by GBrooks » Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:13 pm
Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Greatmoor Hill
Date walked: 20/04/2014
Time taken: 3.18 hours
Distance: 13.4 km
Ascent: 543m
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There is a large grass area just up the road from Hermitage castle which when dry allows plenty of parking. Continuing along the road I turned off and followed the track at Braidie which after climbing towards Old Bradie then drops back down to the beck side which it follows till Braidiehope. A quad bike track goes up the hill from here and takes you near the top of Winterlair hill and agate through the fence.
From there, there does not appear to be any evidence of a track across the Queen's Mire but the outline of a old sunken track can be followed up the last slope to bring you to the top of the ridge just west of Swire Knowe. the fence line is then followed to the top of Greatmoor Hill occasional quad bike tracks head in the right direction and the peat bogs are not to bad.
There is a nice shelter cairn around the trig point on the summit.
I followed the fence down 2over Reddy Edge and Hermitage Hill not to bad going but no obvious path for most of the way. the descent from Hermitage Hill is a bit rough with very tussocky long grass and bracken. At the bottom a gate allows you into the field which if crossed diagonally brings you to a foot bridge over the river and saves you wading the stream at the ford.
A short walk along the road brings you back to the parking place.
