Loch Trool to Cairngarroch
1 NX415804 From the upper Bruce’s Stone car park, take the gravel track marked ‘Loch Trool Loop’. The track starts east, loops south and turns east again to cross Buchan Bridge. Fork left next to The Buchan property and continue east on the 4x4 track to Gale Island. Cross the wooden bridge over Gairland Burn and head south-east through woodland, go through a gate, and fork right just before Glenhead. Cross another bridge and ascend gently south-east on a forestry track. At a junction fork left and continue south-east. Arrive next to Sheil Burn, below a waterfall. This is where the real action starts. Ahead is a tough, pathless slog uphill, bashing through knee-deep vegetation and over rough ground. In poor weather, use the burn as a handrail and follow it (sticking to the right-hand side) up to the col at Nick of the Lochans. Or, on clearer days, simply follow to the right of the stream initially before picking a direct line west over pathless terrain to the summit of Mulldonoch. A large cairn is located just to the north-west of the 561m OS spot height, just beyond a lochan.
2 NX425785 Descend south to Nick of the Lochans, passing to the right of the tarns. Cross an old fence and ascend south-east over steep, pathless slopes to the summit of Lamachan Hill, next to a large wind shelter. Turn right and pick up a trod descending south-west next to a line of old fence posts. From the col at Nick of the Brushy, cross an old wall and ascend the trod south-west over grassy slopes to Larg Hill. Retrace your steps to Lamachan Hill. Head north-east on a grassy trod to a little col before ascending easily to Bennanbrack’s cairn. Turn right and head south-east to re-pick up the trod next to fence posts. Walk south-east along an undulating ridgeline (or follow fence posts running parallel to the right) and arrive at a col. Ascend a good trod south-east to the 603m top of Scars of Milldown and descend to the col below Curleywee, a dramatic peak. Cross a wall, ascend to the right of a grey scree slope and climb east-north-east to Curleywee’s cairned summit.
3 NX454769 Head south-east towards Gaharn. Turn right, to avoid the precipitous Scars of Gaharn, and descend south and south-south-west over steep, pathless slopes to the left of Five Pound Well. Turn left and follow a wall south-east. Cross a fence and arrive at track. If you want to visit White Laggan Bothy, turn left here, or to press on head south-east on a trod over humped terrain to reach Black Loch. Ahead is more undulating, pathless terrain to negotiate. Pick a line south-east, passing below and to the south of White Lochan of Drigmorn. From Gairy of Pulnee, continue south-east past two tiny lochans before veering south and ascending Red Gairy. Head north-east to climb over easy, grassy slopes to Millfore’s trig pillar. Descend northeast alongside the Buckdas of Cairnbaber, take a stile over a fence and arrive at Nick of Rushes. Ascend pathless slopes north-east to Cairngarroch.