Walkhighlands

Day 8 and the weather has broken the wall to wall sunshine has gone and the clouds are low and covering the hills.
today is a climb over the hills and into the Borders via Ettrick Head.
The stage is listed as going to StMarys loch but I've decided to cut at short at Glen Ettrick at 16 miles.
Full waterproofs on as Cath dropped me off on the bridge in Beattock by the old Telford hotel and the rain was falling as I found the geocache there before heading down a tree lined lane to duck under the M74 and away swishing my legs to cross the valley bottom.
Over a stile and the first climb of the day over a little hillock before descending back down to a small road, then after a view of a large house dived into the woods where i met a walker and his lovely two setters. said hello then walked on into a field with horse jumping fences.
The rain came down very heavily as I crossed the field and then crossed the minor road to start the climb up into the hills. It rained and rained and rained, trying to make up for the last dry 7 days since I left the coast.
Up the track until I saw the sign where the high level route split from the main track and despite the weather decided i wanted to climb up over Gateshaw rig and Croft head, rather than tramp along forestry tracks.
The weather was windy with cloud drifting through the trees and rain falling. the high level route drops down to cross a burn before following a wall through a recently felled section before joining a forest track and then turning uphill on a raised path which zigged and zagged steeply uphill into the cloud.

Telfords hotel

Under the M74

emerge on the otehr side and looking north towards Moffat but just rain and cloud
no real idea what lies ahead up in the hills
over the stile and a short climb
at the top of the hillock could see the route upwards into the cloud



into the woods

fences but no horses

the sign at the start of the high level route

drops down to the footbridge to cross a burn

The route is over rough ground through a recently felled area
Climbing the zig zag section steeply
up into the cloud
To join a forestry track, I couldnt see alot so just walked in the direction the waymarks pointed
followed the track until i got to this sharp corner and the way heads up the steps and onto the moor to climb up to Gateshaw rig
the weather up on Gateshaw rig
The summit of Gateshaw rig, no view just cloud
the summit of croft head
Down off croft head and down a zig zag path down cat shoulder to rejoin the main path by a large circular sheepfold where i had a rest sheltered behind a wall and had my lunch

A short climb then the path contours through this steep sided valley, I met my first walkers since loch trool on day 4 when i met a group climbing up towards me in the rain, we said hello and they were amazed when i said that i was walking the whole route. Made me feel chuffed.


The footbridge at Ettrick Head
crossing from Dumfries and Galloway into the borders
heading into Glen Ettrick near Over Pawthorpe bothy
The bothy where i stopped for a rest and a dry out

glen ettrick and the weather is clearing



Cath met me in glen ettrick and took me away to dry out.
A fun day out in the rain the high level was great despite the lack of views.

Hi bargee - really enjoying your info and photos on the SUW. Every bit of info helps as I'm doing this walk next year.

Thanks Gordie
IT was a grand walk and really pushed my limits on the long stages through galloway though i was very lucky with the weather as the ground was fir throughout when it could have been very boggy.
good luck with your walk and if you want any info just ask.
iain the bargee