Mullach na (how now?) bò dhonn

Date 26 August 2017

Hills: Brown Cow Hill

I remember about twenty years ago, when I was near to completing the Munros, a friend thoughtfully trying to interest me in the Corbetts. I flicked through the SMC guide until I came to page 14 (I have it open in front of me now). 'I'm not climbing that' I said, pointing. 'I can stay at home in England and climb things called 'Brown Cow Hill.'

So, fast-forward a couple of decades, to find me driving up the B road from Gairnshiel Lodge, all excited about going to climb… well, I'm still not happy about that name. Can I be allowed Mullach na bò dhonn? Doesn't that sound better? Take your pick: let's face it, a Point NJ 220 044 by any other name will look as sweet.

Anyway, we parked the campervan up at Braenaloin, put the wheel lock on, took the bikes off, and off we went. We took the riverside track, past Rineten, and along towards the bridge at Daldownie…

For those thinking about cycling this way, the track we took scored about 4 on the Velodrometer scale (with 0 being a the rutted cobbles of the Arenberg Trench, and 10 being the surface of Chris Hoy Velodrome under a sheen of wet ice). So note this: just before Daldownie a track comes in from the south, and this rates about 8! The plan was that Caroline (slipped disc) and Sadie (arthritis) were only going to come this far. Which way should they go back? As always happens in these situations, the map in my hand (Explorer 404) didn't go as far as to show where the 8 track actually came out. Well, there was only one way to find out, and that was to explore! (Is it necessary for me to underline the neat irony that the only bit of 'exploration' on this trip was on the bit our 'Explorer' map didn't cover? No, thought not.)

After a brief stop by the bridge for one of the party to enjoy an ice-bath…

…we parted ways. Caroline and Sadie back to the van…

…or to wherever that track came out. Me, to go on past Corndavon Lodge (Velodrometer rating of about 7 on this bit). I parked up the bike about 1km past the Lodge, and headed off on a four-wheel drive track (3) that led steeply uphill. The view soon opened up to the west, and the wonders of Ben Avon. Even the sheep were transfixed…

The track ends at around 550m, with a very thoughtful turning circle for walkers who think better of it. The space in the middle is, I assume, still on offer as an advertising opportunity. Gun cartridge manufacturers, perhaps.

A sort-of path leads up from here, along the line of grouse-butts, to the top of the hill…

In truth, the wonder of Brown Cow Hill is not the hill itself, but the view it offers. Particularly west. I can't think of a stranger, more multi-faceted hill than Ben Avon.

And here it is, about to be embraced by the wings of a giant duck. How many pixels on this birdie, eh? …

One of the streams that flows east towards Loch Builg…

It wasn't just the distant views that caught my eye. Plateau summits have their benefits…

Here's the way back out – beyond Corndavon Lodge and over to Deeside…

I took the 8 track south from Daldownie, and about a mile beyond Blairglass it forked, with one arm heading straight over to the main road. A relief.

So now I can put a tick on page 104 – with happy memories and thoughts about how times change…