Walk 13 - The Clints of Dromore walking and hiking route
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Walk Instructions
Start: At the Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature
Reserve Visitor Centre, about 7 miles from Gatehouse
of Fleet
Refreshments: Cafes and pubs in Gatehouse
A rugged walk over some challenging terrain.
The Clints of Dromore are a range of granite
cliffs at the head of the Fleet Valley in the
shadow of Cairnsmore of Fleet. This walk loops
over the Clints and visits some interesting
sculptures and wildlife viewing areas.
1. Follow the B796 for about 6 miles northwards from
Gatehouse of Fleet then take a turning along a minor
road to the right, signposted for the Cairnsmore of
Fleet National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. Follow the
road for about a mile to the car park and visitor centre.
There is a good display about the local landscape and
wildlife and some information postcards about a series
of sculptures by local artist Matt Baker, associated
with poems from Mary Smith of Castle Douglas. The
sculptures are of various forms and are hidden away in
the landscape.
From the visitor centre follow the track towards the Big
Water of Fleet disused railway viaduct. You can stay on
the track and visit a wildlife pond on the left or follow a
faint path along the riverside to look for the first of Matt
Baker’s sculptures.
2. The first sculpture is a small work found hanging on a
rock in the middle of the river. It is called “Scene Shifter”
and echoes the form of the viaduct.
3. The railway viaduct is on the disused “Paddy
Line” that used to run from Dumfries to Portpatrick,
connecting with ships to Ireland. It was featured in the
1935 film of John Buchan’s “The Thirty Nine Steps”.
Just past the viaduct there is a carved bench in a small
fenced enclosure by a parking area. You can cut the
corner here by heading up past the bench to reach the
track that slant up to the old railway embankment.
4. Another short diversion lets you explore the
abandoned village of Little Cullendoch a couple of
hundred yards further along the track from the viaduct.
There are just the bases of the walls of the buildings
left now but if you look closely you may find another
sculpture hidden among the walls. Follow the course of
the railway line for about half a mile. There is another
sculpture, called “Ocean”, hanging from a rock face on
the right side. You will come to a gate and signpost
on the left where the path for the Clints of Dromore
branches off. Climb very steeply up a shallow gully to
gain the ridge. Hidden in amongst the heather on the
right side of the path there are some Rosnes Benches.
5. These are part of another art project and are a great
place to take a breather and admire the view back down
the valley towards Gatehouse. The route is now marked
by vertical posts that lead you along the broad ridge
above the Clints.
6. When you first gain the top of the ridge, make your
way over to the first rocky outcrop on the edge of the
cliffs to find a group of granite sculptures called “Hush”.
The cliffs are home to a herd of wild goats and you will
probably see them as you look along the line of cliffs.
Peregrine falcons also nest here, and you have a good
chance of seeing them in the spring and early summer.
Follow the line of well-spaced marker posts over rough,
heathery terrain until you reach the highest part of the
ridge at Mountain End. This is a good viewpoint for the
massive bulk of Cairnsmore of Fleet, the most southerly
2000+ foot hill in Scotland.
7. From Mountain End, follow a faint path down a broad
ridge to traverse beneath the cliffs of the Clints. Some
sections can be quite boggy after wet weather.
8. Eventually you will reach a gate where the path
crosses the old railway line. Continue across farm land
along an improving path to reach the road and the way
back to the visitor centre.
It would be a great help to future walkers if
you could record any inaccuracies you come across
during this walk and report them to reception so that
appropriate amendments can be made. Thank you
for your help. Happy walking.
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Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.
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