walkhighlands

Law Kneis

Sub 2000s: Law Kneis

Date walked: 24/02/2024

Time taken: 2.75 hours

Distance: 7.8km

Ascent: 270m

I parked at the Ettrick Marshes car park by the Tima Water, and crossed the bridge. This seems like a new bridge, and you can see the site of an old bridge next to it, no longer there but still marked on the map.

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Bridge over Tima Water


I followed the track north and very soon encountered a bit of a problem. At a gate across the track was a sign saying there was forestry operations going on, and that I should go no further. I couldn't see or hear anything up ahead, so proceeded on my usual proviso that if I came upon any such operations I would take avoiding action at that point.

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Following the track north


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Looking towards Ettrick, with Wedder Law to the left


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As usual, it being the weekend, there wasn't any actual forestry activity in progress, though signs of there having been recently were abundant. It doesn't half make a mess of the landscape.

I followed the track in a u-turn and continued ascending southward.

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Forestry mess


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Caravan site, with Wedder Law behind


The tree cutting ended at White Sike, a stream heading down west to join the Tima Water.

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Having read the trials of others in climbing Law Kneis, I had decided to follow the mapped tracks as far as possible and then leave the track at it's nearest point to the summit and ascend directly up what looked to be a fire break in the forest. I had no guarantee it would be passable, considering what has been reported about other routes up. I could only hope. Fortunately it was clear, and although steep and very muddy in places I got up OK. I was helped in places by the remains of an old fence which could be used to pull oneself up - though watch out for rotten posts and rusty wire. As I discovered on the way down, it would have been easier had I walked up between the first 2 rows of trees at the edge of the break, since there was a lot less mud there.

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The break - steep and muddy, but passable


At the top of the break the sudden lack of trees to the immediate right allow the views to open up to the south and east. The slope eases off for the last dew hundred meters. There is a faint path through the thick grass and heather, roughly following the line of the fence. The summit is marked by a pine tree that appears to have seeded itself beyond the edge of the forest which lies just north of the fence.

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Looking east from the summit


I headed back down the way I had come. I had trouble keeping my feet descending the fire break, such was the mud on the steep slope. I soon decided to try walking down just off the break in the trees. Surprisingly (to me) this was much easier going, with there being a reasonable gap between the first two rows of trees, few low branches and much less mud. I was soon back down to the track.

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Heading back down


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Back at the track - sitting on a stump for a tea break


Once back at the edge of the tree felling, I decided to head straight down the hill following White Sike. It looked doable from the track, and would save the longer traipse through the felling site. This went well for a while, with plenty of space between the mature trees. Further down though the way was blocked with various fallen trees, and I continued the rest of the way on the other side of the stream, mainly over dead bracken, until back down at the track again just up from the gate. And from there back to the car park.

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Heading down by White Sike, which has made quite a gorge for itself


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Continuing down just inside the current tree line - the easy bit

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jgregor



Munros: 19
Tops: 3
Corbetts: 8
Fionas: 17
Donalds: 63+39
Hewitts: 1
Sub 2000: 52
Islands: 9



Filter reports


Statistics

2024

Trips: 9
Distance: 62.65 km
Ascent: 2880m
Sub2000s: 11

2023

Trips: 38
Distance: 421.44 km
Ascent: 22798m
Munros: 8
Corbetts: 2
Fionas: 5
Donalds: 22
Sub2000s: 18
Hewitts: 1

2022

Trips: 35
Distance: 361.6 km
Ascent: 20134m
Munros: 10
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 6
Donalds: 33
Sub2000s: 13

2021

Trips: 15
Distance: 113.15 km
Ascent: 7014m
Corbetts: 4
Fionas: 5
Donalds: 11
Sub2000s: 4

2015

Trips: 1
Distance: 5.25 km


Joined: Apr 22, 2015
Last visited: Mar 26, 2024
Total posts: 111 | Search posts