Weasels catch up in Peebles

[weaselmaster]

Another weekend of catch up in the Borders. Weather forecast cloudy but mild. Decided to do hills around Peebles on Friday and Saturday, get into Edinburgh for Allison's birthday then the Lowther hills on Sunday. Drove through to Glentress Campsite on Thursday night - by a rather circuitous route through lanarkshire - I often seem to get lost there. No other tents around, surpirse surprise. Able to use the kitchen at reception which made a change to be cooking standing up Off reasonably early on Friday to do the pleasant Dun Rig circuit from Peebles.

dunrig.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

We set off on the Cross Borders Drove Road up Kailzie Hill and on to the first Donald of Birkscairn Hill. Cold enough under foot to keep the worst of the bog frozen. On to Stake Law thence Dun Rig and the unmarked top of Glenrath Heights. Descend boggily to Middle Hill and Broom Hill. Pause at Door Hass for a bite to eat before climbing Stob Law then back round to Hundleshope Heights descending by Dead Side and through the Haystoun Estate. A nice circuit, albeit hidden in clag today.

DSC02433 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02435 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02436 by Al, on Flickr

Dun Rig
DSC02438 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02441 by Al, on Flickr

windle.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Back to Glentress that night, with the short day up Windlestraw and Whitehope planned for Saturday. Another day of clag - drove through Innerleithen Golf Course and on towards Glentress Cottage. Parked in a layby and set off up to the east of Dod Hill, onto Bareback Knowe - a much less boggy ascent route than heading up Wallet Knowe. Took in the 657m top following fencelines to the summit of Windlestraw. Met a couple of guys on the descent, then an older couple collecting Grahams further down - stood and chatted for a while. Dropped down to the road, then across the Glentress Water via a plank bridge to make a start on Whitehope Law. Stopped for lunch by a birch tree then continued into clag up Leithen Hopes to the summit of Whitehope. Straight back down, aiming for the car, with another plank bridge conveniently placed. A group of horses watched up slither over the wet wood.

Up Bareback Knowe
DSC02443 by Al, on Flickr

Windlestraw
DSC02444 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02445 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02446 by Al, on Flickr

Whitehope
DSC02448 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02449 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02450 by Al, on Flickr

pizza.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

From here we drove to Mortonhall Campsite, arriving mid afternoon - time to get pitched and head into town. A visit to the National Gallery then down to Novopizza followed by a few belgian beers in 6 Degrees North. We walked back to the campsite - a nice 10k jaunt

lowther.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Up a bit late on Sunday morning, plans to get the Lowther Hills done a bit adrift. Couldn't decide whether to do them from Overfingland or Wanlockhead - in the end decided on the former. Mist down the whole day - a soggy tramp up by the Southern Upland Way to Cold Moss then Lowther Hill, the radar stations completely hidden until you were a few feet away. Dropped down to East Mount Lowther, lunching at the "viewpoint" then back up to Lowther Hill. We'd decided to cut short after Green Lowther, the key Graham getting done, leaving the remaining two Donalds for another day. Cut down by Riccart Cleuch and onto the track leading to Overfingland Farm. A large green notice by a Union Flag informed us there was no public access and some frenzied barking by a pack of hellhounds underlined the point. Notheing like being polite and putting up a diversion route - anyway we headed through the feild back to the car.

Indicative of the day...
DSC02451 by Al, on Flickr

East Mount Lowther
DSC02452 by Al, on Flickr

Lowther
DSC02454 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02455 by Al, on Flickr

Green Lowther
DSC02456 by Al, on Flickr

DSC02457 by Al, on Flickr

[rockhopper]

Interesting - very nearly bumped into you.
Had been thinking about the Dun Rig loop for this weekend but decided against it due to the foggy/claggy forecast - am becoming a fair weather walker .....unlike you two ! - cheers

[Collaciotach]

An area i don't know at all ..looks interesting

Like Rockhopper i'm a fair weather type these days

[prog99]

Pity you didn't get the views on Dun Rigg as they are excellent.

Theres a path from the campsite which cuts out the pavement along frogston road if your ever back there. Its my usual route from work.

[Robertgee]

Good walk report...just a pity the weather wasn't better for you. I've done all these hills before over numerous visits, except for Whitehope Law...very interested to find out there's plank bridges, as I didn't know how I'd be able to cross Glentress Water. Now that problems sorted for me, I hope to do this soon for a short walk that's not too far from home...a nice afternoon walk maybe