walkhighlands

Striding Arches, Moniaive

Route: Striding Arches, near Moniaive

Sub 2000s: Colt Hill

Date walked: 16/06/2019

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 18km

Ascent: 750m

I first came across Striding Arches in a tourist leaflet in 2016 and decided to explore with a view to leading my friends on the circuit. I reviewed reports in this forum to try and find a way which was a circuit rather than linear along forest roads. The first walk was a disaster; Dibbin Lane was not a lane but a bog with windblown trees and the clear area after Blackcraig Hill was blocked by more trees and the alternate was ankle breaking territory. I sought the assistance of others and appreciate the help from Bill in Forest Enterprise Scotland.

On 16th June 2019 my friends and I set out on a route which I found to be a successful way without the hazards of fallen trees. It did in fact use some of the new roads put in by the foresters.


Track_Striding Arches 16 Jun 2019.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Our start point was approx 5½ miles from Moniaive just after a copse of trees on the right with a stone wall and wooden steps for access; at the 2nd copse after this on the left there is ample parking on the grass beside the trees. Looking up to the right there is a wide firebreak with a marker pole at the bottom which is the return route. The pole marker is the upright of the stile across the fence.

SArches-1000342.jpg
The starting point beside the small copse


We set off along the road up the glen for just over a mile to a signpost at a fork; taking the right hand track led upwards to The Byre and the 1st arch.. Good place for the first rest stop.

SArches-1000343.jpg
Inside the Byre

SArches-1000344.jpg
Outside the Byre


Left the Byre and returned to the road and continued up the glen. The road becomes a recently constructed forestry road. After crossing the flat bridge there is a junction about 200 yards further on where we turned left in a southerly direction ascending to cross the Back Burn (NX 694971).

SArches-1000345.jpg
The parking area and start of the forestry road

SArches-1000346.jpg
Turn left here to head for Black Burn

SArches-1000347.jpg
Turn right after Black Burn


Immediately after the burn we turned right up the left hand side of the burn at the edge of the forest. After about 8 - 10 minutes walking the path turns left into the forest and becomes very muddy but eventually becomes a small fire break. Continuing along this break we joined another fire break and turning right and followed this to the edge of the forest which is at Little Dibbin Hill (Grid Ref NX 687963)

SArches-1000348.jpg
Going through the fire break

SArches-1000349.jpg
End of the fire break

.
SArches-1000350.jpg
Looking up Benbrack


Heading uphill and keeping the wall on the left and we reached the summit of Benbrack and the 2nd arch. From this vantage point the arches on Colt and Bail hills can be seen.

SArches-1000351.jpg
The Benbrack Arch


Leaving Benbrack we walked northwards which is the Southern Upland Way. Followed the SUW for nearly 2 miles across open hillside to reach the corner of a (now harvested) forest after Black Hill. At the forest the SUW went off to the left and our route went right and downhill.

SArches-0018-Pano.jpg
Looking North to Moorbrock, Alhang, Windy Standard & Blacklorg Hill

SArches-1000352.jpg
The Southern Upland Way goes left and the Striding Arches route goes right

SArches-1000353.jpg
Signpost telling which direction to the Striding Arches


We came to the forestry road which comes up from valley and walked staring ahead up a wide constructed slop to a large clear area. There is a road ahead going off to the right, which we ignored. After the large clear area the route was straight ahead and uphill adjacent to the fence. At the top of Colt Hill is the 3rd arch.

SArches-1000354.jpg
Reaching the forestry road the way to Colt Hill is uphill.

SArches-1000355.jpg
Signpost as a reminder where to go.

SArches-1000356.jpg
The ascent of Colt Hill starts here

SArches-1000357.jpg
The Colt Hill Arch


There now starts the walk to the final arch on Bail Hill and there are two routes depending on the forested section after Blackcraig Hill. Walking away from the arch to follow the wall in a southerly direction descending to Blackcraig Hill. Continuing on from Blackcraig Hill following the wall the route leads to a clearing between 2 forests. The forest on the left was harvested recently and then replanted. The forest on the right had windblown trees across the clearing and the route was blocked.

SArches-1000358.jpg
The way ahead is blocked (turn right)


Without the clear access we routed to the right to the corner of the fence (NX 704978) surrounding the forest where there had also been harvesting. At the fence there is an opening into the forested area and a track leads ahead which becomes a stony track. We followed this track, ignoring the quarry, to the forestry road where we turned left.

SArches-1000359.jpg
Joining the Forestry road and turn left


Walking along the road for about 1 mille and after the left hand bend there is a stony track going uphill to the left (NX 765969). This would take us up to the boundary of the next harvested area where the hill top route to the 4th arch could be followed. However we continued along the forestry road nearly to the turning area and took a small track leading uphill to the left. This took us to the boundary fence after passing through a gate walked uphill to the wall.

SArches-1000360.jpg
The first way back to the hill

SArches-1000361.jpg
The second (and last) way back to the hills


Keeping the wall to our left we ascended to Bail Hill and turned right still following the wall. The 4th arch could now be seen ahead of us on a smaller ‘top’ and we reached the last structure.

SArches-0028.jpg
The final arch on Bail Hill


It is from this arch that a good view of the valley can be seen. In fact it is the only location where all 4 arches can be seen albeit that the Byre Arch is on the opposite end of the building.

From the Bail Hill arch we descended northwest towards the valley and going downhill towards the forest and the fire break became visible with the stile to cross the fence. Then it was a case of downhill all the way (900 feet in total) to reach the lower fence with stile and then down some more to the road and the cars.

When we came to the end of the firebreak and with 200 feet still to go the car could be seen but it was surrounded by herd of cows - watch your feet before you get in the car!

SArches-1000368.jpg
And that is my car!


During July/August/September the lower section of the firebreak is wall to wall bracken and is virtually impassable. If coming down the firebreak at these months and reaching the bracken it will be a difficult decision to go back to the top and go around the outside of the forest.

Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).



A different route for Ettrick 3

Attachment(s) Fionas: Andrewhinney Hill
Donalds: Andrewhinney Hill, Bell Craig, Herman Law
Date walked: 29/10/2014
Distance: 13km
Ascent: 670m
Comments: 1
Views: 2648


4 Moorfoot Donalds, and a flypast over a bog walk

Attachment(s) Fionas: Blackhope Scar
Donalds: Blackhope Scar, Bowbeat Hill, Dundreich, Whitehope Law
Date walked: 23/07/2014
Distance: 20km
Ascent: 725m
Comments: 1
Views: 3155


Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui

Attachment(s) Munros: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)
Date walked: 18/04/2014
Distance: 11km
Ascent: 1000m
Comments: 3
Views: 7477


Lousie Wood and Dun Laws

Attachment(s) Donalds: Dun Law, Lousie Wood Law
Date walked: 31/08/2013
Distance: 10km
Ascent: 700m
Views: 2987


Meeting the Donalds of the Manor

Attachment(s) Donalds: Cramalt Craig, Dollar Law, Greenside Law
Date walked: 26/06/2013
Distance: 20km
Comments: 2
Views: 3037


Sgurr Alasdair - My 50th

Attachment(s) Munros: Sgùrr Alasdair
Date walked: 04/06/2013
Distance: 9.5km
Comments: 6
Views: 4423


Ben Lomond – my first

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Munros: Ben Lomond
Date walked: 18/10/2012
Distance: 13km
Views: 1222

ExpatEddie


Location: Scottish Borders
Activity: Mountaineer
Mountain: Buchaille Etive Mor
Place: Glencoe
Gear: Deuter Rucksack
Member: Biggar Ramblers
Camera: Canon 7D
Ideal day out: A day on the hills without seeing a windfarm

Munros: 72
Corbetts: 12
Fionas: 23
Donalds: 89+47
Sub 2000: 26



Filter reports


Statistics

2019

Trips: 1
Distance: 18 km
Ascent: 750m
Sub2000s: 1

2014

Trips: 3
Distance: 44 km
Ascent: 2395m
Munros: 1
Fionas: 2
Donalds: 7

2013

Trips: 3
Distance: 39.5 km
Ascent: 700m
Munros: 1
Donalds: 5

2012

Trips: 1
Distance: 13 km
Munros: 1


Joined: Aug 10, 2012
Last visited: Apr 28, 2023
Total posts: 420 | Search posts