Manorhead Circuit

[U059361]

Parked car at road end, Manorhead. Room for three cars easy. There is a picnic spot marked on map with a couple more car spaces, although the picnic bench is wrecked. The cairn is still there. I continued to walk along the road, through a gate till I could see the farm itself, past a small wood. I then started my climb up Dollar Law beyond the Small Burn and before some scree. A hard climb up here. I was counting my steps before I stopped for a breather as I climbed, a sure sign it was steep. I try to keep the numbers going up, starting at 20 was not a good sign. It didn't take too long to get up to the top, the going under foot is good, mostly grass. The view was good, with Broad Law being the nearest neighbour.

Dollar Law top by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Most of the hard work has been done now, simply followed the fence round the hills for the most part, I only cut one corner a bit. The ground is a bit boggier up top as you'd expect, but nothing a small detour couldn't cure.
Down towards Megget Reservoir by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Some height is lost getting to the end of the valley but it is easy to follow the fence for the most part.
Looking up Manorhead by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
After a quick climb up, I had my lunch at the valley end. A good viewpoint where I could see Dollar Law and my route to Black Law. It was a bit wet going down to the right of way below me but again not too bad. The climb up Black Law is now a steady one through heather and peat in bits. Glad to get to the top where it was a bit more solid, although it gets boggy walking to the highest point.
Black Law double top by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
I walked down a quad bike track and picked up a sheep walk back along under the top ridge. This was much better walking and I then followed another quad bike track down the hill towards the footbridge next to the car park.
Dollar Law from Black Hill by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
I cut off the track to keep aligned to the direct route down and eventually picked up a path through the bracken that passes a small wood and then goes over to the footbridge.
Manorhead Circuit by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
A short walk to the car park from there. All in all a nice wander round.