Screel Hill
Rating: Strenuous
Distance/Time: 5.6km/3 1/2 miles. Allow 2-3 hours
At 1126ft (344m), Screel Hill is smaller than its neighbour Bengairn. However, it provides an excellent, short hill walk with some fantastic views. Despite its relatively low height, conditions at the top may be far worse than at the car park so warm clothing, a map and a compass are advisable.
| Requirements: PARKING is available at the small Forest Enterprise car park on the minor road between Gelston and Auchencairn, approximately 10.5km/6miles south of Castle Douglas. |
| Restrictions: Please adhere to any Forestry Operations signs. |
| Map Reference: NX800547 |
| 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.
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These webs pages have been put together by Keith Kirk. Keith is a semi pro natural history photographer and writer. He is the wildlife feature writer for D&G Life magazine and also writes a monthly Nature Notes column for the Galloway News. His day job is a countryside ranger with Dumfries and Galloway Council, something he has been doing for over 24 years. Keith also has another web site which promotes him as a photographer, whilst this site is more about Dumfries and Galloway, an unknown part of Scotland. www.dumfriesandgallowaywildlife.co.uk
Also check out www.flickr.com/photos/keithkirk8 which he updates on almost a daily basis with his latest images.
Keith is also a photographer who has tested many types of photography kit for manufacturers . At the moment he is testing Bushnell and Spypoint wildlife/trail/stealth cameras. Checkout the link at the top of the page or go to www.scottcountry.co.uk for more info. Also coming soon will be a report on a new outdoor clothing manufacturer (Ridgeline) that is producing good kit for Wildlife Photographers and Birdwatchers.........so watch this space. Here's a quick preview.
A clothing brand in New Zealand has now hit the shores of the UK. Featuring technical fabrics, and membranes that are ideal for photographers and birdwatchers in the changeable UK Climate. Life is about experience and choices, those between you and your environment, you and the gear you wear. Ridgeline's products are affordable, rugged, durable and comfortable, and allow you to get on with the task at hand whenever you need to and wherever you are.
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