Borders Sub2k raid Hill 3.....Hownam Law

Hill: Hownam Law

Type: Sub2k

Height: 449m

The Borders flatlands are dotted with volcanic plugs so it is not surprising many of them are also historic hill forts. I have visited quite a few. Today was another such hill. This fort was 1^st identified in written format in the 1700’s. It was a significantly large structure, only 2^nd to the one on The Eildons so a significant hill fort.

The pointed top is Hownam Law

Room for only a single car so thankfully no else was here. A pair of Roe deer looked at me in disgust for spoiling their morning browsing before disappearing into the small copse of trees.

I had a good view of Hownam Law from the parking area before wandering up over the arched stone bridge and down to the farm.

Although on farm tracks the lower sections were a horrible gloopy mud fest and I lost count of the number of gates I had to open or climb.

A good gradient meant decent progress without sweaty stress. A very wide tyred tractor had chewed up the ground. It must have been heavy but no indicator of what it had been carrying.

Getting closer I was surprised at how much landslip had taken place on the slopes

Disturbed a flock of grazing fieldfare as I gained height and it was just me and the sheep. Or so I thought. 

Zoomed in on landslip exposing the volcanic rock and the coos

I spotted a head looking down at me and then one became a dozen, a herd of coos. I kept ascending and got a better look at them, they looked rough like a herd that remains out all year. There were lots of other cattle on the hills but they were all a smallish black variety a mainstay of the Borders. My lot were not interested in eating but continued to stare at me.

My detour all the way left this side of the dyke

I was walking up the side of a stone dyke which I could see turned right beside where they were standing, on the path to the top. I opted to cross over the dyke and head north to try to get to the back of the hill.

Of course my detour had fresh coo droppings, they were from the black ones but although they had spotted me they were lower down the hill and couldn’t be bothered with the effort to come up and annoy me.

Round the back of the hill I again clambered over the dyke and crossed the rough ground up to the trig. The dyke was probably along the boundaries of the lower outreaches of the hillfort.

Safely on the summit and the view to The Cheviots

Nice sun burst breaking through the clouds illuminating the landscape

Of course a magnificent long distance view particularly of any invaders coming from the English side, probably Romans or even built by the Romans but maybe even earlier.

Descending heading for the strip of trees

The descent was simply a case of back via the same route where from on high I enjoyed watching a sheep round up on nearby hills. Two people on quad bikes with a dog each, flying up and down the hills, lots of shouting and whistling, a working session for them but a pleasure for me.

A lovely crisp winter ramble without any snow, ideal.

Ascent: 392m

Distance: 6.6km

Time: 1.56

Wildlife: Buzzard; Raven; Roe Deer (2); Jackdaw: Rook: Fieldfare 30+; Crow