An unexpected brush with the Law

[PeteR]

One of the great things about the hills of Scotland is that they offer such variety. Not every hill is a pointy shaped beast Not every hill contains knife edged ridges or death defying scrambles Not every hill involves a long walk into to gain high level plateau

Some hills are gentle, rolling moorland, with a fence to follow pretty much the whole way Steep-sided in places, but offering the opportunity for a wonderful stravaig on the second day of summer

Ideal for days when you……….




…………OVERSLEEP

Oops

But it was a sunny day and would have been a waste not to make use of the good weather in some way!. So I decided on a trip to Border country and the Corbett/Donald of Broad Law Motorway, Moffatt and away we go Then the single track road from Tweedsmuir, which gives a real sense of being out in the middle of nowhere The sort of road that gives you the feeling you shouldn’t really be driving along it too. A cracking little road

101 miles later (101 miles?) and I was parked up (2 miles past the starting point, having motored passed Meggett Stone ) and heading back to the Meggett Stone and the easy climb up to Broad Law’s summit.

Meggett Reservoir from my unintentional parking place

The Stone.....what I missed

Given my late start I was on a timetable, so went storming up the initial climb (the only really steep climb of the day) to Fans Law and then more gradually to Cairn Law before the gradient eased greatly for the final stroll to Broad Law

Easy walking

Route finding - easy in mist

Culter Fell and a delightful windfarm to slightly spoil the view

Back to the White Comb area

And oh, what a lovely summit

Ok, maybe not

The route ahead

Not the best, it has to be said, but once you see beyond the detritus around you there were still views to be had

Didn’t hang around though; given my late start I had that timetable to keep to

I could have bagged just the Corbett and headed back down, but that would have been a heck of a round trip for a 2 hour walk I had a circuit planned, bagging a couple of extra Donalds on the way.

View to Cramalt Craig

There was an unexpectedly steep, but easy descent off Broad Law down to the saddle with the former Corbett of Cramalt Craig. It was then a fair pull up to the second Donald of the day. Felt a bit odd having the summit cairn sat so close to a modern fence

Still, better views than from Broad Cairn

View to the west

Culter Fell

Cramalt Craig summit

Culter Fell, again

Now it was stravaig time

From this point it was a gentle, if fairly speedy, amble over Dun Law and Fifescar Law and the third and final Donald of the day, Dollar Law

Dun Law, Fifescar Law and peeking out at the back, Dollar Law

View back to Meggett Reservoir

Cramalt Craig and Broad Law

Route finding......still easy in mist

Cramalt Craig and Broad Law, this time with a dry stone wall

More nice views from here too. Probably the best of the three summits in my view Probably as it was the furthest away from civilisation.

Dollar Law

Still, I had that timetable to keep, so I was soon off; heading back to the saddle with Fifescar Law and the path skirting around the rim of Cowie Cleuch (I think )

Cowie Cleuch?

Immediately after climbing a gate the route heads to the right and picks up an ugly hill track down to the road. Well, I say ugly. It was ugly higher up, but had mellowed a bit lower down, with good views back up toward the high ground

Ugly hill track beside the Cramalt Crook

Much better view beside the Burn

Sneaky peak at the Meggett Reservoir

Back on the road and it was a short walk back, alongside the attractive Meggett Reservoir and to my car. Fourteen miles in five and a half hours. By my standards – a sprint

Linn Knowe

Meggett reservoir and Dead for Cauld

I appreciate these Lowland hills won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. And this route did give me an odd sense. As much as I enjoyed the walk and there are some good (if different) vistas to be had, it did take on the character of a training walk as I sped round it. Having said that, I enjoyed it all the same and all in all it was worth the road trip Far better than not getting out, that’s for sure

My next walk will probably see me back in the Highlands though on some of those pointy type hills……..

[rockhopper]

Emjoyed that, pete - lovely day for it as well. Another one to keep in mind for when I do eventually head south....or sleep in - cheers

[BobMcBob]

That was very enjoyable, and some great photos. Yeah, the pointy ones are best but you came back with a good tale and told it well

[Collaciotach]

They are no unlike the Carn Gorms and cracking pics /views must visit one day

[Fife Flyer]

Loved the report Pete One can't beat a bit of humour, read it last night at work (whilst working very hard of course)
I will be heading down that way to venture up the majority of the Border hills, they had not been on my radar until I joined this site