This interesting Stewartry route, covering a variety of terrain from moor to country lane and woodland, takes in two very different monuments – one commemorating Covenanters and the second commemorating the inventor of the hot blast furnace.
Starting near Glengap, the route heads onto lonely Kirkconnell Moor, where we have a stop at the Martyrs’ Monument, which commemorates four Covenanters murdered at this atmospheric conventicle site.
We then drop down to Tarff Water, before climbing the other side of the valley to Barstobrick and on to our second monument of the day, Neilson’s monument, an imposing structure which commemorates the inventor of the hot blast furnace and commands a panoramic view from the Solway to the Rhinns of Kells.
The final section of the walk follows tracks through woods and farmland to finish in the village of Ringford.
Most of the walk is on well-defined tracks, with a short section on public road. It includes a short very steep descent from Neilson’s Monument.