4 June Ness Glen (OS Explorer 327)

 Alan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Jimmy, Paul, Peter, Rex & Robert

It has been said before but I will say it again anyway. There are walks which, for many and varied reasons, we have only done once and there are walks which we have done again and again and again. The Ness Glen walk is one of the latter, for its variety of scenery and easy walking will hardly be beaten anywhere. And it was to the ness Glen that we turned our steps this morning.

Due to a misunderstanding – (Now, why does this not surprise anybody? – Ed.) –, a misunderstanding about the works on the dam at Loch Doon, we started our walk in a different place this morning, in the car park at The Promised Land. And, just to make our lives even more interesting, we decided to do the walk in the opposite direction from usual.

So, ten o’clock saw us leave the car park and take the estate road for Craigengillan. The wildlife had already been busy with midgies biting viciously in the warm, damp air as soon as we left the cars. Now swallows and martins swooped on unsuspecting insects over the ponds under Bellsbank and warblers sang in the trees along the side of the road. Though the sun stayed hidden there was a hint of brightness in the sky and the damp air seemed to be drying somewhat. We walked, on enjoying the morning. Just where the road crosses the river we left tarmac and took the old track under Bellsbank to come to the bridge at the foot of the Ness Glen.

            The footbridge here is in a sorry state with planks missing and others rotting. However bravely, or foolishly, we crossed the footbridge and climbed through the trees, past Tracy’s bench to the path on the Brackney Brae, above the Crags of Ness. Again the bird song cheered us though the woodland with our resident ornithologist hearing but failing to see a wood warbler. And he failed to spot the spotted flycatcher that a couple had been watching just before our noisy approach. Then the path dropped and we found ourselves at the face of Loch Doon Dam. A short hundred metres or so and we were at The Roundhouse Café overlooking the loch.

            The loch was not the only thing that the café is overlooking now. A scope set up at the door was trained on the nesting ospreys and we had a good look though to see the birds, the first ospreys to nest in Ayrshire for a hundred years or so. But we didn’t stop long at the café; we walked down to a rocky outcrop beside the loch for elevenses.

In the Ness Glen

            We came down through the gorge after coffee. The river was running quite full today and the roar of the water in the gorge drowned out normal conversation.  We contented ourselves with the occasional shout and watching the black water rush and gush, dash and splash, pour and roar, lunging and plunging before idling and sidling into black pools flecked with white foam.  (Aw the nice! Now get on with the narrative –Ed.) Suddenly, and unexpectedly for Gus who was making his first trip through the Ness Glen, the roaring stopped and the waters flowed smoothly and we were out of the gorge and back at the footbridge over the river.

            Now we turned or steps towards the house of Craigengillan delighting in how the owner has opened up the estate for leisure use so allowing us to walk past the house and on to the main drive. Again we weren’t on tarmac too long. Leaving the drive on the old Newton Stewart turnpike, we came out of the wood and onto the open moor towards the ruined hamlet of Barbeth. Here on the high ground overlooking Bogton Loch and the Doon Valley, on bench for three and short grass for the rest, we stopped for a bite. Though it wasn’t the brightest of days, we sat looking out over the valley and planning walks on the far side of it, towards Ben Beoch one day. Someday! Someday soon? Watch this space!

            From Barbeth we crossed the high moor to come to the ruins of Nether Barbeth where the old turnpike heads over the hill towards Knockdon. We left it to do so and turned downhill to the bridge over the Dalcarnie Burn and looked down on Dalcairnie Linn. We had a brief stop beside the linn while Gus was introduced to this gem of a place hidden in the hinterland of Ayrshire. He was suitably impressed. But we were under midgie attack again so moved on.

Peter at Dalcairnie Linn

            Some chose to take the road down past the farm while some opted for the path beside the burn. Those who opted for the latter wished they hadn’t bothered for the grass was long and wet. But the grass path didn’t last long and all were soon back on tarmac. Now our way lay along the road on the west side of Bogton Loch, a narrow road that would take us to the Straiton road. It was along this road that the first spots of rain for the day hit us and rain jackets were donned. But the rain lasted no time at all and by the time we were crossing the Doon to the Straiton road, it had gone and would stay gone for the day.

            There was nothing left for us to do now but to saunter along the path beside the Muck water and come back to the cars at Dalmellington.  Another good day’s walking was rounded of by taking FRT in our usual howff, The Dalmellington Inn.