My First Donalds

[The English Alpinist]

Forecast said cloudy; was cloudy. Innerleithen below.

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This was the first of a pair of walks taking in the Moorfoot Hills group. A forecast of 'cloudy' for today and most especially winds of 100kph on high ground tomorrow lead me to choose to make a start on Donald-walking instead of a foray to the Crianlarich Munros. I read that, although there are traditionally 89 Donalds and 51 'Donald Tops', 29 of these Tops now have 'New Donald' status, making 118 New Donalds all told. Therefore some 22 Donald Tops are not New Donalds, but remain sadly as mere Tops. Having made sense of this - although still not entirely absorbing such criteria as elevation and 'topographical merit' - I have decided why not the heck just aim to do the lot. These 'peaks', for want of a better word, tend to be close together and easily linked so it seems there is no point in trying to avoid them. Thus, I endeavour to be one day a thoroughly compleat 'Donaldist' [see footnotes] who has done, in total, 140 Donalds, New Donalds and Donald Tops. Also, one must not overlook the fact that no less than 23 Donalds (but not any mere 'Tops') are also classed as Grahams and 7 are mighty Corbetts thus bringing a fine sense of bonus to one's efforts. Fascinating stuff. Onward to the sleepy (at least in winter) town of Innerleithen, my starting point for making a start.

Basecamp Innerleithen.

Golf is an option here.

Ascending Preisthope Hill.

The only creature (living) I managed to photograph today.

It was easy to see why the first of the day's summits, the splendidly-named but unsplendid Bareback Knowe, has not been accorded New Donald status. I found it to be distinguished only by a good-sized pile of summit stones, but is otherwise dirty drab moorland. The Donald proper, Windlestraw Law just one kilometre on, is little different in appearance and only 5 metres higher, though it does have an intact Trig point and even boasts a little not-for-profit internet mast [footnote and comments], and what's more it is also a Graham. With the right spirit, one can enjoy the sense of primeval bleakness which is even 'better' in mist such as sat on the tops today. Also, there is much to be said for the approach march from the town, which could have taken in Pirn Hill Iron Age Fort if I'd allowed time, did pass Innerleithen Golf Course, and ascended through Tweed Valley Forest Park which hosted a fair few mountain bikers along the tracks and spilling out of various channels in the trees. It was good to be in the company of some sporting cousins for a change, but it was also good to sample the usual solitude of the Scottish winter walker. I was briefly with civilization again - a farm and a few passing cars - as I descended to the B709 in order to re-ascend for my third objective, Whitehope Law.

This is what a 'Donald Top' lacking 'New Donald' status looks like.

Ex-resident of Windelstraw Law.

Life and death in the Donalds.

The search for interesting things to photograph goes on [see footnotes].

Windlestraw Law (2,163 feet), a fully-fledged Donald - and also a Graham!

Descending Windlestraw.

On the slog up the tussocked, peaty slopes to Whitehope Law, the cloud level had lifted a little higher enabling me to look back on Windlestraw Law in full glory now free of clag. Oh, well, I was at least able to enjoy the panorama from my final summit of the day in full dusk visibility. The atmosphere and satisfaction of such moments are not to be underestimated, even if it was difficult to remain there for long in the biting wind, and one thing it seems to me that Donald territory does have is a noble sense of space with no outcrops and what-not to impede the views of the timeless heathery wilderness. It was a simple, unstressful job to improvise a descent south to Whitehope Farm, and I was down to the road just as darkness fell. All that remained was for a 6km stroll along the road to the sound of Leithen Water. The forecast had been spot on - cloud but hardly any rain - but tomorrow predicted a slightly concerning 90kph westerly for my final three Moorfoot Hills. If there was rain with it, I imagined that would be downright nasty, but such is part of the anticipation.

Ascending Whitehope Law, looking back on Windlestraw Law (now out of cloud).

Whitehope Law (2,044 feet).

A nice twlight descent to Whitehope Farm and the Leithen valley.

This walk is followed by 'Wind!' (my walk entitled Wind, but also in a literal sense I guess) https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=110532&p=461875#p461875

I humbly propose that, whilst a Donald compleater is known as a Donaldist (89 summits), a full Donald compleater (incuding all Tops and New Donalds) be given the lofty title of 'Donaldonian', whilst perhaps those who compleat all the New Donalds (but not the 22 disregarded Tops) be called 'Donalders'.
https://www.rhb.org.uk/tables/grahams1999.htm

I assumed the internet mast on Windlestraw Law to be a weather station, until enlightened by HedleyP below. Its little wind turbine is for power, along with the solar panels - in hindsight easy to see why it might need both in these parts.

[Sgurr]

For a long time in my bookshop I had to put up with the disappointment of customers happening on "The Principal Excurions of The Innerleithen Alpine Club during the years 1889-94", hoping that it waould be about the Alps, and then discovering it was about the lowly Donalds(not called that then,) and even some excursions in carriages where ladies accompanied them. I feel that as The English Alpinist you might have appreciated it....think I sold it on-line eventually. You seem to have made the best of bad days.

[The English Alpinist]

I always like to pop into a town's bookshop if i finish my walks early enough; I would certainly have snapped that one up, all the more so because it's about Donalds! Disappointed i missed out in fact.

[HedleyP]

Hi,

glad you enjoyed my home town and you would have walked right past my house on your way back down Leithen Road.

The weather station on top of Windlestraw is in fact a not for profit internet mast with the wind turbine and panels keeping the batteries topped up. There is also a VHF antenna for the local keepers.

The path in the photo you took up the side (Ascending Preisthope Hill) is an MTB trail called avalanche and I'm sure you can guess why!

I walked Whitehope Law last night from the farm for nav practice.

It was brutal!

Pitch dark, blowing a gale and the rain was heavy and horizontal. Visibility was about 10m at best but it made for some great nav practice as the entire night was spent walking on a bearing with pacing for distance.

Did you see the massive Kirnie Law reservoir to your right when you got to the ridge with Priesthope to your left? It's quite some sight esp situated where it is on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere. It was built to supply hydro power to the mills in Walkerburn.

[The English Alpinist]

Hi HedleyP, nice to hear from you.. Antenna detail duly edited. Strangely the reservoir didn't register on me, but I think I saw it, I must have been preoccupied with making sure I was on track to Bareback. The Avalanche I remember very well - it seemed direct and I just wanted to get up there without going in circles around the forest! Credit to you for going out to practise in those conditions, it builds skill and character

[thepigguy]

That's quite an expedition to bag those two! Nice one.

How was the descent down Wallet Knowe and Glentress Rig? When I was there two years ago the track was a boggy, slushy mess, churned up by the caterpillar track vehicle kept at the farm for shooting parties. I suppose that's the thing about the Moorfoots, once you've done them, you don't have to do them again! Although, I'd happily go up Dundreich again.

And the bad news is that there are now 52 Donald Tops. Dugland, by Windy Standard, was put on the list last year. It looks like a treat!

Cheers, Malcolm

[The English Alpinist]

How was the descent down Wallet Knowe and Glentress Rig?

Absolutey terrible yes! I was weaving this way and that, trying to miraculously step 'without weight', and it was worse on the tracks than off them. The bottom quarter KM was ok I think. I shall look up Dugland, can't wait!