Two Subs Near Duns

[inca]

Map: OS 1:50,000 no.67

Attendees: Me, Big Dog, Small Dog

1. Meikle Says Law: 11k, 265m ascent, 2 hrs 15m

1000 hours on a Thursday morning and I found the start point to the WH route without difficulty. Just me, the dogs and a thick mist over the Lammermuirs for company – didn’t see another soul all day.

The route starts at approx.. 400m height. There is decent space for parking and the track drops quickly SW past Faseny Cottage and some outbuildings. Faseny itself is in good nick – it had a fresh coat of orange paint and seems to be used for catering purposes only. The black barn nearby seems to be a pick-up and drop-off point for shooting parties.

Pretty much followed the outward WH route to the letter. Progress is made quickly on decent tracks that involve crossing and recrossing the Faseny Burn no less than 5 times. There are few problems.

Eventually the outward track turns back on itself so that you arrive at the freshly pained trig point proceeding on a NE bearing. By this time, the mist had closed in and there was little or nothing to see. For me at least – the dogs took after a hare for a few minutes before returning empty-handed.

My original intention was to carry on NE and pick up a separate track for the return however the ground was sodden and I didn’t really fancy moor and heather bashing so came back the same way I went out. I’d imagine the views on a good day would be extensive.

2. Dirrington Says Law: 6k, 200m ascent, 1 hr 15m

A short car run to the south of Longformacus and I was ready to go again at 1240 hours. I’d read online about the occupants of Dronshiel having problems with walkers so to avoid any fuss I took others’ advice here and parked up half a mile or so beyond it. I then took to the muddy track which leads SE towards a small plantation.

The track then turns west, alongside a wall, up the steepening slopes of DGL all the way to the summit cairn and tumbledown trig point. Again the mist precluded any views.

Return as outward route.