free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Hewitts: Lovely Seat.
Sub 2k Marilyns: Hightown Hill/White Hill.
Date: 19/09/2021.
Distance: 3km + 2.5km.
Ascent: 150m + 130m.
Time: 1 hour + 50 minutes.
Weather: Grey in the Dales; breezy sunshine in the Borders.
Having stopped a night with my aunt in Addingham on the way back from the Lakes, we were ready to head back to Glasgow on Sunday. We decided that since the weather looked reasonable (if a bit showery), we would take a scenic route through the Dales, perhaps stopping for a walk. I had a hill in mind that would be nice and straightforward.
The weather further west was looking gloomy, but at Buttertubs, we were right on the boundary and would hopefully stay dry. Parking up by the cattle grid, we followed the fenceline towards Lovely Seat - a mere 150m ascent from the top of this high pass.
Great Shunner Fell Lovely Seat [/url
][url=https://flic.kr/p/2muYU52]Jackie on the way up Looking back to Great Shunner Fell There is very little to say about this route - a little boggy initially then a fairly obvious grassy path to the summit. There is indeed a seat on the summit of Lovely Seat. Maybe it is named for this (the hill in general is variously called Stags Fell or Muker Common) or maybe someone built the cairn up to match the name. We were out of the cloud with nice views across Wensleydale and more threatening skies to the NW above the western end of Swaledale, where we were headed next.
A lovely seat on Lovely Seat Across Wensleydale to Dodd Fell NW up Swaledale Back down at the car, we enjoyed the pleasant weather through Keld but as we climbed onto the high moorland above Kirkby Stephen, it became very unpleasant. However given the quick changes in the forecast, we decided that we might try another small leg-stretcher a little closer to Glasgow if it became nice again.
_______________________________
The weather perked up north of Carlisle, so once we reached Lockerbie we took a short diversion away from the motorway through Lochmaben. Parking in the only available space just short of Hightown, we set off across the field, Jackie very aware of the cows that were lined up ahead (and the 'bull' warning on the gate)! We had actually started in the wrong place and had to climb a couple of gates to reach the farm track (and the cows).
Queensberry from Hightown The summit of this hill has been re-surveyed as being the old hill fort on White Hill, a few minutes to the south of Hightown Hill. We decided to visit the trig of Hightown Hill first though, mostly as the cows were elsewhere at this point.
White Hill from Hightown Hill Criffel Pleasant views to Queensberry and Criffel, as well as across Annandale to the Moffat hills. A short strol (and shimmy under an electric fence) took us onto White Hill, which had a similar outlook.
Moffat Hills across Annandale Annandale again Gana Hill and Queensberry Between Hightown Hill and White Hill We spotted a red kite above on our return to the farm track, and most of the cows had moved around so that we only had to pass a couple of them - Jackie was pleased! Then it was back to the car to rejoin the motorway at Beattock, and home.
Red Kite Looking back to Hightown Hill from near Shieldhill A couple of uneventful but handy little strolls to break up the journey from Yorkshire to Glasgow.