| START from the car park. The route is waymarked from here. Follow the road uphill until the path leaves the track and enters the forest on the left. Here the ground gets rougher underfoot and the path gets steeper. Take care on all these forest paths as there are many roots protruding which can be slippery. Continue to follow the waymarkers and soon you come out of the forest into an area of heather and bracken with rocky outcrops. Listen for the distinctive croaking of ravens as they soar above you and watch out for red grouse, which you might come across along the way. Follow the well-worn path to the top of the hill where, on a clear day you can get spectacular panoramic views. To the North-East is the Queensberry range and to the North-West you can see Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and the Rhinns of Kells. There are also views right over the Solway Firth. Auchencairn Bay and Orchardton Bay are in the foreground, along with Hestan Island. This island lies midway between Almorness and Balcary Points and is joined to the mainland at Almorness by a causeway that can be crossed at certain times of the year. Looking across the Solway, see if you can pick out the towns of Silloth, Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven which from your left to your right along the Cumbrian coastline. You should also be able to pick out the high peaks of Skiddaw, Grasmoor, Great Gable and Scaffel Pike!
From here, follow the path along to the Cairn at the other end where you can look across to Bengairn and down Linkins Glen to your right, with Mid Hill in between. Screel Hill, together with its neighbour Bengairn, dominates this part of the Solway Coast. The path then heads downhill into the forest, through a natural archway and soon joins a forest track that takes you back to the path you started on. You can then retrace your steps to the car park.
For a map of the area click to view agree conditions on first page, on the second page in the top left box and type in NX8055 for the start point.
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