Afton Water. Scramble (Dec 2014)

PLEASE NOTE: The GPX trace on this route is for use as a guide only, its accuracy may change depending on the scale of map you are using. Use in combination with judgement and a paper map. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure these walks are safe and correctly described. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. The publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any injuries or accidents that occur whilst following this walk. Trail magazine, Copyright Bauer Media Limited.


Distance 14.5 km (9 miles)
Total ascent 700m
Time 5½ hours
Start/finish track foot at NS631080
Nearest town New Cumnock
Terrain grassy path and hill slopes, tracks; optional stony ravine and very short optional scramble (Grade 1 or 2)
Accommodation Afton Water B&B (01290) 332548
Public transport New Cumnock is on the rail line Glasgow – Dumfries – Glasgow; no public transport up Glen Afton www.travelinescotland.com 0871 200 2233

Tourist info Ayr (01292) 290300 www.ayrshire-arran.org

Two folk who would have been well excited by the Scottish independence debate (if they were still alive) were Bruce and Burns. In between the verses of Sweet Afton Water, Robert B was quilling out a diatribe against the sell-out of 1707. But quite a few centuries before that, Robert the B was fighting the English among the boulders of Craigbraneoch Hill, by the shores of Afton Reservoir. For 200 years Scots have been urging sweet Afton Water to ‘flow gently’. Finally in the 1950s the Water Board did something about it, taming the river into a wide blue reservoir with handsome concrete works of the period.

All around rise the ‘green braes’ with their ‘clear winding rills’; but the walk starts in the wooded river valley below the dam where Burns had his howff or hangout, among ‘yon thorny den’ and the ‘sweetscented birk’ or birch tree... (is there any point in me even writing this intro, seeing as Scotland’s poet has said it all already?). An old path leads from Blackcraig farm onto the heights, with the option of a stony ravine for those who like to lurk. Such lurkers include Robert the Bruce in 1307 – but the bit he really appreciated comes  after the airy wander along the two grassy tops, at the low hill above the reservoir all dotted with outcrop and boulder. Here he conducted guerrilla raids against an English general called Aymer de Valence. A series of midget victories gradually built belief,  and eventually won independence after  the battle of Bannockburn.

Along with the topical resonance of the lurky boulders, today’s walkers will enjoy the long views across all of central Scotland to the distant snow-topped Highlands, the sea, and the Isle of Arran. And as evening shadows fall, you’ll descend to what may be Scotland’s smallest scramble, the clean grey slab of William’s Castle. Then paddle in the river, pick some flowers, and fall asleep under the birch tree, and who knows? Robert Burns might write a poem about you.
NS631080 Blackcraig track end is on the left immediately before the cattle grid where the Glen Afton road becomes unenclosed. There’s verge parking 200m on down the road. Cross the bridge and follow the track to Blackcraig farm. Waymarks point around to left of the buildings, through gates onto an uphill track. It passes up to the right of a small plantation onto open hill. The path continues uphill, wide and green, to the left of a stream (Langlee Burn).

NS644081 At the 420m contour, the path slants up away from the stream. Here there’s a choice. For some stony scrambling, cross the stream on the right and go up alongside a side-stream, southeast, into a wee ravine (little Ern Cleuch on Explorer maps). When a waterfall blocks the way ahead, slant back out to the left, and head straight uphill to join a ridgeline fence. Or else, for a more open ascent, just carry on up the path left of Langlee Burn (soggy for a short section) onto the ridgeline at Quintin Knowe. Don’t go through a gate ahead but turn up right alongside the ridgeline fence. Either way, the ridgeline fence runs up onto the stony plateau, where a stile leads to the trig point on Blackcraig Hill.

NS647064 Descend east of south into a wide col. Keep to the left side of the col for drier going. Follow a fence up the slope ahead, and where it turns away keep uphill to a junction of three fences at the top of Blacklorg Hill. 

NS653042 A waymark arrow indicates the fence leading down west. It bends left then back right, and crosses Cannock Hill. On the long ridge beyond, the fence turns down left; but keep ahead to the rocky little top of Craigbraneoch Hill.

NS633054 Descend steeply south, keeping to the left of rocky outcrops. A small wood conceals the near end of the reservoir dam. Head for the left corner of the wood, then pass back along the reservoir side to the dam, and cross it. At its far end, turn left on a track for 250m, then back sharp right to exit the plantation.

NS629048 The rocky knoll of Castle William is ahead and slightly below. Bear down right off the track to visit it. It’s summited by a grassy walk or a slabby scramble; alongside is ‘William’s Pinnacle’, a spectacular 2m scramble in its own right. Head back uphill to the track and follow it down-valley. It joins the road 1km south of the walk start.