Roundhouse Loop - Loch Doon Dam

Start : Roundhouse loop from Roundhouse at Loch Doon Dam. Dalmellington, Ayr. (KA6 7QE) Grid ref. NS 476 012

(S/E) From the Roundhouse, walk down the right hand side and take the track going uphill on the left hand side of the drystone dyke. From here you will pick up the markers. Follow the markers along the trail and up to the summit of Knocknearie where the cairn marks the summit at 320 m’s.

(1) The views along the loch on a clear day are worth the wee hike up (A). From the summit, turn away from the loch and head downhill and continue North to follow the markers heading towards the Dark Sky Observatory (DSO). Just before the DSO, there is a large stone almost like a broken trig point.

(2) After passing here and over the last small hill, go through the gate and follow the road round to the right passing by the SDO, and follow downhill. At the gate, take the road on the right heading up towards Fort Carrick, and round in front of the Fort, keeping the fort on your right hand side. The path goes downhill, over a small bridge and joins up with the Ness Glen Trails.

(3) From here you can turn right and follow the route South-East all the way back to the roundhouse using the High Ness Glen Trail. Or Continue left down the trail, under the suspension bridge and return following the Ness Glen Trail, or Glenn Ness as it was called, meaning Glen of the Waterfall, all the way up river back to the roundhouse. (S/E)

Start : Roundhouse loop from Roundhouse at Loch Doon Dam. Dalmellington, Ayr (KA6 7QE) Grid ref. NS 476 012

Parking : Parking directly behind the Roundhouse is for customers only. There are plenty of spaces in the layby just after.

Dog policy : Dogs to be kept under full control at all times as sheep occupy the first half of the route.

Note : As with all walks, please remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

For more information contact Doon Valley Walkers here.

Geocaching on the track for Krocknearie and Meikle Knowe of Craighead. (Please use the GeoCaching application for more details on their location)

(A) summit of Knocknearie : Cairnsmore of Carsphairn can be seen looking directly over the Roundhouse into the distance. Part of the Rhinns of Kells can be seen from Black Craig to Carlins Cairn on the south east side. The Merrick and parts of the Awful Hand can be seen to the south west. We Hill of Craigmulloch and Craiglee being seen south, just sitting below the Kells on the opposite bank of the loch.
Gleesel hill sits approx 300 m’s west of Knocknearie, (facing away from the loch) with a small cairn marking slightly higher at 324 m’s.