Culter Fell, short loop

[iainR]

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Culter Fell is a hill that i've done many times in various combinations with neighbouring hills but on this occasion i just wanted a workout therefore chose the most direct route up with a different but just as quick route down.
After parking at the layby near Culter Allers Farm and following a short walk along the private road which eventually leads to Coulter Reservoir i was soon at the bottom of Fell Shin, the small but steep ridge on the way to Culter Fell.
The track up Fell Shin was frozen which made the steep climb a bit easier but i still had to stop every 5 minutes to get my bearings as the low winter sun blazing in my face cut visibility down to several metres. Just over halfway up the ridge the hillside above put the sun in shadow and i could finally see the path.

Culter Allers Farm

The view looking up !

Looking down Fell Shin

Summit of Fell Shin

Tinto from Fell Shin

Once the small cairn on top of Fell Shin was reached the going was far easier with the normally boggy ground leading up to Culter Fell covered with ice and a light dusting of snow. The view of Tinto from here was particularly good and I soon reached the summit of Culter Fell where the conditions and visibility were excellent with superb views all round including the Moffat and Manor Hills.

Approaching the summit of Culter Fell

Summit of Culter Fell

Broad Law from Culter Fell

Chapelgill Hill from Culter Fell

Not wanting to hang about in freezing temperatures i followed the fence line down the steep and heathery northern slopes of the hill towards the boggy area known as Glenharvie Moss where i reached a fence junction. Following the fence heading off to the west or left of the main fence line i found myself walking over very boggy ground some of which was not that frozen or shallow as i found to my cost !
With damp and rapidly cooling feet i marched off along a path next to the fence which heads down the Tippet Knowe ridge which runs parallel with the Fell Shin ridge on the otherside of the Kings Beck Burn. With the bogs well behind me the path down was much more firm and straightforward. Where the path forks i took the faint and narrow track to the left which leads past a small woodland area and down to the road.

The Tippet Knowe ridge

[rockhopper]

Nice day for it. The hills down here are good for shorter winter days - cheers