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After the recent 'unsuitable' weather a window appeared before the next grotty stuff is scheduled to arrive, so I contacted George to see if he fancied a wee leg stretch and as usual he jumped at the chance. Parminder was also invited and as he had a rare spare family free day, he also fancied some fresh air and as he was a Marilyn virgin a totally new experience was on the cards.
The plan was to visit Cacra Hill first which was going to be a straight up and down, then head back along the road we had already driven down and pick off Turner Cleuch Law & The Wiss.
I offered to drive and we agreed to meet and pick up Parminder at Straiton Park & Ride at 9.30,
It was a pleasant surprise to drive near Edinburgh on a Sunday and the roads were so quiet and we were slightly early - but Parminder had already been waiting half an hour for us
So off we set, the Pentlands had a nice dusting of the white stuff as we glanced to our right. I opted to avoid Penicuik as it is a pain to drive through and there was snow lying at the side of the road on our way to Peebles.
We arrived in the area of the start for the Cacra adventure, now it was just a matter of finding a parking spot.
Parking spot and my colleagues were sorting out all the technology
Cacra Hill summit somewhere up there
Low level look back
We opted to follow a grassy track that took us round the north side of the hill
We soon left the track and headed uphill over the very recent slight dumping of snow
Looking south ish
George admiring the view
Not far now
The 3 stone summit of Cacra Hill
George posing for Parminder to celebrate his first Marilyn
Descending our usual way - direct
Parminder at the tail - as usual
Cacra Hill
Cacra took us just about an hour, it was boots off and the short drive to our next and final parking spot which would be utilised as the start for both of our next hills.
Nice layby which was positioned in an ideal spot to tackle both hills
Before we set off up Turner Cleuch Law we decided to lighten our rucksack weight by eating our lunch, I bet there aren't many folk who have eaten there lunch at that particular layby. One thing that we did notice was about a dozen or so empty Bud lager tins just lying at the side of the road, what sort of idiot leaves empty tins behind them, pathetic.
Looking uphill, plenty of snow
We knew from reading the few reports available that Turner Cleuch Law (TCL) was going to be steep and we were climbing as soon as we left the road. The good thing about TCL is that the height is gained quickly and the summit isn't that far as the crow flies.
Looking back down on the road, only George can inform us what he was pointing at?
Looking uphill, you can see a dip in the terrain ahead so we opted to head off to the left
Looking across the road to our final hill, The Wiss
Arty shot for the day, looking through a fire break
Photo time as we neared the summit
Looking along the broad ridge to the north off the summit
The summit area
Added an extra fence post that was embedded in the mud to enhance the summit
Looking south
Our next target zoomed, the trig on top of The Wiss
Now for the descent
The descent off TCL was the highlight of the day, great fun - you can't beat descending on firmish snow, certainly beats tufty grass that is for sure. The next group of photo's hopefully demonstrate the fun that can be had descending.
George volunteered to be the snow guinea pig, carefully assessing the conditions and then we followed with gusto
Parminder gingerly walking in George's snow steps
George so confident he was walking backwards - videoing the expert descenders
Parminder taking a photo of me taking a photo of him, or something like that
The next section
Looking back, I wasn't daft enough to walk backwards
Next section
Any guesses as to who was at the rear?
This shot indicates why we chose to descend on the snow
Less snow as we get lower
Oh good another long patch
George striding towards the large expertly constructed cairn
Not far now, still a bit of height to lose
Parminder forgot to take the bravery pills and wimped out by walking round one of the last tiny patches of white stuff
Parminder took a bravery pill, not a wuss anymore
George waiting patiently
Layby from a slight height, no stopping for us, straight over the road and up The Wiss - so to speak
Not much traffic interfering with our progress
Turner Cleuch Law
Once across the road there is a short descent, we were expecting a bogfest and it didn't materialise until I stupidly said to George that the going was much better than anticipated. The bogfest reminded me of the swamp you encounter up in the far NW when tackling the Fisherfield, the good news was the bog here was only 50m or so, instead of the 1km on the way to Shenavall Bothy.
We had already scanned the hillside ahead and decided on a route we were going to try and follow. George was once again striding out and surprisingly even on the ascents.
About to reach swampy boggy stuff
We were going to follow a path that kind of traversed and ascended, bit of a mess as usual after the trees have been felled
Looking back to Turner Cleuch
Similar photo to the one above, but from slightly higher
Not too steep
The way ahead, summit not visible for quite a while yet
Hardly any snow on The Wiss, summit trig can be seen now
St Mary's Loch
George taking in the views
Parminder eventually arriving, we had eaten a 3 course lunch whilst waiting....
The Wiss has it's own littling paddling pool next to the trig
Looking westish
Zoomed shot across to our last summit
Striding across the burn
Bog trot back to the car
Not a pleasant sight
Parminder trying to stay on the higher ground, not easy
The Wiss
This turned out to be a cracking day the highlight I think was fairly obvious, purely by the number of photo's. No more walking for me until a flying visit up to Braemar to say hello again to the Cairngorms, hopefully I will cope with the ambitious plans.
