After Part 1, Cockburn Law, our second Hogmanay hill was a sunny and breezy Spartleton. We parked up at a small parking area just where the B6355 crosses the Whiteadder reservoir on an unusual concrete causeway/bridge/dam. and walked back along the road to a gate.
We headed up a small valley, slanting up the SE side to join the track from Millknowe farm, which took us through a couple of fields teeming with game birds. Instead of passing the ruined Gamelshiel Castle, we turned NE, through a gate and onto the heathery hillside.
Eventually we reached an unmapped, but very good track, which took us all the way to the summit trig. Spartleton is a great viewpoint, if you can see past the wind farms. To the south, the Cheviot was now clear, and to the north, North Berwick Law, the Bass Rock and the Isle of May lit up occasionally as they caught the sunlight, with Fife lying dark and brooding beyond. This part of the Lammermuirs is very visible from the Angus hills and (I think) Lochnagar too, so I guess the views back should be pretty good on a clear day too.
Our descent was quick and direct, past lots of shooting butts, to the head of the reservoir, and along a track back to the car. A quick coffee and then we decided to head over to Longformacus and try for Dirrington Great Law before the rain returned…
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Hogmanay in the Lammermuirs, Part 2: Spartleton
Hogmanay in the Lammermuirs, Part 2: Spartleton
by superstar_tradesman » Sat Jan 02, 2016 1:00 pm
Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Spartleton
Date walked: 31/12/2015
Time taken: 1 hours
Distance: 4.3 km
Ascent: 230m
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Re: Hogmanay in the Lammermuirs, Part 2: Spartleton
by dickens96 » Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:16 pm
Glad you enjoyed it - I did it two or three years back in the Summer. At least you seemed to get down again better than I did - I totally lost the track!
Re: Hogmanay in the Lammermuirs, Part 2: Spartleton
by superstar_tradesman » Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:25 pm
dickens96 wrote:Glad you enjoyed it - I did it two or three years back in the Summer. At least you seemed to get down again better than I did - I totally lost the track!
It's a cracking wee hill, with terrific views! We didn't see a path track at all on the way down, but thankfully the going wasn't too bad. I wouldn't like to be out there when there's grouse shooting going on, though…
Re: Hogmanay in the Lammermuirs, Part 2: Spartleton
by laconic surf » Sat Jan 02, 2016 3:26 pm
My local hill!
I usually park in the very small area at the bottom of summer hill and walk past Gamashiel castle and straight up. I think I've summited about 150 times and never tire of the view - I've even grown accustomed to the crystal rig windfarm! It's amazing how far you can see on a clear day
Great stuff
I usually park in the very small area at the bottom of summer hill and walk past Gamashiel castle and straight up. I think I've summited about 150 times and never tire of the view - I've even grown accustomed to the crystal rig windfarm! It's amazing how far you can see on a clear day
Great stuff

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