Quick singles on the way to a half-century

[thepigguy]

I had a free afternoon on my first trip south for four months and decided to clean up a couple of stray red "balloons" on the WH map and a couple of short walks to stretch legs that were all-too accustomed to low-level coastal outings in Orkney.

Dungavel Hill
Distance: 2.4km
Ascent: 191m
Time: 1hr 15min
Sub-2000ft Marilyn: 46/527

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First was Dungavel Hill and the tried and trusted route from the cattle grid. The sign for the bull is no longer there, but there is a path through long grass (gaiters advised) to about halfway up.

Gateway and obvious route up the hill

Once the path petered out, I made my own way up and then over to the fence which I followed for the last few hundred metres to the toppled trig, cairn, corner fence strainer and pile of stones covered in grass that seems to mark the actual summit.

Following the fence to the top

Dungavel Hill summit area

Trig and cairn on Dungavel Hill, neither of which are the top.

Tea drunk, biscuits eaten and pictures taken, on the way down I followed the fence a bit further before cutting back to the top of the path. The only difficulty being the number of hidden rocks in the long grass, moss and heather. I strongly suspect there was a network of stone walls over this hill at some time.

A satisfying short trip to get the legs working again and one I reckon might be combined with Tinto, either parking near Wiston or using buses at Roberton and Thankerton.

Goseland Hill
Distance: 3.4km
Ascent: 232m
Time: 1hr 45min
Sub-2000ft Marilyn: 47/526

After Dungavel, I made my way over to Coulter and then along the back road that leads to the foot of Goseland Hill. There was plenty of tractor work going on in the lush fields in the valley, so I parked as much out of the way as possible by the gate at the start of the track leading diagonally uphill.

Track at the start of the way up Goseland Hill

As I neared the house at "Gosland" I just turned sharply uphill, zig-zagging on short grass as I made my way to the west end of the hill. The views over Tinto and south to Cardon Hill and Culter Fell opening up as the weather improved rapidly.

Looking over to Tinto

Once at the top I strolled east to the summit trig, staying there for a good while to enjoy the sun and the views on what was turning out to be a great afternoon.

Goseland Hill trig point looking towards Cardon Hill

Tinto in view again

From the top I walked over to the 413m point on the east side of the hill before gently making my way down Oak Brae, coming out onto the road which took me back to the car.

The way down from Goseland Hill