Total distance –  4.9 Kilometres

Ascent –   340 metres

Walking conditions – Well-defined footpaths and forest tracks. No difficulties.

Nearest town – Dalbeattie

Many walkers living within the Central Belt are instinctively drawn to heading north when they fancy a rugged ascent over rocky outcrops, having associated southern Scotland with rolling grassy hills. But that’s not the full story as anyone who has ascended Sceel Hill can attest to. Every one of its 344 metres is well-earned but also well rewarded.

Set off from the Screel Wood forestry car park which is located about 4Km north of Auchencairn on the minor road just off the A711. You’ll walk up a winding forest track for a few hundred metres. As you emerge from the wood you’ll come to a track junction. Take the signed footpath directly in front of you through the trees and plants. After about 300 metres you’ll reach a bench next to a forest track. This is an ideal spot for a tea break. Cross over the track and keep following the footpath which eventually takes you to the crest of the hill. Continue 1Km along this undulating ridgeline with fantastic views of the Solway Firth until you reach a large cairn at the summit. The simplest way to return is by descending south to the footpath that takes you in a ESE direction and quite easily onto the forest track on the southern slope of the hill and back to the car park.

F

Total distance –  6.2 Kilometres

Ascent –  200 metres

Walking conditions – Grassy and dirt footpaths which can be quite muddy in places. Some walking along single track roads (little or no traffic). No difficulties.

Time required – 2.5 to 3.5 hours

Nearest town – Lesmahagow

Make sure you’ve got a map and compass for this one, just in case you make a navigational error in the wooded area.

Douglas is home to the distinguished Cameronians Regiment, which after almost 300 years of service was disbanded in 1968. Renowned for their extremely fast marching pace, the Cameronians could have easily completed the 6.2 Kilometre Douglas Circuit in full kit within the hour. However, I’d have to say that in such beautiful, green, rolling landscape with a number of seats and picnic benches along the way, I’d recommend that you stroll around the route at a leisurely pace, eat your sandwiches at Castle Dangerous and enjoy the fresh air. Unfortunately for the Cameronians undertaking a forced march, the options of sandwiches and picnic benches would probably not have been available to them.

Driving into Douglas follow the parking signs and park at Douglas Valley Church. Start the route by walking past the church on the left hand side and then go down the stairs. Then walk over to St. Brides Church and a football field should come into view on the lower ground. You’ll see an opening onto the football field next to the tree line with a blue footbridge about 400 metres beyond, which is where you’re heading. The footpath is quite faint over this grassy field. Once you’re over the bridge the path is more distinct and heads up towards the forest on the high ground. When your in the wood keep to the footpath on the right. It soon turns into a wider forest track. After about 350 metres take the path veering right. The track then goes straight for about one Kilometre then a sharp right takes you downhill, past Gardens House, over a bridge and on to Castle Dangerous. Keep walking  and you’ll see the Cameronians memorial as well as the Stable Lake on your right hand side as you make your way back to the car park.

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Total distance – 7 kilometres

Ascent – 490 metres

Walking conditions – Good footpath with a generally gravel surface. No difficulties.

Time required – Around 3.5 to 5 hours

Nearest town – Biggar

Tinto is Lanarkshire’s tallest hill standing at a height of 707 metres. It is one of the most popular and well-loved hills in Scotland. Tinto was also earmarked as our 5 year-old daughter’s first reasonably sized hill that she would walk all the way up to the top of by herself. ie not carried by me at any point. This is not as cruel as it might seem. The start point is at a height of over 200 metres so it’s not as onerous as it sounds. As yet, we do not have similar expectations for our three year-old son. He’s not fit enough yet and has too much common sense to be coerced into such thirsty work. Anyway, to cut a long story short, our daughter triumphed and we are very proud.

After parking in the car park at the foot of the hill we set off on our 490 metre ascent and 3.5 Km long walk. The footpath is made up of gravel and sharp boulders with a couple of muddy bits thrown in, so boots are a must. The ascent is fairly gradual and you won’t be short of having features to identify and people to talk to as you make your way up on a clear day. You should reach the top within a couple of hours where you will be greeted by a trig point on top of a huge collection of boulders. Have a picnic and return by the same route. There are other possible descent routes but I stopped using them after the second time I got chased by a herd of cows. I have no idea why I didn’t learn my lesson after the first time. These cows have a bad attitude!

Route