Ness Glen 4th December

Alan McQ, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Rex and Robert

Eight gathered at the resurfaced parking area at Craigmark Burntonian JFC, Dalmellington in good time for our walk to the Ness Glen which would follow a different outward route to any of the many previous occasions we have visited the gorge. Skies were overcast and there was a chill in the air but we were confident we would complete our walk before the forecast rain and high winds arrived later in the afternoon. Alan lead the group along the Main Street past the Eglinton Hotel pointing out the old CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) sign on its wall and up to the town square whereupon we turned right onto Waterside Street which runs alongside the Water of Muck and then across the main A713 road and up to the town's War Memorial where we spent a while reading the names of the fallen and studying an information board recalling the scandal of the Loch Doon Aerial Gunnery School which was one of the greatest wastes of public money when it was constructed during the First World War at a cost of £3 million.

We continued on a good track (locally called the 'Roman Road'; although there's no evidence that it dates from Roman times) past Pennyarthur Farm. The track rose gradually above Bellsbank and soon afforded us fine views down the Doon Valley towards Patna and the chimneys at the old Dunaskin ironworks. Alan persuaded the group to make a short diversion from the main route to inspect a collection of locked buildings on the open hillside which appear to be in use as an outdoor centre and we took advantage of the benches and tables to have our coffee stop here. We retraced our steps to the main track and continued downhill towards the start of the familiar Ness Glen walk passing on the way another group of makeshift buildings called 'The Cabins' arranged around a small lochan. With hindsight, a covered seating area around a firepit would have made a more suitable location to have coffee. We'll know next time! 

Shortly after leaving 'The Cabins' we got onto the path alongside the River Doon which we would follow up into the gorge. There was a good volume of water flowing down the gorge but we couldn't look at the river too much as we needed to pay close attention to where we were putting our feet as the path was very muddy and slippy with overhanging branches to look out for. About half-way up the gorge, the path was blocked by a fallen tree but there was no talk of turning back and we all got past the obstruction by climbing over or crawling under it even though our endeavours left us muddied and, in the case of Gus, bloodied as he fell awkwardly whilst dismounting the tree. The fallen tree was later reported to Craigengillan Estate who said that it would be removed the following day. 

We reached the dam at Loch Doon without further incident and had lunch at the benches outside the Roundhouse Cafe (which is now closed) before starting off on the return journey which took us through the woods above the gorge and eventually back to the main tarmacked drive which was followed back to the cars. We covered 8 miles in just under 4 hours and had managed to beat the rain which came on as we were leaving the Dalmellington Inn just after 3pm.