Near the trig point on Dungavel Hill lie the remains of a
prehistoric cairn, the origins and purpose of which are lost in the
mists of time. The cairn played a part in early modern history too,
when it was the scene of an episode from Covenanting history.
During the "Killing Times" of the 1680s, when government troops
scoured South West Scotland for religious dissenters, ministers and
lay preachers took to the heather and held conventicles - illegal
religious ceremonies - on remote moorland far from prying eyes. For
many, the price of capture was instant death.
On 30th July 1684, one James Renwick was passing the foot of
Dungavel on his way to meet a group of fellow dissenters at nearby
Auchengilloch with 3 companions when he came across a party of
government dragoons. The others fled round the bottom of the hill,
but Renwick rode his horse straight up the hill. The dragoons fired
some shots after him, then gave chase up the hill after the
fugitive. Near the top of the hill Renwick dismounted and fired a
shot back in the direction of his pursuers, but was then unable to
get back on his terrified horse. Renwick let the horse go, and hid
himself in a pit under the stones of Dungavel cairn. With only one
shot left, he knew that discovery would mean certain death.
Reputedly, Renwick prayed for mercy, reciting Psalm 91.2:
‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress: my God; in him will I trust’.
Whether by divine intervention, or just confused by the escaping
horse, the dragoons passed by, a few feet from where Renwick lay
hidden in the cairn, and lost the trail. He escaped, and under
cover of darkness made his way to a friendly farmer near Sandford.
But his adventures weren't over, as another party of dragoons
attacked the Conventicle at Auchengilloch that Renwick attended the
very next day, and once more he had to flee for his life.
From the closest parking area, head up the forest track to a
junction, and go straight over this & up a firebreak till the
trees begin to thin out on the right, then head directly Southwest
across the heather to the trig. If the first space is full, please
don't block access but start from the second parking option
instead.From there head up the forest track, go left at the first
junction, go round the hair-pin bend then take the first right.
Follow this to the very end, then follow firebreaks in the general
direction till you emerge from the trees. The second option links
well with two other caches, Snowy Sheep Fold and Muirkirk
In either case, the last 300m or so are over rough, trackless
heather which is often exposed to the elements. Please wear boots
and be adequately prepared for weather conditions.