Biggar Ramblers met on Saturday 23 rd October to walk 8 miles starting at the village of Wanlockhead..The weather throughout the day was misty over the tops of the hills with occasional rain showers and high winds. The group of eight walked on the Southern Upland Way past the mine workings in Meadowfoot before crossing the bridge over Wanlock Waters, then made their ascent up a steep rough, muddy grass path to the open flat moorlands above with its excellent views of the rolling country hills. The weather did not keep the occasional group of runners from making their way past the walkers along the rough and at times isolated path, which was once home to the Covenanters, with its forests and valleys and majestic hills of the SUW from St John’s Town of Dalry to Moffat. After stopping to cheer and clap the runners to encourage them on their way the ramblers continued along the path which eventually led them down to the ruins of Goghead farm before turning off from the main SUW path and onto the circular path which would take them back to the start of the walk. Here they had the chance to look for the Kists with their treasure hoard, a minted coin or token. The Kists are made to blend into the environment and can be found around a metre or so from the path, they are to be found in each of the thirteen sections of the SUW. Each of the walkers were delighted with a coin, and then went back onto the track to find somewhere sheltered out of the wind for lunch, after this it was back to the starting point on an undulating track. Contact www.biggarramblers.org.uk
