Hot stuff in the Moffat Hills

[thepigguy]

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Donalds: Molls Cleuch Dod, Lochcraig Head. 22 done, 67 to go
Donald Tops: Carlavin Hill, Nickie's Knowe 8/44
Distance: 10.5km
Ascent: 599m
Time 4hr 30m

Temperatures of 30C or more were forecast for Edinburgh and the Borders so we made it an early start and I collected Patrick in Leith at 6am, pausing at the 24hr bakers so he could pick up a vegan sausage roll.

We were out by Talla Reservoir at about 7.30 on an absolute belter of a morning. Leaving the car in the parking area a little way short of the Megget Stone we ambled down to the bridge and the gate that led us into the hills.

Early morning start

Talla Water

Start of the track by Carlavin Hill

I'd thought of this walk while going up Broad Law in June 2021. Looking across then, it just seemed like a natural circuit with options to detour for other hills in the right conditions. So it turned out, although we stuck to the basic circuit to make sure we were back down before the "worst" of the summer heat.

We followed the track along the foot of Carlavin Hill before I decided we should just head up. This was probably a mistake as the terrain was not great - not bad, just long grass and tussocks which in dry conditions were OK, but I wouldn't recommend it in a wet autumn - and although Pat stormed up the slope, my progress was slow and it wasn't until 8.40 that I emerged at the top, picking up an ATV track from somewhere for the last 100m to the summit cairn.

There are probably better ways up than this

Patrick is some way ahead already

Carlavin Hill summit

Megget Reservoir

Broad Law

Two cups of tea and some fruit pastilles later we strolled off towards Molls Cleuch Dod. This was classic Southern Uplands walking - an ATV track of varying definition and a wall to follow - and we were at our second summit very soon. The top of Molls Cleuch Dod is the cairn by the wall, although the cairn about 50m away to the east is one of those that looks higher until you get to it.

Making our way over to Molls Cleuch Dod

Erie Hill

Top of Molls Cleuch Dod

After Molls Cleuch Dod it was a straightforward amble across mostly short grass until it suddenly stops at Firthybrig Head. There was the temptation to wander over to one or all of Firthhope Rig, White Coomb or Great Hill, but I wanted to be down and in the shade by lunchtime, so we dropped down to the boggy bit and then sharply up again to Lochcraig Head.

Easy going over to Firthybrig Head

Mid Craig and White Coomb

Down and up to Lochcraig Head

We hung around by the large cairn that isn't the summit for a good 20 minutes not just for tea, biscuits and an orange, but because the views were glorious over to White Coomb, across to the Ettrick Hills and past the Eildons and as far as The Cheviot. Fantastic.

Ettrick Hills and White Coomb from Lochcraig

Zoomed to Ettrick Pen

Loch Skeen

It was tough to drag ourselves away and cross the actual summit of Lochcraig Head as we set off for the last hill of the morning, the Donald Top Nickie's Knowe.

Again, it was simple, Southern Upland rambling, following a newly installed stock fence (nice job they'd made of it too) and the resulting clear ATV tracks to the top of Nickie's Knowe. The views here of the Talla and Megget Reservoirs and the surrounding hills were superb.

Small cairn marks the top of Lochcraig Head

Zoomed to the Eildon Hills

The way ahead to Nickie's Knowe

Top of Nickie's Knowe - take your pick

From the top it was back to the ATV track and what felt like a long descent to a gate and track towards a sheepfold near the road which would probably be the best bet in wetter conditions, but we cut a corner, heading straight over towards the Megget Stone before following the road back to the car, a cold drink and ice cream at Broughton post office on the way home.

Talla Reservoir, with the Grahams Tinto, Gathersnow Hill and Culter Fell visible.

Heading down from Nickie's Knowe

Looking back from the Megget Stone

[rockhopper]

Enjoyed that - looked good even if on the hot side - some great walking country down here and so many options to mix and match different hills - cheers

[thepigguy]

Enjoyed that - looked good even if on the hot side - some great walking country down here and so many options to mix and match different hills - cheers

Thanks. It was a great morning, but I was glad to be done by lunchtime. I started the Donalds thinking of doing huge, multi-summit rounds, but I'm now quite happy to chop them into smaller chunks to give me the excuse to return to lovely places like the Megget another day.