| Start: at the Southern Upland Way information shelter to the rear of the Town Hall. Follow waymarkers over Waterside Hill to meet the road at Garroch Glen. Turn left then left again across Coom Bridge towards Dalry. At the SUW waymarker, turn right, go through the gate and retrace your steps to Dalry.
On Waterside Hill you may be able to find the ‘Witches Score’. If you are familiar with Robert Burn’s poem ‘Tam O’ Shanter’ well this is where the ‘real life’ situation took place. When Robert Burns was told the story he changed it to his home area near Alloway in Ayrshire as he was not too familiar with this area.
Above the SUW shelter in Dalry stands Dalry mote where a 12th century castle once stood. The path continues downhill to cross the suspension bridge, known locally as Boat Weil after the ferry crossing that used to exist here. From here follow the river upstream to meet the road.
From Earlstoun Power Station, part of the Galloway Hydro-Electric scheme, the route heads uphill through bracken and heather. Waterside hill has fairly gentle slopes with rocky outcrops near its modest summit (172m/276ft). The SUW skirts round the summit and offers fine views of Dalry and the Ken valley before heading downhill to Garroch Glen. Follow the SUW through attractive, broadleaved woodland before reaching the road.
Follow the road to reach Glenlee power station, also part of the Galloway Hydro-Electric scheme. From Loch Doon in the north of the region, to Kirkcudbright in the south, there are a host of dams, reservoirs and buildings which make up this pioneering scheme. These features are both pleasing to look at and provide an ideal habitat for wildlife. Loch Ken, formed by damming the Water of Ken, is a major wintering ground for wild geese and is one of the most environmentally significant sites in Scotland.
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 NX6281 for the start point.
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