Saturday, 12 November 2016
The objective of the Biggar ramblers walk on 6th November was the twin hills of Blackcraig and Blacklorg Hills near New Cumnock. After positioning the cars at the end of the walk 10 walkers with the walk leader Brian Henry set of just before 11 o'clock. Passing a small copse a group of Fieldfares were disturbed and flew off in protest. Following the track up to Quentin Knowe the expansion of Hare Hill wind farm could been seen quite close. Shortly after the cairn the route turned south to start the ascent up the shoulder of Blackcraig Hill. During this section the group saw over to the Isle of Arran and later Ailsa Craig. A lunch break was taken at the summit after finding a lee from the cold Northerly wind. A good path although damp in places led the group to the next summit of Blacklorg Hill. On this section a fox was unhappy at the intrusion and ran off down the valley. From Blacklorg the summit of our last hill walk, Benbrack, could be seen as well as the hills further into Dumfries and Galloway. Brian described his next walk on the area just to the south. The walk continued to Cannock Hill and down behind Craigraneoch Rig to get out of the wind and to Afton Reservoir. It was on this section that the Ben Lomond and Arrochar hills could be seen. At the reservoir dam the group descended the unusual arrangement of steps leading down to the road and the end of the walk.
