Nativity play on Broomy Law

[superstar_tradesman]

After a breezy trip to the top of Black Mount, I drove round to the car park at the Big Red Barn, a nice tea shop at the A702/A721 crossroads. Most of the WH walk reports for Broomy Law were from the S, but I thought that parking here would give a good alternative route up from the N, with the advantage of returning directly to a cafe afterwards (I guess you could use this car park for a walk up Black Mount too)

Black Mount and the Big Red Barn, from the slopes of Broomy Law

I wasn't sure if I could get through the plantation forest immediately S of the car park, so decided to head out of the car park and E along the A721 for 100m or so, then over the fence and up the side of the grassy field E of the plantation. Over a low barbed-wire fence, and I was onto the open hill side. I picked up a path that contoured above the edge of the plantation (with a deer fence that is possibly climbable but I didn't fancy it as a return route), then gradually began to climb until I met a low electric fence. Either it was switched off or I'm tougher than I thought, but I crossed it and headed across the next field, still climbing gently. This would be easy walking when the wind isn't blowing in your face!

At this point I was spotted by the inhabitants of the field, a large flock of sheep, who must have decided I was their Christmas Eve shepherd and began to follow me. I wasn't wearing a white sheet and didn't have a crook, so after a while they wandered off, looking disappointed.

"Alright, mate, got anything to eat?"

There was one more fence to negotiate, this time using a gate, to get to the next field, and soon I was at the top of Broomy Law. I was greeted by that fierce cold and wet west wind and some not very bonny mobile phone masts, so I didn't linger; but at least as I turned back N there was an atmospheric view towards the Pentlands and Edinburgh.

Storm clouds over the Pentland Hills

I returned the same way, as quickly as I could, and was soon back to the car for a quick change, and then a huge Americano and traybake in the cafe. Drinking hot coffee and looking out the window to the top of the hill I'd been on half an hour previously was a very good end to a very good Christmas Eve on the hills.