Dollar Law and Cramalt Craig from Manorhead

[jgregor]

We parked in a small parking area at the end of the public road which follows the Manor Water south from Peebles. Our walk started on the track which continued on to Manorhead. A short distance along we turned right off the track and set off up the long eastern slope of Dollar Law.

Track to Manorhead

We followed the wall and fence all the way up, usually on rough ATV tracks or paths. As we gained height and rose above the protective lee of the trees the wind got increasingly stronger.

Looking down the Manor Water valley towards Peebles

The last few hundred meters of this section the slope eased. We reached the shelter and trig on the summit of Dollar Law in the wind and closing fog.

Dollar Law summit

Turning south, and still following the fence, we continued on over the Donald Top of Fifescar Knowe and onto Dun Law. In places the fog was being blown at speed across the path in front of us, giving us hope it would clear eventually. In places it did enough to get a bit of a view to the lower lands to the north and west, and down towards the Megget Reservoir to the south. The top of Cramalt Craig ahead was just visible through the cloud.

The path up Fifescar Knowe

Cramalt Craig

Turning south again it was a short walk up to the summit of Cramalt Craig.

Cramalt Craig summit

Setting off on the return journey we took the same path down Cramalt Craig and up onto Dun Law.

View south-east

Megget Reservoir, and further east a glimpse of St Mary's Loch

We then briefly joined the track which heads down to Megget Reservoir.

After a couple of hundred meters the track turned south and we left it continuing north-east across the heather towards the fence. We crossed the course of the Thief's Road just before the fence. Crossing the fence we walked down Manor Rig. At the point where the slope got much steeper we stopped for a breather on a convenient rock, and enjoyed the best view of the day down to Manorhead and down the Manor Water valley.

Looking down on Manorhead from Manor Rig

The south-eastern side of Dollar Law - photo by Eck

Looking across to Bitch Cleuch and Greenside Law to the right of it

We descended the rest of the way down to the Ugly Grain burn at Manorhead (it was actually quite pretty) and back along the track to the road where we'd parked.

Looking up Ugly Grain

Manorhead

Looking back at Manor Rig

Back to the car