Cunninghame ramblers. Lowther Hills from Wanlockhead. October 2011

Our starting point.

Leaving the village behind.

She is back after all her globe trekking.How we all missed her!

National Air Traffic Services. (Thanks JD)

Misty golf ball on top of Lowther Hill.(725M)

One of many very steep descents today.

And also ascents!!

On top of Dun Law(677M)

Remains of Lowther Cottage

For the benefit of all who were on the walk today "There was a BRIDGE"

Sadly this is all that is left.

Walking along the narrow gauge railway line.

Railway's logo.

Some of the old signs have been left .

The gentlemen today allowed the ladies a wee seat.

Group at the station.

The Kilmarnock Rocket was our leader.

Today Tuesday October 25 I met up with Cunninghame Rambler who were doing a mid week walk in the Lowther Hills starting at the museum in Wanlockhead. 12 of us left the car park to head up to our first hill today which was to be East Mount Lowther (732M) ,it was a good hard start to get us all going as the leader told us at the beginning this was to be a wee toughie walk today. Once on the top we got our first views of the Enterkine valley which I visited back in June with Madam Vice from ADRC.Our next hill was the one we all see on our walks in this area Lowther Hill (725M) with its golf ball aerial on the top to guide the planes over our area and on to the rest of the world.Very misty today at the summit with a strong southerly wind so we did not hang about before we crossed over Green Lowther Hill (732M) and a very steep descent to Big Windgate Burn (where on earth do they get these weird names?). Last major climb now took us all the way up onto Dun Law(677M) where we could admire the views right down to the Solway Firth.Now we had a wonderful steep descent over to what is left of the Lowther Cottage with is shoogly bridge over the river. What a disappointment but the recent torrential rain has washed it away downstream and all that is left is a few planks of wood. Another reasonably safe crossing was found by jumping over another burn to finally leap onto a grassy mound in the middle of the next one and up onto the embankment.What a versatile group we were today a river in full spate is nae bother to this lot. We finally came to the old narrow gauge railway track to take us through Leadhills and back to the cars at Wanlockhead. This was an 11 mile "A Grade" circular walk led by none other than the Kilmarnock Rocket who lived up to his name and led from the  front at a pace that was difficult for some of the group to keep up with him.Most of the time he was about 200yds ahead of us all thoroughly enjoying his day out on the hills. Thanks to him and the rest of the group for allowing me to join you all yet again.