Relaxed ramblers and seasoned walkers alike headed for the hills last weekend to take part in the annual Rhinns O’Kells Challenge 2021.
Organised by Drew Filson, Doon Valley councillor, the 15-year strong event welcomes the Dalmellington Walking Weekend for Dalmellington Community Council every year, with help from the Doon Valley Walking Group.
The main walk is the Rhinns O’Kells Challenge Cup which comprises of approximately 16 miles over nine hills and this year boasted the biggest turnout yet, with 42 people taking part.
Drew told the Chronicle: “I’ve been running this event for 15 years now to promote the Dalmellington and the Galloway hill area for walking.
“We bus the walkers down from Dalmellington to Forest Lodge just before St Johns town of Dalry where the walk starts, then it’s back over the nine hills towards Loch Doon to the finish at Drumjohn where a minibus taxi takes the walkers back to Dalmellington.
“People travel down from Glasgow and various other places. It’s about promoting what’s on our doorstep and the natural beauty that surrounds us. That’s what we’re all about, boosting tourism at Loch Doon. The Dark Sky Observatory burning down was a wee bit of a knock back but hopefully we get it built again.”
Drew hopes the walk continues to draw visitors to the area, and that they make use of the amenities available when they get here.
He continued: “It’s a full walking weekend so we have families on the Friday night for the bat walk, experienced walkers on the Saturday then a family walk on the Sunday to finish it off. We get different people every year but a lot of people come and challenge themselves to beat their time from the year before.
“I’d like to thank Doon Valley Walkers and Smith’s Coaches in Patna for their help. Martha McCracken also opens her premises in the middle of the square to make people tea and coffee in the morning before they set off.
“We’ve done it for more than a decade now so I think we’ve got it down.”
Congratulations to winner David Alexander who completed the walk in five hours and four minutes. In second was Melissa McGlynn and third Craig Robertson.
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