5. Clatteringshaws (Craigenbay) to Dalry

Craigenbay (Clatteringshaws) to St. John's Town of Dalry Start: Craigenbay (Clatteringshaws) (Grid Ref: NX 543 789) Finish: St. John's Town of Dalry Nearest Town: St Johns Town of Dalry Distance: 7.75 miles Height Gain: Approx. Time: 3hours Relevant Map: Difficulty: Moderate Terrain: Toilets: Available in Dalry Refreshments: Two shops, two hotels and a sandwich bar at the local petrol station serving freshly made rolls (weekdays only).

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Route Description Starting north of the stunning Clatteringshaws Loch across and in to the Garroch Glen, this section of the walk brings you into natural oak woodland and eventually fantastic views of the Ken Valley as you reach the top of Waterside Hill as the route takes you steadily down to St. John's Town of Dalry. It will also present fabulous views of The Rhinns and Cairnsmore, weather permitting. LOCATION SECTIONAL (miles) CUMULATIVE (miles) SECTIONAL (kms) CUMULATIVE (kms) BARGRENNAN  0  40.1  0  64.5 TWIN BRIDGES OF TROOL  4.2  44.3  6.7  71.2 CALDONS  1.7  46.0  2.7  73.9 EAST END OF LOCH TROOL  1.7  47.7  2.8  76.7 LOCH DEE  3.4  51.1  5.5  82.2 CLATTERINGSHAWS  4.7  55.8  7.5  89.7 KNOCHSHEEN  5.4  61.2  8.7  98.4 WATERSIDE HILL (172M)  2.3  63.5  3.7  102.1 ST JOHNS TOWN OF DALY  0.9  64.4  1.5  103.6 Detailed Description Craigenbay (Clatteringshaws) to St. John's Town of Dalry: At the Craigenbay junction (NX 543789), turn left (west) along the forest road beside the pylon line for about a quarter of a mile. At the waymarked point the Way leaves the road (NX 539791) and crosses a short stretch of open ground beside a wall, entering the plantations on a path that becomes a forest trail (NX 538793) followed north and then northeast for about three quarters of a mile to where the Way crosses a wall-angle (NX 541799) and becomes a pathway leading north uphill. The burn of Hog Park Strand (NX 541805) is crossed just short of where the Way crosses the forest wall (NX 541807) and heads up the flank of Shield Rig, passing over the hill at about NX 548814. From there, it is a walk down to the footbridge (NX 551820) across the burn near Clenrie farm, and along the farm track as far as the car park (NX 558826) at the edge of the Snab Hill plantation. From the car park follow the track (now a metalled road) beside the wood, past the farms of Drumbuie, Largmore and Knocksheen, and on the moorland past the turns for Over Barskeoch and Hannaston, until after Hannaston Wood, where the Way leaves the road beside a wall (NX 598821) and descends a slope to cross a burn before rising through birch-ash woodland, passing by a stile (NX 600819) onto Waterside Hill. Caution: whilst duckboards are provided, some parts of the area near the burn and the moor across the hill are boggy. There is a slight variation in the line of the walk: O.S. 1:50,000 Landranger Map: The path is aligned on a cairn (NX) on Waterside Hill, apparently following the wall on the east side of Hannaston Wood and a wall above it, before descending a clearly-marked trackway (NX 605820) and crossing a small ford before heading for the pylon (NX 611819) and descending to the A762 road (NX 614817) between New Galloway and Earlstoun Dam. From this point there is an easy one-mile walk, beside the road until a waymark (NX 613813) marks the path east across meadows to the Dalry Suspension Bridge (NX 612813). The meadow has a Covenanters' 'Martyrs Grave' south of the wall a hundred yards short of the bridge. Above the east side of the bridge, the Way skirts a tall motte, a sign of the Borders fighting from the mediaeval period. But the Way continues up past the red-roofed church to the rear corner of the Clachan Inn (NX 620812), at the junction with the A713.