29/04/2011 Broad Law

Cramalt Craig (Donald)

Broad Law (Corbett/Donald)

Talla Cleuch Head (Donald)

Length: 13.0 miles  21.0 km, Ascent: +980m, Naismith: 5h 50m

I was at a loose end after my climbing buddy called off our proposed climbing day. Mrs halfaseesaw said I should just go out and get fitter for my upcoming MLT week. So I decided that a quick trip to another new hill was in order.

An earlier start meant I got out to the M74 in better time than the day before and if I hadn’t missed my junction I would have got there even quicker. The drive up Moffatdale is lovely even if you have to play dodge the pot hole at the start. First left after Tibbie Shiels Inn and you soon see Meggat Dam (the largest earth dam in Scotland) follow the road a wee bit further and there is a view point at Cramalt. I parked here with the intention of following the old Thief’s Road out to Dollar Law. 

 Top of the new track. Looking east to Fifescar Knowe from Dun Law

I made excellent time up the track which now runs all the way to the top of the ridge (1hour). Bits of the old road/track can be seen occasionally and I had to get the map and compass out to find out which lump was the one I wanted. Compass set for Cramalt Craig, I walked along the grassy ridge (I’m sure it would be doable on a MTB) in the wind which was getting stronger all the time. Rain had been forecast for around Cheviot but I thought I was well away from that and so was travelling light – warm mid layer and windproof top.

Broad Fell from Middle Hill

Distances are deceiving and Broad Law looked a long way away but I was soon climbing steadily to reach the radio mast on the summit and then walked along to take shelter out of the wind behind a dyke to sort out the next leg. There was a wee Donald to grab before heading back to the car - Talla Cleuch Head.

Looking southish from shepherds cairn on Cairn Law

Down to Cairn Law and turn right for a short climb to the smallest summit cairn I’ve ever seen.

Broad Law from Talla Cleuch Head cairn

Cutting back across the hill from the col I saw some people ascending – a path! My planned descent across the peat hags was abandoned in favour of a little used track which took me directly to the Megget Stone at 430m  the highest point on the road and only 8 meters lower than Drumochter Pass. A few spots of rain quickly turned into a heavy shower made more uncomfortable by the gale blowing into my face. I had to keep my shades on to keep the rain out of my eyes. A number of cars passed but none offered a lift but to be fair I didn’t have my thumb out. At one point the wind and rain were driving into my front while I could feel the sun on my neck and see my shadow on the wet road.

A long 5km in an hour brought me back to the car in  a total time of 6hrs and I'd dried out by then.

28/04/2011 Culter Fell

Culter Fell (Graham/Donald)

Gathersnow Hill (Graham/Donald)

Hillshaw Head (Donald)

Hudderstone (Donald)

Length: 10.5 miles,  16.9 km, Ascent: +961m, Naismith: 4h 59m

Headed for pastures new in the Biggar area. Somewhere I’ve never been before and we picked excellent dry sunny weather for it. We parked in the shade at a small layby at NT031311 (enough room for about 4 cars) and walked south until a track leads off to the left after a stand of trees. Another faint path headed towards the crest of the ridge and we followed this up past a few well hidden and robust grouse butts to the top of Fell Shin then on to the top of Culter Fell. Excellent views even if it was a bit hazy, Tinto hill was to the north, to the south Broad Law and Moffatdale, and of more interest, the easy descent to Holm Nick up Nout Craig and the second hill of the day, Gathersnow Hill. There is a tremendous sense of space in these hills – something you get in the Cairngorms and some of the Perthshire hills, lots of sky and rolling hill sides. Very picturesque.

The view down Fell Shin to Birthwood Farm

Next was the shameless Donald bagging, Leaving the summit of Gathersnow Hill by the west side, we wandered down a faint path following the fence across to Hillshaw Head then almost due North and across the featureless moor (although there is a bizarre mast of some sort) to reach the top of Hudderstone. In poor visibility the easiest way to get between these two minor hills would be to follow the fence or the more adventurous could try a map and compass.

Gathersnow Hill from Holm Nick

We opted for the most direct return to the car and dropped to the minor col between Yellow Moss and The Dod and then by sheep track down Lea Gill to the Barn and then to the road. Back at the car 6hrs after we left it for coffee biscuits and jelly babies.  We saw one person all day and that was the local shepherd training her dogs in one of the fields next to Culter Water.