Hills Saturday March 26th 2011

Coffee break before our first ascent to Penderry.

On summit of Penderry. (309M)

Aerials on Benawhirn. (326M)

Summit of Smyrton Hill (370M)

I always find a tree lined avenue.

Surely it was not all that tough a walk.

We always keep the best till last.

Today  Saturday March 26th saw me at Glenapp to meet up with the Stranraer and Wigtown ramblers where I was the walk leader to take us up Penderry, Carlock and Smyrton Hills.18 walkers met at the crossroads on the A77 on a fine partly sunny morning. After introducing our guest from Glasgow (actually he has a caravan at Laggan House) we walked 3 miles on tracks to the base of Penderry. A wee coffee break and then the climbing began. At the summit of Penderry we had an interesting discussion on the various places we could see ranging from Ireland, Mull of Kintyre and Island of Arran.On we went through some peaty boggy ground over Green Benan and Milgarva before reaching the summit of Carlock Hill. On the summit is a memorial stone to a wee girl (see blog of recce) and we learnt from a rambler that she had died of salmonela poisoning and her parents stayed locally.A very moving tribute. Across the A77 we climbed up towards Smyrton via the aerials on Benawhirn. This hill has a few false summits and there was  cries of "are we no there yet?" At the summit a well earned rest was taken before we headed down to Smyrton Bridge and onto the track leading back to the cars. A tough walk on a glorious day and my thanks to the other 17 walkers who joined me to make it a very worthwhile outing.