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Four day Easter weekend with the only decent forecast for the Friday. Looked better in the south so decided on some hills near Biggar. Main aim was the Culter round - also the possibilities of adding on the three New Donalds if they looked interesting and/or Tinto. Left sharp for the drive down which only takes about an hour - parked in the wee layby beside Culter Water just south of Culter Aller’s farm.
Set off south on the road towards the reservoir before branching off NE just after some trees.
Quite steep going up Fell Shin but there’s a grassy track much of the way. Passed a number of grouse butts dug into the hillside with rocks built into the sides.
Looking back down towards the farm
Unfortunately the last 100m or so was in clag which hung around and didn’t want to go.
Didn’t wait long - set off north down the hillside and back out of the clag. Still some light cloud over Chapelgill Hill (mid right) with the route firstly over King Bank Head to the left.
Got a bit held up in a boggy area but gave it a wide berth on the return. Straightforward enough walk NE then SE to the top of Chapelgill Hill.
Memorial plaque
Peebles direction
There was another wee cairn slightly further away on the other side of the fence -walked over to it but it seemed lower.
Culter Fell from the summit cairn
Headed back the same route. Could see over to Cardon Hill which is the first of the three New Donalds - debated whether to walk over to it but didn’t look as though the views would change significantly so decided against it. [Not bagging for the sake of it.....
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Heading back to Culter Fell meant some more reascent - at least the clag had cleared completely
Tinto in the distance
Coulter reservoir
Towards Gathersnow Hill - Moss Law in mid distance
Looking back
Glenlood turbines
Path up the western side of Gathersnow Hill
Gathersnow Hill
Said hello to a farmer as he passed on his quad bike - then crossed Culter Water and headed straight up to the summit
Looking back towards the reservoir
Summit
Towards Coomb Hill - second New Donald - now getting lazy and decided against it
Talla and Fruid reservoirs
Follow the fence
Tinto
Tinto zoomed - zig zag track from Wiston Lodge
The wind had been breezy and quite strong - worse parts were when southwards into it. Easy walking SW towards Hillshaw Head
Summit with Fruid reservoir in the background
Could see the third optional New Donald of Coomb Dod in the distance - new wind farm road being built beside it - juts didn’t really look all that appealing
Now off NW towards Hudderstone - a lot more evidence of turbine installation together with connecting roads
Tried staying off the new road for a bit but that wasn’t always practical. New drainage ditches were at times tricky to cross. Even away from the roads, the caterpillar/excavator tracks had made the more direct route quite boggy.
Foundation
Lowther Hill zoomed
Ended up on the new road but couldn’t quite see above the sides - missed a turning and the road then went off in the wrong direction below Dod Hill but easily corrected.
Back on the boggy caterpillar track up Hudderstone
No cairn at the top, just a wee piece of wire with a bit of yellow plastic attached.
Stopped to get some early lunch out then off down over Cowgil Rig and back to the car.
Back at the car before 1330hrs - still plenty of time for Tinto.
Had some more food then drove over to the car park at Fallburn - only two spaces left in the car park. Got ready and headed off up the track. Was one of very few people carrying a rucksack - even fewer people with boots on so felt a little out of place.
The track up runs north to south so was almost constantly into the wind. It was certainly strong on the way up making the going a little hard at times. Passed a few groups of walkers on the way up.
Took less time than I’d thought to get to the top. Large cairn of stones with the viewpoint on top. This was when it got really windy. Found it very difficult getting up the last few metres to the viewpoint almost getting blown over several times. Got back down from it as quickly as possible then staggered against the wind over to the trig point.
Other walkers also struggling against the wind
Then back down the same way
Much easier on the descent as the wind was now from behind. A lot more spaces now in the car park - relatively short drive home and was back home somewhat earlier than planned.
