Windy Standard

Being based in Lochinvar Lodge for a few days, it was too tempting to be situated 10 miles from this hill and not venture up it. So I did. I decided to start at Craigengillan and left the car beside an abandoned house and continued up the forestry track to Moorbrock. Moorbrock hill stood proud above the estate and I carried on past the accommodation, eerily uninhabited. As I started up the hill proper, Beninner and Cairnsmore of Carsphairn came into view. The climbing was steep but this afforded quick views over to the latter hills and before long, I was up on the summit of Moorbrock Hill, looking over to my objective of the day. The terrain was partially frozen but very awkward to walk through since initially solid footing gave way in every step.

I had seen a couple of points on the map that I wanted to check out - Luke's stone and the De'ils putting stone. They are hardly stunning pieces of geology but there is obviously a history behind them. I particularly enjoyed the view down the glen from Luke's stone but the De'ils putting stone was a disappointment although it did have something scoured out of the top of it. I continued on to the flatter part of Windy Standard and walked nervously past the operating turbine, with its (to me) surprisingly loud whoosh. Another 100m across tussocky ground and I arrived at the trig point, where the turbines lay before and below me. I don't agree with such environmental vandalism but they did provide an eerie backdrop to the summit shot. I decided to return over Bawnhope and under the crags of Moorbrock hill along the forestry track. I startled a couple of young deer before climbing a watch tower and sadly finding a dead bird of prey. My return to the car was a sombre experience.