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I thought twice about coming out at all, seeing the weather warnings for lightning. However, the forecast suggested this would be later on in the day, so I decided to go for it. Even so, leaving Edinburgh in thick fog had me fearing this would be another walk lost in the fog. But by the time I arrived in Drumelzier an hour later at the back of 9 it was blazing sunshine and looking like it would be a hot one. Which indeed it was.
I was following the WH guide for this hike, so I started off crossing the Drumelzier Burn at the car park, and then following it upstream, crossing twice more before leaving it and following the path south east up Den Knowes.
As a side note, if following the WH guide, the bridge mentioned at stage 2 is not the first one after the gate, but the second, not visible until further along the path. The first leads the wrong way into dense bracken, as I discovered.
- Crossing Drumelzier Burn
- The correct bridge
The path led up between two small plantations of pines, which was the last bit of shade I'd be able to enjoy for the whole walk!
After that the track continued through the heather and grass, steadily rising in the blazing sun for over two miles. I was already concerned that I hadn't brought enough water for this! Thankfully a light breeze got up around Den Knowes Head which made the going considerably more bearable.
- Drumelzier Law
- Ascending Den Knowes
- View west from near the top of Pykestone Hill towards Tinto
Pykestone flattens out near the summit, and the path goes over an area that looks like it would normally be rather boggy, but was dry as a bone on this occasion.
- Pykestone Hill summit
The summit finally gained, I also visited the shepherd's cairn close by to the east, where the view over to the Dun Rig hills was better.
- Shepherd's cairn east of the summit
Then back over to the fence, which I followed southish over Grey Weather Law and on up to Long Grain Knowe, via another dried out bog.
- Path south over Grey Weather Law to Long Grain Knowe
- Even the famed Borders bogs can't survive this weather
Then I turned west, still following the fence up onto the second Donald, Middle Hill. This was rather flat and featureless, and it was hard to discern the actual summit. I found a jumble of fenceposts I assumed was it, or near enough.
- The summit of Middle hill (or thereabouts)
From here it was north to Glenstivon Dod on the way to Drumelzier Hill.
- Drumelzier Law from Middle Hill
- Shepherd's cairn on Glenstivon Dod
From Glenstivon the path turned north-west down to a col, and from there the steepest section of the day up onto the top
of the domed Drumelzier Law.
- The lower SE cairn of Drumelzier Law
This felt like the main hill of the day, despite it being the lowest summit of the three. The views were excellent from here, especially to the west and north. Though being lower one couldn't see beyond Pykestone Hill to the east or Middle Hill to the south.
- View north-east from Drumelzier Law summit
After a spot of lunch, I continued on the path down the other side of Drumelzier Law, with good views up the Tweed to the south west.
- Looking south-west up the Tweed
It was another long stretch back down to the burn via Logan Head, from where the route I'd taken up to Pykestone was in view.
- Nearing the top of Logan Head
- View of the route up Pykestone
The path down Logan Head met the outward path at the bridge where I'd taken the wrong turn earlier. I took the time to dip my feet into the water at a pool by the bridge, then returned along the track back to the start.
- The magic door back to the car park
By the time the thunder, lightning and rain arrived, I was safely back home with a beer in hand