Thursday 10 September 2020

9 September - Wanlockhead (the windy walk)

 Davie C, Davie M, Dougie, Gus, Paul, Robert, Billy, Hugh, Jimmy

It was breezy, with an autumnal chill in the air, when we met up outside the lead mining museum.  Whilst the hardy wore shorts the sensible ones donned woolly hats and gloves.

We made short work of the road walk up to the golf ball on Lowther Hill and soon after 11 am we were huddled in the lee of the radar station as we enjoyed our coffee break. 

The wind had been in our favour for the ascent but when we emerged from the shelter of the buildings and headed for Green Lowther we got the felt the full brunt of the crosswind which appeared to be gathering strength.  It wasn't a day for lingering on the top and following a photo opportunity we departed Green Lowther and headed down to the reservoir in the valley.  

The wind was now accompanied by light rain and were soon spread out along the length of the slope as people stopped to don waterproofs. Fortunately for the four at the back, Davie M knew a shortcut but what Davie described as a path looked like an expanse of heather to the other three. The rest had been long settled at their lunch spot by the reservoir, hogging the best seats, when those who had taken the short cut eventually arrived.




The sky had cleared and the wind had abated so we had a very pleasant lunch stop looking out over the sparkling waters towards the hills we had come down from. After our break we made our way to the station platform at Leadhills.  With no trains due we headed up the track to Glengonnar station - at 1500 feet, the UK's highest adhesion railway station. From there it was a pleasant stroll through the village to be back at the cars three and a half hours after leaving. Distance 7.5 miles.

A good walk in wonderful surroundings.

1 comment:

Bob said...

Enjoyed your report Paul.