Rhinns of Kells. May 2012

Coran of Portmark. (632M)

Bow. (645M)

Meaul. (695M)

Carlin's Cairn (807M)

Corserine.(814M)

Millfire. (716M)

Looking down on Loch Dungeon.

The teacher wishing he could fly!

Milldown.(730M)

Meikle Millyea. (746M)

Last one we called the true summit of Meikle Millyea (746+)

This fine soldier is in the grounds of Forest Lodge.

Last photo goes to the author.

Yesterday Wednesday May 2 as I mentioned in the previous blog was to be a tough hill walk and it turned out true to its word.Tuesdays four plus the right honourable secretary decided to tackle the Rhinns of Kells in one day. This is a range of hills that has several peaks and challenging climbs involved in its 14 mile range .As it is a linear walk cars had to be positioned at both ends to make the day possible. Once we had the cars parked we set off on a clear windy cool morning up to Coran of Portmark which was very hard in the tussocks and boggy ground. Once we got up a bit of height the ground dried up and once  on the summit the going was on lovely dry short moorland grass.Over Bow our next hill was Meaul with its wonderful views of Loch Doon.Passing over a ridge known as Goats Craig we saw a small herd of Ferrel goats which proves how it was named all those years ago.Lunch on Carlin's Cairn made us wonder what "Carlin" meant ,RHS was able to enlighten us it means witch. Another ridge,steep descent saw us all climbing again to Millfire  and Milldown. Now we could see Meilkle Millyea which was to be our last summit of the day. Once safely negotiated to the top we were told that this was not the true summit it was another 500 metres to the west of us . Nothing ventured nothing gained a last push was made by all and we made it. Now followed a very steep descent over Meikle Lump back down to a forest road that took us back to Forest Lodge where we had left a car parked earlier on in the day. A visit to the Scottish Soldier which was a mast head on a ship owned  by the Fred Olsen shipping family which now stands at the entrance to the familys estate house.
       In conclusion the guide books description of this walk is that under no circumstances should it be attempted except by those who are " extremely fit experienced hill walkers". My thanks to my fellow companions yesterday I thoroughly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to next year when we are going to undertake the same walk except in reverse.