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Yes I know it won't please everyone as in theory all hills are fun and pleasureable, maybe it was the conditions wind, low cloud and drizzle - even so, unless the views are spectacular it won't feature on my return list
That has cleared that point up. Cauldcleuch was planned as a single hill with a sort of circular route taking me east and then south back to the start, if time was on my side I was considering visiting Greatmoor Hill
I left Cheshire at 8am and for the first time ever managed to travel NW round the M60 (Manchester Ring Road) without any hold ups
Started walking at 1045 and knew I wasn't going to get any views, sadly.
Interesting, especially as it is literally in the middle of nowhere
Zoomed
Pretty solid building
Decided to park here, there is a large parking area, that has a 'home made' no parking sign at Billhope Cottage
From previous reports I noticed that others had parked in the largish parking area, maybe the 'no parking' sign is a new addition, so I behaved myself and parked on a muddy grassy bit near a bridge
The way ahead, Billhope on the right
The track after Billhope
Looking back at the no parking sign, zoomed
Information board on the way
Just after here once I started on the incline I thought something is missing and then I suddenly realised I had left my poles in the boot of the car
In my defence - they were underneath my overnight bag and bags of Christmas pressies
I had already been walking for 20mins so turning back wasn't an option, I would manfully soldier on
It's funny when you are without one of your essential items how much you miss it, last walk I forgot my watch so hopefully this isn't a new trend I am starting
Going uphill on the grassy slopes would have been easier with my poles, maybe that was psychological
Billhope Burn, that has a bridge every 400m or so
The way ahead, note the low cloud
Looking back
Rolling hills with newish plantations
The way ahead, or so I thought until I checked - when over half way up
Was easy going, shame in the wrong direction
I could have continued uphill and then headed north but I thought as I didn't know or could see what was ahead, the safer option would be to traverse towards the summit, so that's what I did
It wasn't easy, the grass was long, wet and slippy as well as being rather uneven. I was grateful to some of the local residents for making faint tracks across the hillside
Was still following the ATV track, lots of these poles all over the hill????
Looking back before the cloud engulfs me
Looking back at where I had traversed (to the left)
Now on the plateau, more poles and ATV tracks
The plateau area surrounding Cauldcleuch Head was a mass of peat hags and boggy grass, there are ATV tracks going in all directions, I tried to stick to them making sure I was still going in the right direction.
The summit area of Cauldcleuch Head, as you can see well worth all the effort
It doesn't look any better from a different angle
Had taken me 90mins to reach the summit and the windy drizzle made me rethink my options, should I continue on my planned route which would probably be another couple of hours, or do I head back down - hopefully in a more direct route than the ascent
I headed down the gully to the east of North Mid Hill which took me downhill following the burn called Black Grain. I then joined the track further down that I should have followed, utilising all the the bridges that zig-zag across the tiny burn
The way down, note all the bridges
Yet another pole, not many more photo's due to the drizzle
Low level shot of a few bridges
Good solid bridges, approved by Health and Safety folk
Next bridge
And the next one
Maybe a WR on bridges may have been more exciting as they were all very substantial and in there own way different
I was glad to get back to the car as I was a bit on the damp side, now the drive home
Unfortunately that will probably be my last walk of 2016 and come the New Year will be chomping at the bit to head down to Dumfries and Galloway
A Happy Christmas to everyone who continued reading this WR to the end and have a safe and prosperous 2017