Route One.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> WANLOCK DOD ---> LIMPEN RIG ---> SOWEN DOD --->
SNARHEAD HILL ---> REECLEUCH HILL ---> SLOUGH HILL ---> GLENRAE DOD
---> SPANGO BRIDGE ---> TRACK VIA CLACKLEITH TO JOIN SOUTHERN UPLAND
WAY AT GRID REF. NS832157 ---> FOLLOW FENCE (forestry to your right)
SOUTH FROM GRID REF. NS843157 TO HIGHMILL KNOWE ---> GLENGABER HILL
---> SHIELING RIG ---> STOOD HILL ---> GREEN HILL ---> BLACK HILL
---> RTN. TO WANLOCKHEAD.
Route Two.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> S.U.WAY VIA STAKE MOSS, LOWTHER HILL and COLD MOSS
TO COL BETWEEN COMB HEAD and LAGHT HILL ---> FOLLOW CLACHLEITH BURN
and then DALVEEN LANE DOWN TO A702 ROAD AT GRID REF. NS904083 --->
DALVEEN PASS ---> DALVEEN FARM ---> TRACK TO FORD AT GRID REF. NS
878078 ---> THIRSTANE BANK, then THIRSTANE HILL ---> EAST MOUNT
LOWTHER ---> F.P.,then N.A.T.S. ROAD TO GRID REF. NS883115 --->
STAKE HILL ---> RTN. TO WANLOCKHEAD.
Route Three.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> BLACK HILL ---> MIDDLE MOOR ---> MOOR END --->
STEEP DESCENT TO B797 ROAD AT GRID REF. NS863101 ---> FOLLOW
B797 DOWN MENNOCK PASS TO GRID REF. NS837097 ---> TRACK TO GLENIM
---> THREEHOPE HEIGHT ---> EAST MOUNT LOWTHER ---> LOWTHER HILL
---> GREEN TROUGH ---> GREEN LOWTHER ---> DESCEND WNW TO SHORT-
CLEUCH WATER ---> LEADHILLS RESERVOIR ---> LITTLE STAKE CLEUCH
---> STAKE HILL ---> RTN. TO WANLOCKHEAD.
Route Four.
START ON B7040 ROAD AT GRID REF. NS938175 (nearly one mile west
of Elvanfoot) ---> WHITE HILL ---> LOUISE WOOD LAW ---> BLACK
LAW ---> STEEP DESCENT TO LITTLE WINDGATE HASS, then ASCENT TO
WHITE LAW ---> DUN LAW ---> DUNGRAIN LAW ---> PEDEN HEAD --->
GREEN LOWTHER ---> GREEN TROUGH ---> LOWTHER HILL ---> EAST MOUNT
LOWTHER ---> F.P.,then N.A.T.S. ROAD TO GRID REF. NS883115 --->
STAKE HILL ---> RTN. TO WANLOCKHEAD.
Route Five.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> LEADHILLS RESERVOIR ---> F.P. VIA SOUTH FLANK OF
SHIEL GAIR RIG TO LOWTHERS FARM (ruins) ---> PROCEED VIA SW CORNER
OF GLEN EA'S HILL, then ASCENT NE OF COW CLEUCH TO COL BETWEEN GLEN
EA'S HILL and DUN LAW ---> DUN LAW ---> Continue walk from Dun Law
as outlined in Route Four.
Route Six.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> STAKE MOSS/STAKE HILL ---> WHITESIDE ---> DESCEND
NE SPUR OF WHITESIDE TO GRID REF. NS889125 ---> GREEN LOWTHER
---> GREEN TROUGH ---> LOWTHER HILL ---> EAST MOUNT LOWTHER --->
F.P.TO GRID REF. NS883115 ---> DESCEND ALONG LITTLE ARTHUR GRAIN
TO RESERVOIR (un-named) ---> F.P.(faint) TO MENNOCK HASS --->
TAKE TRACK ASCENDING SSW FROM B797 AT GRID REF. NS873122, then
after approx. 150 yards, PROCEED NNW TO BLACK HILL ---> GREEN HILL
---> STOOD HILL ---> SHIELING RIG ---> GLENGABER HILL ---> S.U.
WAY TO GRID REF. NS857141 ---> SOWEN DOD ---> LIMPEN RIG --->
WANLOCK DOD ---> RTN. TO WANLOCKHEAD.
Route Seven.
WANLOCKHEAD ---> S.U.WAY VIA MEADOWFOOT, HIGHMILL KNOWE and COGS-
HEAD TO GRID REF. NS824123, then FOLLOW FENCE EASTWARDS TO (un-
named) SUMMIT AT GRID REF. NS828122 ---> WILLOWGRAIN HILL --->
STOOD HILL ---> Continue walk from Stood Hill as outlined in Route
Six.
If I was forced to choose my favourite area in the Central Southern Uplands, there would be no hesitation in selecting Wanlockhead and the surrounding Lowther Hills. Despite the accoutrements adorning the summit plateau of Green Lowther and Lowther Hill, to traverse the ridge from Dun Law to East Mount Lowther is an exhilarating experience, with far-reaching views of indescribable grandeur.
It is interesting to note that many of the roads entering Dumfriesshire from the north pass through very pronounced defiles: the A7 at Mosspaul, the A701 skirting The Devil's Beeftub and the A702 descending through Dalveen Pass being noteworthy examples. However, pride of place must be awarded to the B797 linking Leadhills with Wanlockhead before going down the breath-taking Mennock Pass, to eventually join the A76 just east of Mennock village. Caution: the terrain encountered on Snarhead and Reecleuch Hills (Route One) is equal in severity to that found in the Manor Hills encircling the head of Glensax, Peeblesshire. On the high Lowthers, it is by no means rare to experience winds with sufficient force to blow a person over - as I can personally testify! Yet again, I emphasise the need on your part to inform a responsible person of the intended route and what time you aim to be back.
Public Transport: Wanlockhead and Leadhills are linked to Sanquhar by Stagecoach Western Service No. 223. A time-table covering bus routes in the Nith and Cairn Valley Area is published by Dumfries and Galloway Council: copies can be obtained in Sanquhar Post Office. Please note that there is no service to Wanlockhead/Leadhills on Sundays.
Copyright 23rd August 1999 and 19th September 1999:
RICHARD M. STANBROOK,
"Howden,"
18 Drove Road,
Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 OJW.