Over The Hill

The prominent landmark that is Dumgoyne Hill on the western edge of The Campsie Fells is the only hill I have climbed in this large area of sprawling moorland situated between Glasgow and Stirling; so David's walk to Carleatheran provided the opportunity for me to see more of this wild moorland.

Our walk started at Bailie Bow's Bridge, a few hundred metres southwest of Ballochleam Farm, before walking back along the minor road to pick up the ATV track leading us passed Ballochleam and uphill towards a gap in the escarpment and The Spout of Ballochleam. The track serves the shooting lodge and access to the moorland, and although wet and muddy in places, made for an easy ascent towards the open moorland.

As we approached the fenceline and gate giving access to the moorland, we could hear the sounds of a shoot taking place on the hillsides, and we soon caught sight of a party of about 15 to 20 on the slopes of Stronend and moving downhill towards The Spout of Ballochleam. Fortunately, we were ahead of them, and our route would take us east, away from their area, and not coverage with their ground.

Shortly after accessing the moorland, we broke off the main track and headed generally north on a less distinct track over the grassy tussocks towards Lees Hill, before following the edge of the escarpment above Slackhavel Craig and Standmilne Craig. Our actual route deviated a little from the planned route as we dropped slightly below the edge of the escarpment as we approached Standmilne Craig, which necessitated a rather short, but steep scramble up the grassy slopes to regain the faint track on top of the escarpment and heading towards the small cairn on the minor top at 465m.

As we approached the 465m top, we had a surreal moment as we met a shepherd and his dogs looking for his "lost" sheep who asked us if we had encountered them on our way across the moorland. Unfortunately, apart from those in the lower farms, we had seen no sheep at all, and so he wandered off, intent on searching the multitude of small dips and gullies along the escarpment looking for his lost sheep.

There is a faint track leading from the 465m top, through a gate in the fenceline, which then contours around and uphill towards the summit of Carleatheran, however, we decided to take a direct line from the 465m top towards Carleatheran, a distance of just under 1Km. Not the best of choices, as we soon found ourselves in some very wet and boggy peat hags, and an area of deep water reed beds - with one unfortunate walker disappearing to waist level in a watery hole. Nevertheless, we eventually cleared the wet area and made the final short ascent to the large wind-shelter and trig-point which marks the summit of Carleatheran from which we could clearly see the Wallace Monument, the Firth of Forth and beyond to the Lomond and Pentland hills in the east, and Ben Lomond and the Callander hills to the north.

We departed the summit ahead of some very dark and ominous looking clouds which were quickly approaching from the west, and it wasn't too long before we were being buffeted by some very sharp and abrasive hailstones. Thankfully, the hailstone abated, and we had nothing more than a few wintry squalls as we headed generally southwest on a well defined track towards the shooting lodge and grouse butts on the 445m hilltop. From this section of track, the reservoirs of Earlsburn and the Hart Hill wind-turbines dominate the views, and made quite a dramatic backdrop to the dark skies above.

From the shooting lodge, the track continues southwest, before zigzagging downhill to Gourlay's Burn, which required a little agility to ford, as it is just too wide to jump, and there were no stepping stones at the ford, so some of us balanced gingerly on the slippery stones to cross the ford, while others used the fenceline and catch-rack as an improvised footbridge. All safely across, and it was then a short walk back to the access gate at The Spout of Ballochleam and the longish walk back downhill to our start point.

We made the habitual stop-over on our return home for a deserved pint, this time breaking new ground and visiting the Buchlyvie Inn as we drove through Buchlyvie on the A811 - an interesting and varied walk - Thanks David.