Johnny Turners Monument

Walk Index

This is a walk I do now and again it's about a five mile round trip from home to the monument and back again. John Turner was by all accounts an educated man despite his appearance. He earned his living by repairing leather goods and general "tinkering" for farmers in the neighbourhood. Unlike others of his of his type John wanted to go down in history, the way he went about it is quite remarkable. He bought a plot of land on the summit of Glen Hill from the Laird Mr J Lennox. He then over time dug his own grave and erected the monument we see today. Even back in those days we were not free of vandals, some children apparently found the grave and filled it in with stones but John dug it out again and managed to keep it intact until it was needed.

My usual route is to walk from home to Bogle Brig and take the narrow lane towards Glenkiln, it's about a couple of miles to the gate at NX826756, this leads on to a track. Follow the track until you come to a gate and I think there is a cattle grid too, you will see a wall heading off to your right toward the hill where the monument is. Just follow this wall and you will come to a gate go through the gate and keep following the wall. There is no marked footpath up to the monument so it's a matter of finding the best way to suit your capabilities, it is a bit of a scramble but well worth the effort.