Walkhighlands

As is usual for this time of year, WJ and I headed out for a pre xmas jaunt up the hills. A chance to celebrate, stretch the legs, and take advantage of the stunning forecast.

We headed up on the Saturday afternoon. After a stop in Innerliethen, we headed up to the road end parking at the turning spot just above Potburn Farm. A bit of a nostalgic trip, as we had last been here on foot, having passed when walking from Moffat over to St Mary's Loch when we were doing the Southern Upland Way.

As it was our end of year trip, a wee celebration took place, together with some map revision.



It was a cold night outside, but we thought we'd head down the track to Over Pawhope Bothy, where we'd previously stayed over. There was one occupant and a cracking fire on the go. We shared a beer then headed back along the track.



We stopped in and had a look around the unoccupied farmhouse at Potburn. It had been lived in only two years previous, but abandoned after folk broke in and stripped out the copper, forcing the farmer to abandon it's restoration and build a new place further up the Glen.



It was a seriously cold night outside. The old Camel had a good covering of ice when we got up. It was, of course, roasting inside the van!



Looking down to Potburn Farm.



As is usual down in the Borders, walkers are well catered for and the signs led the way up through the woods.





We headed up to Bodesbeck Law.



It was a great day as we reached this first hill.









From here, it's simply a case of following the boundary shown on the map, often following an old dry stane dyke.





















We finally made it round to our last hill, Ettrick Pen.



Heading down off the hills to Over Pawhope, some cracking views.







We arrived back at the bothy, and followed the track back.



Arriving back at the carpark after a stunning day in the Southern Uplands.

Nice!! Im going down this way at the end of the week, that wetted the appetitie nicely.

It's well worth it. This is a classic walk, thoroughly enjoyable day in the hills.

some great pictures on what looked like the perfect upland walk

Great pics from an area I don't know at all.

Interested in writing a route description for it?

Paul Webster wrote:Interested in writing a route description for it?

I might just try that, Paul

well done on this walk Iain and Andy.....

did you see a bus load of folk down there from Paisley HC they were doing a linear walk as the final walk of the year programme


some fine shots as usual from you iain

doogz

Dougie, never seen another soul all day apart from a farmer on his quad.

Cracking walk and should be on your list when you compleat the Munros.

That looked to be a great winter walk.

I did a variant of this route on Thursday when I walked up from the Selcoth Burn to do Croft Head, West Knowe, Loch Fell, Windy Fell, Hopetoun Craig, Ettrick Pen and then back via Phawhope Bothy to take in Smidhope Hill and finally Capel Fell. There's some excellent walking in those hills with West Knowe and Croft Head being the steepest.