cauldcleugh Head and Elison Fell

[GBrooks]

waking to a sunny morning and blue skies on Carlisle set off north to be disappointed by low cloud just before Langholm. Turned up the minor road to Hermitage Castle which is like a poor quality farm track due to damage by forestry waqgons. very large potholes everywhere!.

Parked at the forest gate at NT 439 979. Passed throug the gate at the west end of the forest and followed the fence up to the first corner. The path markeds on the map was not evident at this point. turned NW and contoured around the hill low cloud and did eventually find the path which is a nice green path well made. Followed up to the county boundary at NT 421 991. Aleft turn and followed the fence up a steep climb to the top of Carlin Tooth. Following trhe fence to the corner at NT418 986 then a compass bearing to eventually reach the top of Elison fell. Be warned the nice cairn is not the top of the fell it is on the little hillock at NT 415 985. the top of ellison Fell is totally unmarked and is a grassy dome.

Returning to the top of the pass climbed the opposite side following the fence over little Tudhope Hill and eventually to the trig point on Tudhope Hill. Although no fence is marked on the OS map one does follow the ridge north and so makes navigation across to Milstone Edge easier.

At long last the cloud liifted to be replaced by a strong SW wind which reduced the temperature significantly.

Climbing gradually onto Langtae Hill and around the head of the valley eventuallu Cauldcleugh Head was reached.

Descent was by following the fence south to NT 4546 998 then across the moor of pennygant Hill and Stob Fell before turning west down South Mid Hill to a new track above Billhope burn and a walk allong the track and road back to the car park.

There are few paths on these hills and only occasional pieces of Quad bike tracks to follow over a mixture of grass and heather with a large amount of peat and pools between.

The good part was 5 hours waking and did not see another person.