Drow 'n' Smirr

6.90 miles 3h 54m ascent 305m (1000 feet)

Brockloch Bridge-High Craigeazle-Dunkitterick Cottage

“I was born on Sunday, the 22d of October 1775, (I ascertained these points in 1805,— I did not exactly know my age in 1794) and baptized a fortnight after, on Tuesday 7th November — stated in the register of baptisms to be the 27th, but the old style is understood, (in the register.) The place where my father then lived is called Dunkitterick, or commonly Kitterick; in Earse, Dun-cheatharaiach, — the know of the cattle. It is on the burn of Palneur, on the south side, about a quarter of a mile from the burn, and on a rivulet that flows from the high hills above on the south. The hills of Craigneildar, Milfore, and others, quite overshadow the spot, and hide it from the sun for three of the winter and spring months. The cottage has been in ruins for more than twenty years, as the farm is herded from the house of Tenotrie, the tenant of which holds both Tenotrie and Kitterick. This place, now laid open by a road, was, when my father lived there, in a completely wild glen, which was traversed by no strangers but smugglers.” 

Alexander Murray, Manse of Urr, July 20, 1812.

Yet another Galloway Forest Walk. From the car park at the easily overlooked Brockloch Bridge, along to the Red Deer Range, up the forestry track to High Craigeazle, from where you can see the three Cairnsmores. Then the track and wee footpath to the ruins of Dunkitterick Cottage. An easy enough stroll but with 1000 feet of ascent.

8.03 miles 3h 35m ascent 161m

St Medan-Monreith-Myrton-Drumtroddan Stones (return)

A bronze otter stands on the lichen covered rocks of Craigengour. His head is turned to look over the Lag promontory towards the Isle of Man, on the horizon. A memorial to the author of A Ring of Bright Water. The plaque reads “Gavin Maxwell, 1914-1969, author and naturalist. Haec loca puer amavit – vir celebravit.” These places the boy loved – the man celebrated.

5.98 miles 3h 47m ascent 110

Garlieston-Cruggleton return, and Torhouse Circle

Garlieston Harbour is the closest port in Scotland to the Isle of Man. A sign warns that this is a working harbour and I can understand why such a sign was needed. It was once a busy fishing port but now mostly used by leisure sailors and sea anglers. We saw only one vessel that might have been a commercial fishing boat and that was high and dry

3.11 miles 1h 57m ascent 94m

Pond Trail-Larch Trail-Burnside Trail

“Corse o’ Slakes, Cross of Rocky Hills – Slakes in Saxon meaning rocky hills or rocky brows. In Galloway there are no roads so wild as the one which leads over the celebrated pass of the above name between Cairnsmoor and Cairnhattie. It is a perfect Alpine pass, and was a haunt of Billy Marshall and his gang in days of yore.”

Gallovidian Encyclopædia 1824, John Mactaggart.