Kinnelhead - Craighoar Hill - Queensberry - Lochanhead

Simon Tweedie

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The Queensberry circuit makes a good day's walk in open moorland. Though not particularly high, it is a wild and isolated place and demands a reasonable standard of hillcraft and navigation.

The walk starts at Kinnelhead, which lies some four miles west of Beattock on the edge of The Forest of Ae. Initially the route follows the estate road heading towards Blairmack. Shortly it strikes off along the side of Threepen Burn and up the steep slope of Craighoar Hill. There are several small cairns which mark the way along the top of Harestanes Heights to Mount Glass, before the ground rises to the summit of Queensberry, which is in turn crowned with a much larger cairn.

Leaving the top of Queensberry, drop down to the great green greasy spring called the Pot of Ae. Moving on, the route from here is very easy to find as it follows the edge of The Forest of Ae to the Lochanhead Cottage. Cross the Lochan Burn just before the cottage and pick up the estate road that leads back to Kinnelhead.

Local weather forecasts and other relevant information and services can be found on Galloway Mountain Rescue's excellent website: www.gallowaymrt.org.uk

Scotland - South Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway - Lowther Hills

Features

Birds, Great Views, Mountains, Wildlife
06/09/2021 - ruth day

We did this walk on 29/08/2021. The Brig Inn is now holiday lets. Sign vanished. The road up to carpark has very big potholes. Point 2 take track to right immediately you enter the farm yard. No bridge. This was removed some while ago according to farmer at Blairmack and no sign of a track. Continued on track past Blairmack new forestry access road goes off to right. Through a gate and go immediately left steep faint track alongside forestry fence which brings up summit cairn on Craighoar Hill. Point 6 marker after this cloud descended headed downhill towards forest and large number of wind turbines and picked up track which we followed out to Kinnel Head and back along road to the carpark. Where there is no clear route compass bearings would have been helpful.

27/03/2011 - James Mcneish

Very good day on Saturday 26th March. Myself and 2 friends walked the Queensberry circuit. Weather was very good, excelent views in every direction. This walk is well set out. You have a good stretch of the legs at the start before you get to a steep climb up onto Craighoar Hill. From there it is very easy to navigate as you can view the complete route from this vantage point. Under foot conditions were OK, a wee bit boggy at times but nothing to worry about. All in all a very good day out. Using our Pedometer we clocked the Distance at 9.5 miles.