Start: car park near
Craigmalloch, approximately 1km East of Barr Village
Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2
km)
Download map, route of
path also available from: http://www.ayrshirepaths.org.uk/walkbarr.htm
(Created by Ayrshire Paths) (Red path on map)
Kirstie's
Trail at Barr 7.2km - No climbing is required in this, the easiest of the Barr
routes. The trail follows the delightful Water of Gregg up the valley to the
Howe of Laggan, passing through mature woodland as far as Kirstie's Cairn.
Christopher McTaggart (Kirstie to his friends
and family) a nineteen year old shepherd lad set out on January 11th 1913 in a
raging blizzard to care for his sheep. Later that day he was found dying by his
twin brother David and two friends. Their efforts to restore heat to his frozen
body were in vain. He died fifteen minutes later. With such weather they were
unable to carry his body back. Kirstie's faithful dog "Wag" refused
to leave his master. The following day between twenty and thirty men set out
for the Howe of Laggan to bring back the body of their friend. At Kirstie's
funeral the Reverend John Angus charged the young men of the village to raise a
memorial to the young shepherd and this they did by building a cairn a few
yards from the spot where he died.
Returning walkers should look out for roe deer
and amongst our feathered friends long-tailed tits, jays, siskins and
bullfinches.
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