A stunning horseshoe circuit, Hart Fell.

Hill: Hart Fell, Swatte Fell, Under Saddle Yoke.
Category: Corbett/Donald x2
Height: n/a
Weather forecast suggested this area might be the best place in Scotland to avoid torrential rain and thunderstorms, would it be accurate.
Well, that was one cracking walk but what a toughie, particularly the initial climb to Swatte Fell. 

Start ascend the left side Hang Gill gulley

We decided to walk anti clockwise to head up the side of the ravine. Boy did that get the heart rate up. I foolishly decided to leave my walking polls in the car as not been using them much recently. But this was definitely a slope for them. Walkhighlands says ‘from here the next stage of the ascent becomes extremely steep‘ no exaggeration!! The bracken was fairly high but the main challenge was wet slippery morning dew grass on very steep gradients meant I was grabbing all sorts to haul myself up, including the fence wire, wow what a start. Heart racing, jelly legs and we have a long way to go.

Sun briefly shines down below on Black Hope burn

The views were superb particularly when the sun briefly illuminated the slightly grey skies.

Black Craig, don't step back 350m straight down

 There is a brief reprieve as we follow the fence before there is an unrelenting climb towards Black Craig. A pair of red kites glide past. Big drops down to the right with excellent views across the glen to our descent and final hill Under Saddle Yoke.
Another brief respite as the terrain flattens going past the small cairn, thought at first this was the Donald top but no, slightly higher ground ahead, a fence, the top, Swatte Fell seems to be unmarked but GPS said we were there, did we miss something? An unrelenting ascent, no doubt.

Upper Coomb Craig with Upper Saddle yoke behind

We headed along the wet ground to Falcon Craig. I assume there are falcons but none spotted. Down to the col at Hass o' the Red Roads, I love the border names on the hills around here and across Galloway.

Falcon Craig

Once again the world goes upwards, another steep climb before flattening out and I was delighted and relieved to recognise the trig of the Corbett Hart Fell. I needed my lunch. Last time I was here I came up the other side via Arthurs Seat, not the famous one.

Cool spot for lunch Hart Fell trig

No rain for us so far but we could see showers around as we took in the excellent all round views. Lunch was relatively brief as the wind went through the gears to very strong and it was decidedly cooler.

Picturesque rolling border hills

As always in the border hills you tend to follow the fenceline as we did for a while before descending through the now pathless grassy slopes and peat hags.

Upper Saddle Yoke ahead

The final Donald can be seen but there is an unwelcome descent through plenty of rough, tussocky, boggy ground in between. 

Descent from Hart Fell

The ascent to Under Saddle Yoke is a plod through mostly pathless ground, follow the sheep trails when you can, just keep heading up. Take a breather and look back and down to the glen, the views are excellent. A fence needs to be negotiated, it is electrified but wasn’t on, if it was there is a stile to assist. Another short climb beckons, the last, not quite!

Twin tops Under and Saddle Yoke

From the top of Under Saddle Yoke there is one more descent and re-ascent along an excellent narrow, arete-like grassy ridge leading to the summit of Saddle Yoke. As Walkhighlands says ‘This fine ridge is quite unlike most hillwalking in the south of Scotland‘.

Narrow ridge

It is a good place to spend a few minutes taking in the views as you get a panoramic view of almost all of today’s circuit. It looks pretty dammed fine from here. The Jelly Babies very welcome as well.
The winds halted our fun, once again very strong and gusty, time to make the excellent looking descent. I would not want to be on exposed places in these gusts.

Fine descent ridge

Followed the track, grass not wet but smooth and shiny so a few heel slips occurred, care was needed, no accidents now please, almost home.
Our cars can now be seen and we veer off the track to the right through more slippery grass to meet the barbed wire fence, no stile this time and then the track back to the cars. Stop here and look back up the glen, it is a superb view.
A tough walk done at a fast pace. Good company and great views. No rain what's not to like.

Wildlife: Red Kite, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow.
Time: 4.26
Ascent: 3126ft 
Distance: 8.49m