This old drove road goes south from Muirkirk past Kames and up the Garpel Water, crossing it by the bridge at NS698245, to the col (410m) between Wardlaw Hill and Stony Hill. Continuing south-east then east, the path (boggy in places) enters the forest on the south-east slope of Drummond’s Knowe. A forest road leads on to Fingland where there is a choice to either head southwards to Sanquhar (28km in total) or to continue to Wanlockhead. If the latter, from Fingland the line of the old drove road goes east up the slopes on the south side of Spango Water, but after 1.5km the track peters out; head for a gate in the drystane dyke to the east and regain the track on the north side of Shiel Hill at a height of almost 430m. Continue along the south side of Lamb Knowe and descend to Spango Bridge on the B740 between Sanquhar and Crawfordjohn. 400m north-east of Spango Bridge, go south-east towards Clackleith. Historically, the route followed the Wanlock Water to Duntercleuch, but a longer alternative (perhaps preferable to those on bikes) is the track which can be followed through the forest round the south side of Duntercleuch Rig (where the Southern Upland Way is joined) to descend to Duntercleuch. Thence continue up the Wanlock Water to Wanlockhead.
An alternative to the forestry track from Spango Bridge towards Wanlockhead is to fork left through a field gate before the concrete bridge over the Wanlock Water and go up its east bank to rejoin the route at NS850150, thence continue to Wanlockhead.

OS Landranger 71 (Lanark & Upper Nithsdale area)