Dun Rig and a round of Donalds

[john923]

This looked like a good leg-stretcher according to previous reports so we parked up at the end of Glen Road on the outskirts of Peebles at 9:30 and were soon on our way.
Continued past the tarmac end of the road to an info panel about the Old Drove Road and turned right through the gate down to the stream - the ascent up the drove road starts the other side of the footbridge.

Views quickly opened up, both back towards the town and ahead to the hills.

The track makes steady progress past Kailzie hill to Kirkhope Law - here looking ahead to Birkscairn Hill..

..with the days gradual ascent so far visible behind.

Eventually Birkscairn Hill is reached - view over to the next bit of the round, Stake Law and Dun Rig.

A new fence runs parallel to a line of old posts going up to Stake Law. I liked the hairy lichen tops of the old posts.

We had our lunch break on Dun Rig, with our backs against the gate and enjoying the spring sunshine - and then a quick pose for the obligatory trig point photo.

We skirted around towards Glenrath Heights, keeping to the higher ground, and this was one of the softer sections of the route,..

..but the flatter tops of Middle Hill (the actual top) and Broom Hill were much easier going even if summit area is nothing to write home about.

The out-and-back detour to Stob Law was a bit of a slog in the hot afternoon sunshine, here the view from Broom Hill,..

..although you do get a view north into the secluded valley of Hundles Hope.

Eventually made it to the top - here looking back to Broom Hill - and found the small pile of stones that marks Stob Law's summit. A lot of effort for a blue tick on the map!

At least there was another trig point photoshoot on Hundleshope Heights..

..and then the pleasant gradual descent following the quad bike tracks down the Dead Side ridge.

Despite the fact that it was the weekend and a lovely sunny day we saw no-one on the hills all day - it seems like the Borders is the place to come to escape the crowds. A good day out.

[Graeme D]

Never walked south of the central belt (other than on the moors around Muirkirk), but I'm liking the look of that!

[Paul_Antonia]

Based in Peebles this is home territory to us. It doesn't have the drama of the high peaks but it's lovely in it's own way and I can only think of a handful of times I've met anyone up here. Never done the whole round yet but fancying it even more now. Usually do shorter out and back trips and the glens are so lovely we don't always head to the tops.
Some lovely leg stretchers to the north of the town too.

[Klaasloopt]

OK, I had to look this up. Where are these hills and how can a hill be a Graham and a Donald at the same time? That knowledge refreshed, I can safely say: I'm interested, would make a good winter walk.