Lonely Lammermuirs

[Tinto63]

A last minute change of plan meant that I had to drop J in Edinburgh on Granny duties at 0930, where could I go for a short walk and still pick her up in the afternoon? The Pentlands are the obvious and nearest but are always teeming with walkers, dogs, runners and cyclists, the Moorfoots are an option, but have never been my favourites (too many peat hags and a wind farm) so it was the Lammermuirs for the day, which I haven't walked for 10 years or more. And I could add Meikle Says Law to the sub 2000 list.

Parked on the minor road from Gifford to Longformacus at NT 613636, crossed road and through gate and down to Faseny Cottage where there is a junction with 3 tracks joining, took the right hand one going WNW to start. This goes in a arc around Dun Side and curves round to approach the top of Meikle Says Law from the west. In the first couple of kms this crosses and recrosses the Faseny Water by 4 or 5 fords, but managed to cross without problems or wet feet. This was unexpected as I was wearing a reserve pair of fabric boots which lost any pretence of waterproofing long ago, my trusty leather Raichles having parted sole from upper.

From the trig point went SE over heather and peat to Little Says Law and then eventually picking up a track going NE towards Faseny Cottage.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

These hills are grouse moors and there were hundreds about with almost continuous chuckling, if there is a good spring and successful breeding the guns will be very busy on the (in)Glorious Twelfth.

This walk won't appeal to all, but for a short winter walk makes a change from the Pentlands as I didn't see another walker.

one of several fords

track up to Meikle Says Law

trig point Meikle Says Law at (just) 535m

plate on trig point

gentle rolling hills

working hills with lots of traps

glad I remembered my lunch, this doesn't look very appetising or hygienic

Faseny Cottage

another boot bites the dust!

[pollyh33]

Nice wee report Tinto.

Love the photos but maybe not the one with the trap

Were you not a wee bit tempted to push something into it ?
( I mean a stick, not a living creature!)

Bad news about your boots

[Tinto63]

Thanks Polly, no I wasn't tempted to spring the traps, there were too many of them anyway, all empty. While I wouldn't want to shoot or hunt, and have never worked on the land, like many people I come from a long line of shepherds / farm workers and know the importance of making a living from the countryside. We are lucky in Scotland to have free access to privately owned hills but should respect a landowner's right, within the law, to make a living. Having said that, I am troubled by the proliferation of hill furniture, especially wind farms and newly bulldozed tracks, particularly when it destroys the visual integrity of the hills. Of course, people said exactly the same about the spread of railways in the 19th century.

Keep on enjoying the hills.

[LeithySuburbs]

This hill is better approached from the north from East Hopes - just a short pathless section and a jump-able burn .