walkhighlands

Minch Moor walk from Innerleithen to Selkirk.

Route: Southern Upland Way 9: Traquair to Melrose

Date walked: 23/11/2014

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 28km

Ascent: 823m

I found out on the Saturday that there was a good forecast for the Borders for the next day, and even better than that....I had the day off work!
The choice was between a day watching telly, or getting out for a much needed walk somewhere. I caught the half eight bus from Hawick to Galashiels, thinking I might hit The Eildons, or head up to The Three Brethren from Selkirk (again!), on reaching Gala and checking the bus timetables I discovered that there was a bus heading to Peebles so I got on that and headed west, thinking I might get off at Walkerburn and tackle Windlestraw Law, but I decided to stay on the bus till Innerleithen and head over "The Minch" to Selkirk. This route follows the Southern Upland Way and that actually goes to Melrose, but I'd checked the bus times and there was bus at 15.46 from Selkirk, so I decided to cut off there, that gave me five and a half hours to complete the walk...no bother, or so I thought!
I got off the bus, turned left onto Traquair Rd, passed the Traquair Arms Hotel (good beer to be had in here!) and made my way to Traquair. There were still a few clouds around and it felt quite cool until I reached the village hall, and started the gentle incline towards the forested area, and then the sun broke through, and the temperature rose, so at the bothy, I stopped at took my jacket off, and it stayed off till I reached The Three Brethren!
There's no really tough parts on this walk, the paths are good, apart from one short muddy stretch through the forest just after Minch Moor, but that's it really!
I stopped for a quick lunch on the fringe of the forest at Hare Law, sitting on a stile with cracking views over to Brown Knowe and down towards Yarrowford and beyond, the weather forecast was right, visibilty was VG, and I could see for MILES!
Aware of the time constraints, and having a bus to catch, I soon started on my way again, reaching the top of Brown Knowe, with the views changing and The Eildons coming into view and the Three Brethren beckoning in the distance.
The sun remained high(ish) in the relatively cloudless sky, and a cool refreshing breeze stayed with me as I followed the old drove road to Broomy Law and onwards to the Brethren.
I'd been keeping a close eye on the time, as I had a bus to catch, and sunset was at about 3.30-3.45, so I was quite happy when I reached the Three Brethren just after 2 o'clock, that gave me PLENTY of time for a second lunch, so I scoffed the remainder of the soup from my flask and the two remaining pork pies...and the banana...and the breakfast biscuit which I wasn't in the mood for earlier! That left me with just over an hour to get down to Selkirk to get the bus...PLENTY of time!
I took the Southern Upland Way path but turned off at Peat Law, passed the reservoir, and made my way down Corby Linn road, where I checked the time and realised I had 20 minutes to get up to The Square to get my bus, I know from experience that it takes me a good half hour to do that, so I set off, hoping the bus would be late, unfortunately it wasn't, and I had to wait 50 mins for the next one.....not the end of the world, I'd had a cracking walk, in cracking weather....it'd been a good day, all the better for being spur of the moment!
Some pics of the day......
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The car park at Traquair Village Hall
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Going that way.
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Innerleithen with Lee Pen on the left and Kirnie Law on the right.
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Minch Moor Bothy
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The dry stane dykes at the bothy had slates with "memories" and names written on them, at first I thought they were the names of various pets, but on further inspection, I took them to be for horses.
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"Mr Beaujangles"
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Something's having Grouse for lunch! Sparrowhawk perhaps?? I saw no birds of prey on the walk so I've no idea what took this!
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The Point of Resolution art work.
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Explaining "The Point of Resolution"
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The Cheese Well. Tradition has it that travellers across the moor leave a gift here (presumably cheese based!) for the fairies to ensure a safe journey.
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The fairy loot, presumably they'd eaten the cheese! Don't think they'll get far on that tho!
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Getting muddy here......
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....that's much better!
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A nice spot for lunch.
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Looking over to Brown Knowe.
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Cairn on top of Brown Knowe.
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Following the old drove road down to Four Lords Lands
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Looking back to Lucken Head and Brown Knowe.
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The path up to The Three Brethren
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The Three Brethren.
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The Eildons from my second lunch spot.

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A spur of the moment wander up The Three Brethren

Attachment(s) Date walked: 29/10/2014
Distance: 12.8km
Ascent: 408m
Comments: 1
Views: 2419


5 Donalds from Talla Reservoir

Attachment(s) Corbetts: White Coomb
Donalds: Cape Law, Erie Hill , Garelet Dod, Molls Cleuch Dod, White Coomb
Date walked: 24/09/2014
Distance: 19.5km
Ascent: 997m
Comments: 1
Views: 4325


A claggy day down Ettrick way!

Attachment(s) Fionas: Capel Fell, Ettrick Pen
Donalds: Bodesbeck Law, Capel Fell, Ettrick Pen, Wind Fell
Date walked: 17/09/2014
Distance: 15.75km
Ascent: 827m
Comments: 3
Views: 2921


By popular demand...it's Bidean nam Bian!

Attachment(s) Munros: Bidean nam Bian, Stob Coire Sgreamhach
Date walked: 02/09/2014
Distance: 11km
Ascent: 1316m
Comments: 6
Views: 4731


A grand day out in Drumochter

Attachment(s) Munros: A' Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain, Geal-chàrn (Drumochter), Sgàirneach Mhòr
Date walked: 15/06/2014
Distance: 25.75km
Ascent: 1131m
Views: 3319


A long slog on Beinn a'Ghlo

Attachment(s) Munros: Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, Càrn Liath (Beinn a' Ghlò), Càrn nan Gabhar
Date walked: 01/06/2014
Distance: 22km
Ascent: 1239m
Comments: 2
Views: 3291


Our first visit to Glen Nevis of 2014.

Attachment(s) Munros: Mullach nan Coirean, Stob Bàn (Mamores)
Date walked: 16/05/2014
Distance: 13km
Ascent: 1155m
Comments: 1
Views: 2578


Our first Munros of the year in Glen Lyon.

Attachment(s) Munros: Càrn Gorm, Càrn Mairg, Creag Mhòr (Meall na Aighean), Meall Garbh (Càrn Mairg)
Date walked: 20/04/2014
Distance: 18km
Ascent: 1310m
Comments: 1
Views: 3107


Lesson learned on An Caisteal, Beinn a'Chroin & Chabhair.

Attachment(s) Munros: An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chròin, Beinn Chabhair
Date walked: 13/10/2013
Distance: 17.8km
Comments: 4
Views: 10263

Gavsco


User avatar
Location: Scottish Borders
Interests: Walking, birding, drinking, sleeping.....zzzzz
Activity: Mountaineer
Pub: Staggs, Musselburgh.
Mountain: The Cobbler
Place: Glen Nevis
Gear: Binoculars
Member: RSPB
Camera: My phone (Experia Arc)

Munros: 75
Corbetts: 6
Fionas: 6
Donalds: 29
Wainwrights: 43
Hewitts: 22
Sub 2000: 5
Long Distance routes: West Highland Way   



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Statistics

2014

Trips: 9
Distance: 165.8 km
Ascent: 9206m
Munros: 15
Corbetts: 1
Fionas: 2
Donalds: 9

2013

Trips: 7
Distance: 113.3 km
Ascent: 5637m
Munros: 11
Sub2000s: 1


Joined: Aug 25, 2013
Last visited: Oct 04, 2023
Total posts: 32 | Search posts