HPB Coo Palace: The Clints of Dromore

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.
WALK
1. 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