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Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds


Postby Jaxter » Fri Apr 14, 2017 9:32 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Ballencleuch Law, Queensberry

Donalds included on this walk: Ballencleuch Law, Comb Law, Earncraig Hill, Gana Hill, Queensberry, Scaw'd Law, Wedder Law

Date walked: 11/04/2017

Time taken: 7.4 hours

Distance: 30 km

Ascent: 1635m

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Pretty sure Monday was a better day, but it was the obligatory “knee rest day” after a big cycle on Sunday, so Tuesday it was. I couldn’t be bothered getting up very early, but with the longer days it didn’t really matter. After an uneventful drive I arrived at the car parking area (or it may have been an oversized passing place) just short of Kirkhope Cleuch and started walking shortly after 10.

I followed a muddy track just before the gate but soon cut through and across the wall and fence as the walking looked easier there. It was more exposed here and the wind was whipping up a storm. I could feel moisture in the air and before long I stopped to add waterproofs. I squished my way through some bogs and across a fence or two and began the climb up to Comb Law, following the fence posts all the way to the unmarked summit.

Looking back it was wet and windy
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Comb Law summit
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It was very windy (too windy for posing) but I could at least see the way ahead for now. My second summit looked a long way away :lol:

Ahead to Ballencleuch Law
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Onwards, I followed the fenceposts over Hirstane Rig, through bog and up to Ballencleuch Law. All the way along it was insanely windy and I was battling against it and trying to hang onto my hat. This summit was at least sort of marked but it was way too blowy to risk my camera for a pose :lol: It had at least stopped raining.

Sort of cairn…
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Summit 2
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Looking ahead to Skaw’d Law
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Lowther Hill and friends
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From here it was an easy but windy trek to Scaw’d Law, yet again unmarked and seemingly with 2 different options for summits. I visited them both and decided to push on. It was not a day for hanging around. I was also thinking about escape routes as this was definitely Type 2 fun and I wasn’t sure if I could be bothered with spending many more hours being blown around :crazy:

Number 3
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Wedder Law ahead
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Another easy plod to my next summit, Wedder Law. The advantage of changing direction was a bit of respite from the wind. But all too soon I was at the summit, and being blown around again.
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From here it was easy again to Gana Hill. I could see a track heading up it but figured the direct route would be quicker as I’d have to bog hop to get to the track :lol: It was quite steep but arriving at the summit ridge I was greeted by an actual cairn :shock: and a wind shelter. It wasn’t the actual summit (that was further along) but I utilised the wind shelter for a cheeky pose at last :thumbup:
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Looking down towards the reservoir
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Earncraig Hill and Queensberry
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After visiting the actual summit of Gana Hill, marked by a less impressive cairn, it was a simple case of following more fenceposts across a boggy bealach (there was an ATV track which seemed to be boggier than the actual bog :lol: ) and then following a vague path up the steep side of Earncraig Hill, weaving around the crags. I climbed over a barbed wire fence to get to the summit although turned out there was a more easily climbable fence further round that wasn’t visible at the time.

Looking back to Gana Hill
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Summit 6
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From here, Queensberry didn’t look too far away but unfortunately due to geology and lack of wings I had to take the long way round :lol:
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I followed fenceposts down Berry Rig before dropping down to Capel Yetts across bogs and peat hags. The reason for the diversion…
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From here it was a steep climb up Penbreck, a lot of peat hags to cross and then a climb up Queensberry Shoulder…
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….to the summit where I was brutally attacked by the full force of the wind :shock: I dumped my stuff in the wind shelter and made the final climb up the huge cairn on my hands and knees. I attempted to stand and was nearly blown over :shock: I retreated back to my belongings on my backside and sheltered from the wind for a few minutes.

Shelter for a pose…
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Lowther Hill and pals
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Some serious wind power
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Today’s route
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Lowther Hill’s distinctive radio tower
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It was a case of retracing my steps to Capel Yetts, before climbing back up to the North Ridge of Earncraig Hill.

Looking back up to Earncraig Hill
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Gana Hill and Wedder Law
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Previous users of this route have dropped down the other side, crossed the river and enjoyed a nice easy walk out along the track all the way down the valley. I thought a stroll down the ridge might be nicer (plus I have a fear of river crossings :lol: ) so walked over Lamb Hill, Over Law and Nether Law before dropping down to Crookburn, borrowing their bridge and walking back along the road to the car arriving back just before 6.

The reservoir from Over Law
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Looking back
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Sunny reservoir
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Guard sheep
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Looking up the Kirkhope burn towards Comb Law
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It was an easy drive home, and whilst stopping to feed Blondie I discovered cookie and cream flavoured KitKats. Day made :lol:
User avatar
Jaxter
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1486
Munros:217   Corbetts:139
Fionas:90   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:129   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:35
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Postby Alteknacker » Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:42 pm

That's a pretty speedy round - you were clearly blown in the right direction the entire way :D .

BTW I have competition for the Ballencleuch cairn....

20170402_123709 Pen yr Allt Uchaf.jpg
User avatar
Alteknacker
Scrambler
 
Posts: 3473
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Hewitts:264
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Joined: May 25, 2013
Location: Effete South (of WIgan, anyway)

Re: Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Postby Mal Grey » Sat Apr 22, 2017 10:06 pm

Pleased to see you've developed a streamlined version of the pose, just don't try it with a baggy top on or you might take off....

Didn't know these hills, only ever passed them at 70 (honest) on the motorway. Thanks for enlightening me. :D
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Mal Grey
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Posts: 4617
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Joined: Dec 1, 2011
Location: Surrey, probably in a canoe! www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk

Re: Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Postby Jaxter » Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:46 am

Alteknacker wrote:That's a pretty speedy round - you were clearly blown in the right direction the entire way :D .

BTW I have competition for the Ballencleuch cairn....

20170402_123709 Pen yr Allt Uchaf.jpg

It was too cold to stand still!! I think your cairn wins, where is that one?



Mal Grey wrote:Pleased to see you've developed a streamlined version of the pose, just don't try it with a baggy top on or you might take off....

Didn't know these hills, only ever passed them at 70 (honest) on the motorway. Thanks for enlightening me. :D

:lol: they're good because it's a shorter drive, although there are those horrible roadworks around Hamilton to contend with :?
User avatar
Jaxter
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1486
Munros:217   Corbetts:139
Fionas:90   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:129   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:35
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Postby Alteknacker » Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:48 pm

Jaxter wrote:..... I think your cairn wins, where is that one?


It's a Hewitt in Southern Snowdonia (it features in the WR I did of an outing in the Arans).

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=71087

I'd never seen anything quite so odd before...
User avatar
Alteknacker
Scrambler
 
Posts: 3473
Munros:176   Corbetts:33
Fionas:1   
Hewitts:264
Wainwrights:118   
Joined: May 25, 2013
Location: Effete South (of WIgan, anyway)

Re: Bum-shuffling on some windy Donalds

Postby Jaxter » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:42 pm

Alteknacker wrote:
Jaxter wrote:..... I think your cairn wins, where is that one?


It's a Hewitt in Southern Snowdonia (it features in the WR I did of an outing in the Arans).

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=71087

I'd never seen anything quite so odd before...

There's a similar one on Hillshaw Head.... :shock: they're strange cairns :lol:
User avatar
Jaxter
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1486
Munros:217   Corbetts:139
Fionas:90   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:129   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:35
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

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