free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Following other reports, I parked at the end of the track, plenty of space. The walk up the track was straightforward - the cattle were the most peaceful I have ever encountered and hardly batted an eyelid as I passed, never mind raising their heads. (I won’t take this as true of all cattle ……)
The walk up the fence line was as expected, bit damp (there had been a smirr when I arrived but that soon lifted). Nearing the summit area, the gate was down, and an ATV (or similar) track was just about visible across the wetter tussocks ground to the summit stakes.
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- I didn’t linger at the summit, no view and just a hint of midges on the sheltered ground between the trees.
Retracing my steps to the gate, I then walked over Shaw Hill before dropping down to the ‘settlement’ as marked on the map. This is well worth the short detour - much larger and more complex than I had anticipated.
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- Part of the circular ditch and rampart. The extensive area also includes cultivation terraces and some later (Medieval?) earthworks.
The site is of national importance (ancient monuments website) - I just hope this saves the area from the extensive forestation planned by Buccleugh Estate. More wind turbines also expected.
