Sunday morning in the clag

[Ian Bayne]

Every time I see this hill its clear except for the day you want to climb it. Got to the wee car park just off the A71 at 0715 . The car park is situated off the road hidden in a small wood from Kirknewton going towards Carnwarth there is one of Salmonds follies the turnoff is about 100 yards on the left.
Booted and suited and away by 0730 withlast nights Spear of Destiny concert still ringing in my ears. picked up the drovers route and followed the faint route over he moors the path has been upgraded with sleepers crossing the boggy parts not much map reading to do just follow the markers. When you get to the base of the hill there is a post supported by rocks about 100 yrds further on the left there is a stream bed/ path . Then all you do is follow it up Got into the clag about 100m from the top not that you will miss the large cairn on the top ( which is not the true summit) after 15 min of blind meandering on the top looking for the true summit found a cairn about 100m east ,not the one , should have read previous reports more closely I took a rest on the drystane wall but with the clag no cairn . So me and the dog headed back to the large cairn and had a brew. With the low cloud and no views the idea I had about doing west cairn went with the wind that picked up .
The only option now was to head back and just followed the same route back got back to the car park just before 1030hrs with Liberate still buzzing in my ears . A good easy walk for a sunday but with the remotness you could be anywhere only downside is I need to find that cairn . A winter walk is in the offing.