Day 4 – Bargrennan to Craigenbay (18.2 miles)

Today turned out to be the day of 3 lochs.
It started with very pleasant riverside walking following the ‘River Cree’ (with it’s slate black waters), the ‘Water of Minnoch’ (where I found our 3rd piece of treasure) and finally the ‘Water of Trool’. We followed the latter to the western end of our first Loch, ‘Loch Trool’.
On paper Loch Troll was the most scenic, we followed a narrow gravel path high on it’s southern flank. It stretches well over a mile in length but only about 400m wide at its widest part so amongst the trees it feels quite intimate as you catch glimpses of it’s majestic beauty.
As we left Loch Troll behind the track widened to full road width, it climbed more steeply now into the Galloway Hills. We crested the brow of the climb, at about 250m, to a breathtaking view of ‘Loch Dee’ (my favourite view of the whole walk so far, and Photo of the Day). It’s vast expanse surrounded by an amphitheatre of rugged hillsides.
We spent most of the afternoon circumnavigating it’s southern banks before descending into the Forestry trees with the ‘Black Water of Dee’ for company all the way to Clatteringshaws Loch and the designated ‘pick-up point’ at Craigenbay
At the pickup point in the hot sunshine we fantasised about the cold beverages we’d order when we got to the pub’s beer garden.
Dinner was Cajun Chicken skewers & chips, Adele had Hot & Spicy Pizza
Stats: Total mileage: 62.5 Pint count: 8