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