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Name: | Blackcraig Hill |
Hill number: | 1743 |
Height: | 700.9m / 2300ft |
RHB Section: | 27C: The Glenkens to Annandale |
Donald area: | Carsphairn Hills |
County/UA: | East Ayrshire |
Catchment: | Nith |
Class: | Marilyn, Hump, Simm, Graham, Donald, Current County/UA Top, Yeaman (Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim,G,D,CoU,DN,Y) |
Grid ref: | NS 64767 06407 |
Summit feature: | cairn |
Drop: | 235m |
Col: | 466m NX608981 |
OS map sheet(s): | (1:50k) 71 77 (1:25k) 328S |
Observations: | trig point 50m NW at NS 64741 06451 is 0.4m lower |
Survey: | Leica RX1250 |
Change log: | show changes for this hill entry |
GPS data: | show GPS entries for this hill |
Notes: |
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N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way. Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land(*).
*For information about access rights in Scotland see the ScotWays website.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass. Please quote the hill number and hill name.
Logged Descriptions (logged by 343 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all) | By | Date of Ascent |
https://www.strava.com/activities/10499490004 | Graham22b | 04/01/2024 |
From Glen Afton. Round of Alhang,Alwhat, Miekledodd, Blacklorg, Blackcraig. 5hrs. | Longwojo | 01/09/2023 |
Circuit from the Afton Rsvr CP of Blackcraig, Blacklorg & Cannock Hills and Craigbraneoch Rig. | sclater | 06/08/2023 |
Dun Rig Head, Blackcraig Hill | keithouk | 19/06/2023 |
To save time I decided on a direct approach. Loads of space to park at houses 100m beyond Craigdarroch. Walked over the bridge, past Craig, then left across the field and easily over the stream. Rough going up to about 500m, not too bad after that. Returned taking a slightly more northerly line which was quite a bit better and then between the river and Craig, then to the track and back over the bridge. Definitely saved time compared to starting from Blackcraig but not a lot of fun. | Owen B | 09/04/2023 |
Bridge by Blackcraig Farm > Quintin Knowe > Blackcraig Hill > Blacklorg Hill > Cannock Hill > Craigbraneoch Hill > Craig > Bridge by Blackcraig Farm. | Winterfloodian | 19/09/2022 |
Parked off road, just south of the track to Blackcraig. Track up to Quintin Knowe then across to fence and up to summit. With Jill. | Dangerous Dave | 25/08/2022 |
First top on round of Grahams/Donald's around Afton Reservoir used the track up from Blackcraig Farm. Early summit at 6.30am. | Jossker | 14/05/2022 |
From Blackcraig Farm for a round of Blackcraig Hill, Blacklorg Hill, Meikledodd Hill, Alwhat, 	Alhang, Windy Standard, Black Hill and Struther's Brae. | rhalstead | 17/04/2022 |
CK | SheilaS | 28/12/2021 |
From Blackcraig Farm parking just into farm track before bridge (NS 6313 0802), small pull-in for 2-3 cars, unsure if it's designed for walkers, no signage. Took good track up past farm to Quintin Knowe, then a trod alongside fence to top... easy route for a lazy bagger - Merry Clints looked much more interesting. On to Dun Rig Head -> Laglass Hill -> Lochbrowan Hill and return for a 10 mile round; lots of wet heathery, tussocky ground between those hills. | jonglew | 18/12/2021 |
Up from Craigdarroch and back via Blackcraig, smashing sunset with a dusting of snow first of winter. | JimT | 28/11/2021 |
From Blackcraig farm. Fairly easy climb to top in thick cloud. After I reached the top I descended to swamp hell as I approached the Donald Blacklorg Hill. After which things got really exciting in the thick grey cauldron. Leave to a dry clear day is my advice. | Jhimmy | 17/10/2021 |
Up from Blackcraig on good track to Quinton Knowe, then across to fence which went to top. Trig then HP. Carried on over tops to Windy Standard, | PeterD | 12/10/2021 |
As logged by Beeliner - but no snow. | m0jla | 20/09/2021 |
8 of 8: From Blacklorg Hill using the SMC book route. M.O.T. noted. With Karen. | ChrisR | 02/09/2021 |
Weather fair. | MountainMac | 30/05/2021 |
Round of six Donalds from Glen Afton - Blackcraig, Blacklorg, Meikledodd, Alwhat, Alhang, Windy Standard - back using wind farm tracks | Colin Crawford | 22/05/2021 |
I headed down to East Ayrshire today, aiming for the four Donalds around the Afton Reservoir, south of New Cummock. 
Parking at Blackcraig Farm (about 3km north of the dam), I headed up the track to Quintin Knowe and up a boggy ATV track to Blackcraig Hill (700m) a Graham and Donald. Then in a clockwise motion around the Afton Reservoir, following boggy ATV tracks, I bagged the Donald of Blacklorg Hill (681m), two Donald Tops of Meikledodd Hill (643m) & Alwaht (628m) and ending on the Donald of Alhang (642m). 
The plan had been to head west for Windy Standard, a Graham and Donald, but I was tired and didn’t fancy the descent then re-ascent required, so I followed the Afton Water north to the Reservoir. At the north end of the reservoir, I bumped into the farmer, who gave me a lift back down the glen to my car, saving me approx. 3km of a hike. 
It was generally dry all day, with small patches of snow already lying. With the farmer’s assistance this took 05:55hrs all in. | chillyman8 | 05/05/2021 |
With E on a cold day with occasional snow showers. Small parking area on W side of Afton Water below Blackcraig Farm. Up well maintained track above Langlee Burn to Quintin Knowe. Then along fence through snowdrifts, over one stile to summit cairn then trig pillar. Return same route. | Beeliner | 05/05/2021 |
Windy Standard Round 11. 34.5km, 1834km ascent, 10.5hrs. One to forget | Huwel | 27/02/2021 |
Cold wind. Headed back after this one. | thekirkie pirate | 12/09/2020 |
Returned to Afton Valley two days after climbing Windy Standard. Parking by track to Blackcraig Farm at NS631080. After farm we soon reached a roughly graded track almost to Quintin Knowe. Then followed Fence up to cairn. Continued over stile to trig point on plateau. Operated ham radio for SOTA on summit using HF Morse / Voice. | G4OBK (Phil) | 08/09/2020 |
Glen Afton round with Rob, Rosie and Lily. Followed the SMC guidebook route. Lovely part sun, part cloud warm day with a cooling breeze. | alexmaclennan | 16/08/2020 |
Started from the small pull in at the start of the entrance to Blackcraig farm, follow right of way to Quintin Knowe and a little further past until a gate is reached then follow fence uphill till a obvious crossing is reached, hop over fence and head straight forward to the trig and then left to the summit. Two and a half hours for the five and half miles. | WAYNE ROWLETT | 23/12/2019 |
9th top of 11 on a 29km circuit from the Glen Afton road, climbing Craigbraneoch, Cannock Hill, Alwhat, Alhang (twice) Ewe Hill North top, Ewe Hill, Meikle Dodd Hill and Blacklorg, continuing along fenceline Nnw to the cairn and then Trig point. Continuation Nne to Hare Hill... | Dazingdale | 23/09/2019 |
Parked at entrance to Blackcraig Farm (8:20) and followed track almost to col and then to ridge where occasionally boggy path led along fence to summit. Clear with fair views. Returned via col. Negotiated small herd of cows, fortunately timid, near farm. Finish 10:45 | dbb | 30/07/2019 |
fa, solo, sunny and breeze on the tops, wet underfoot on the hills, with some land rover tracks, 25.5km, 9hr from clennoch bothy to new cumnock via, tracks, hillside to keoch rig with a new mast on its top, past the putting stone to windy standard along the wind farm tracks, down to a col and along a fence then up to Alhang, alwhat , meikledodd hill, then across a new track not marked on the maps or viewranger, blacklorg hill, blackcraig hill and down to quintin knowe to pick up the track down to blackcraig farm, then the minor road all the way to the train station in new cumnock | rum doodle | 07/06/2019 |
Solo trip. Rather a bleak morning with mist and a chilly breeze. | Invicta14 | 24/05/2019 |
from Windy Standard via ring of Donalds. | IanHHill | 19/05/2019 |
Parked on hardstanding alongside the Blackcraig track, about 50m from its junction with minor road (space for 2 or 3 cars) - As others, up stone track & then path/ATV track to fenceline - Path up alongside fence to small pool at around 670070 - Veered off to right, skirting a large boggy area before heading up to large cairn - SSE for about 60m to narrow gateway in barbed wire fence & then across to summit cairn & nearby trig point. (S) | gerrybowes | 16/05/2019 |
Solo | Vin | 06/05/2019 |
Solo. Parked just south of start of track to Blackcraig. Up to Quintin Knowe for a satisfying circuit of Blackcraig Hill, Blacklorg Hill, Meikledodd Hill, Cannoch Hill and Craigbranreoh Hill. Mist lifted off the tops as I started so I could see where I was going- always nice! Rain towards the end. | pwbellarby | 28/04/2019 |
Start Blackcraig Farm, with Chris,Andrew and Esther the dog. | Hutchie | 27/04/2019 |
From Glen Afton up track and excellent path to Quintin Knowe then easy going to the summit of Blackcraig Hill. Returned across Star Bog (not too bad) and on up access road to Hare Hill. Came back over Laglass Hill (easier going) and down track to car. Cracking day. | SS | 22/04/2019 |
Easy walk up from Blackcraig farm. | willyross | 17/04/2019 |
Parked just down the road from entrance to Blackcraig Farm, up tourist route via Quintin cairn and then onto Windy Standard via assorted Donalds. | MichaelF | 27/03/2019 |
From Blackcraig, path up to Quintin Knowe then NNE ridge. Back by more direct route. | Topographer57 | 28/10/2018 |
Round of Windy Standard, Alhang, Alwhat, Meikledodd, Blacklorg and Blackcraig. | PGCE | 24/09/2018 |
Climbed up via Blackcraig and the summit of Quinton Knowe from Afton Water - parking in small parking area near the end of the road. (the car park in woods is closed but there is area above river you can use). A gentle ascent, several cairns but the Trig point is your objective. | nickywood1 | 19/08/2018 |
Up from New Cumnock, down to Kirkconnel | quadbarrel | 13/06/2018 |
Glorious conditions with delightful hard snow fields | Colin Crawford | 25/02/2018 |
Parked at Craigdarroch Farm walked to Blackcraig farm crossed river and headed uphill to Blackcraig summit | Flyingrabbit | 11/11/2017 |
The hardest of the five. Awful descent back to the car a t the Hydro scheme. It's great to see so many wind turbines employing so many people. | Play2End | 09/08/2017 |
Blackcraig Hill is lovely, but Glen Afton is becoming an industrial wasteland, being sacrificed for our insatiable “need” for electric power. Climb this hill now before it, too, becomes a wind farm. The full circuit of the Glen is not a good idea anymore, because Black Hill and Lamb Hill are vile construction sites. The Afton reservoir car park is closed and there are few other parking places due to roadworks. I parked near Blackcraig, followed the road and then an unmapped forestry track from Craigdarroch towards Cannock Hill. Only the last short climb to the fence is grim tussocks, and the non-opening gate has to be climbed. After that, it’s an easy walk on a good path over Cannock, Blacklorgs and Blackcraig Hills, with only modest amounts of squelchy bog. The Blackcraig summit plateau is lovely, with multiple cairns and the trig (not the highest point) and the views would be superb if it were not for the wind farm to the north. Down on the good path to Blackcraig. | Gill | 16/02/2017 |
Revisit on the way to Dunrig Head & Laglass Hill. | agentmancuso | 03/12/2016 |
Afton Res, round | Flatfield | 04/09/2016 |
Circuit of Afton reservoir. | Grinner | 28/08/2016 |
ghaley | 21/08/2016 | |
On a round of the Afton Hills, Windy Standard to Blackcraig Hill. Disturbed a Red Kite which had been perched on one of the cairns. Took a very direct descent which ended at Craigdarroch Farm and with a paddle across the Afton Water. | Roblex | 05/08/2016 |