Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and Windy Standard

In Galloway, the A713 travels from Ayr to Castle Douglas. Around halfway along this road is the small village of Carsphrain, from where the B729 follows the Water of Deugh south-east for 6km then turns north-east to meet with the Water of Ken by 'Smittons Bridge'.

By the bridge, an unclassified and narrow road travels northwards following the west bank of the River Ken upstream. Around 4km up this road is the entrance to Moorbrock Farm. Roadside parking is limited.

The route finishes around 6km further up the road, so dropping of a bike would potentially save an hours walk at the end of the day.

From the roadside, head through a gate and up a fine estate track surrounded by forestry. Once out of the forestry, Moorbrock Farm comes into view ahead, encircled by more forestry and overlooked by the slopes of Moorbrock Hill. Follow the estate track towards Moorbrock Farm and leave it just after passing a small lochan and couple of houses .

Aiming westwards and crossing grass, meet with Poldores Burn and follow it upstream, crossing some fences and old walls. After around 1km, cross Poldores Burn and now on open moorland, strike directly uphill ahead on the southern grassy flank of Beninner.

The wide crest of Beninner is gained, from where a delightful wander over grass aims reached the small cairn indicating the hill's highest point.

Turning north-west, drop to the col between Beninner and its larger neighbour, where a faint path is picked up and followed over grass up the south-east shoulder of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, crossing a fence-line on the way. ATV tracks are picked up and Cairnsmore of Carsphairn's summit is reached, where a large cairn sits just east of a sheltered trig point resting at the top end of a wall. Fine views in all directions !

North of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn there are many options to continue hiking on the nearby hills. Moorbrock Hill is classed as a 'Donald', so some hillwalkers may want to include this in an itinerary. I opted for a circular route taking in Windy Standard and descending Alhang and Ewe Hill.

From Cairnsmore of Carsphairn's summit, aim north on its wide grass-covered crest and descend to Currie Rig. Beyond this, turn north-east and lose a further 250m of height dropping down delightful grass-covered slopes to Bow Burn .

Cross the burn and begin climbing the hillside directly ahead between a couple of patches of forestry. A track is crossed and Keoch Rig is climbed. The wind farm expanded in 2020 to engulf this summit, with its small cairn now placed between two massive wind-turbines.

The wind farm roads climb over Keoch Rig and onto Windy Standard's southern shoulder, from where a fence is followed northwards over grass to meet with more windfarm roads leading to Windy Standard's summit trig encircled by wind-turbines.

About-turn and head back to the wind turbine east of Windy Standard's summit, then drop eastwards to pick up a fence-line. Follow the fence-line as it drops to the col before Millaneoch Hill, where a junction in the fence-line is met. Aside the fence-line heading off right (south-east), cross some damp ground and trace the line of posts close to summit of Alhang . The small cairn marking this hill's highest point rests around 100m south of the fence-line.

Aiming northwards continue following the fence-line towards a wide col below Alwhat, then leave fence-line and drop down a gentle gradient to the grassy col before the northern summit of Ewe Hill. The fence-line is met once more and followed over Ewe Hill's northern summit to its higher southern summit .

Still following the fence-line, descend down a fairly steep and grass covered slope tracing the edge of a forest to the Water of Ken below. Pick up road and return to the start, with a fine view of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn developing on the way.