Regarding the blocking of the road verges I noticed quite a way back along the public road that wooden posts have been put in place on the verges where it would be possible to park - there are only a few places - and along the verges leading to the filter beds. The boulders seem to have been removed...

I took a run out there the other week too to see what things were like. Once again the large car park was empty - what a waste of money! There were some Scottish Water workers at the filter house, and they just smiled and waved. I notice that the estate has put a sign up on the filter house car park...

Unfortunately I had a paper copy of last week's Courier but it went out with the recycling bin Like you I can't find it online - the sceptic in me wonders if it that was deliberate after the landowner's pressure? There might still be copies left at newsagents?

An interesting letter in this week's East Lothian Courier. The writer has been in touch with lawyers for Scottish Water who own the small car park at the filter house that was always available for walkers to use. It seems Scottish Water are happy for people to still use that car park providing that ...

The estate Facebook page seems to have been taken down - possibly because of all the overwhelmingly negative comments about the restricted opening hours made on the post quoted above. I am still bemused at the stupidity of the opening hours offered - they are storing up issues as people will then ha...

Yes - please see my earlier update post on this. I have been in touch with Ramblers Scotland and they are concerned about this restriction of access and will be taking it up with the East Lothian Access Officer in the hope that ELc might be able to get the estate to see sense. The public response vi...

Further to previous posts on this the Estate have now published the following on their Facebook page: Thank you for your patience ... The Hopes Car Park will be opening for permit holders ‪only from Tuesday 13th‬ ‪April‬. Permits will be available from Hoggs Newsagents in Gifford from this date. The...

Always done it from the Blinkbonny approach (by bike) so don't know the other approach. There were a few folk parked safely at the end of the road last time I was there.If the Hope Reservoir parking is on his land then not much you can do about it but if he is policing the public road then a differ...

WalkWithWallace wrote:Jeez, I never realised Hopes would suffer the same fate as the popular spots in the Pentlands. Poor show from the landowner, I think he will exacerbate problems.

My thoughts exactly!

The landowner - Robbie Douglas-Miller - has decided to close the access to the small car park by the filter houses on the way to Hopes reservoir and then on to Lammer Law etc. He cites car parking issues this Summer - normally it is fairly deserted there - and says he will do some essential work so ...

Ooops - you are right got my left and right mixed up DOH Must be and age thing

Yes it was a slog but in retrospect I enjoyed it. Glad you enjoyed Dirleton Castle - its a great place to live.

Instead of doing the full horseshoe from Peebles I started from the Quair Water near to Glen House NT305336. From there you head along the Cross Border Drove Road that takes you onto the hills - fairly good going on a well made path, and well signposted to Peebles. After skirting around Birks Hill y...

Set out from East Lothian in the mist and it got worse around Bonnyrigg. But I carried on and by the time I got to Biggar it was clearing. Followed the WH route up after parking at Culterallers Farm - a weekday so plenty of space. P1030050.jpg The path is pretty clear all the way up although I did m...

Unexpectedly I had a quiet work day, and luckily it was the best day of the week after the horrible wind and rain/sleet we've been having. So a spur of the moment decision this morning and off I went to Innerleithen about an hour from home, and a wee trip up Lee Pen just to the North of the town. Fo...

Did Mendick early last Summer going past Slipperfield and then straight up, then came back the way the last post suggests. Good short walk.