Hill: Calkin Rig
Type: Sub2k
Height: 451m
The weather forecast was not great for higher hills with more freezing winds and snow showers so Plan B. An interesting drive took me via Eskdalemuir and then alongside the lovely River Esk to my start for Calkin rig. An isolated and remote landscape, I think I only met 2 cars in about half an hour.
As I geared up it was warmer than I expected, blue sections of sky and minimal wind. The area looked a little sorry for itself, ruined shed etc.
As I walked up the farm track I was aware that some reports had mentioned encountering cattle but thankfully no sign of them today.
The birds were singing away, sure sign that in their brains anyway Spring is on its way. Indeed as I wandered up the very pleasant farm landscape I was already overheating, top layer off and mid layer unzipped, what was that forecast.
I reached the ruined cottage at Calkin totally alone apart from sheep, pheasants and partridges, clearly a shooting estate.
There are ancient settlements either side of the track and some of the mounds still obvious.
The track forks and meanders around the flanks of Shaw Hill. Suddenly the tree plantation appears which is where I left the track and followed the fence all the way up until the join with another fence.
 |
| Sadly not many views without wind turbines these days |
This section is trackless through the tussocks. At least the ground base was hard and the tussocks still dormant at this time of the year so the walking was awkward but not too bad. It was also steep and seemed to go on for ages.
About ¾ of the way up I spotted a quad bike trail on my left, flattened grass right to the top.
 |
| The high point is in that gap somewhere |
The actual summit is through a gap in the trees but once over the fence these tussocks were the real deal, horrible walking. Thank god it was only a short section.
 |
| Looking back from the two posts which mark the summit |
The views up were minimal going up but on the descent the Borders countryside was seen in all its beauty. But further away the Moffat hills were covered in cloud so right decision made.
The warm conditions were no more and very quickly, up here, the easterly wind had finally arrived, very cold, everything back on again.
 |
| ATV track can just be seen |
I followed the quad bike trail wondering how far it would go? The reality was all the way back to the track, only 10 metres or so from where I went up the tussocks.
 |
| This was way up to the ATV track that I did not know about |
It made the descent a breeze and a would have been a much easier ascent if I had known about it.
A rapid return the same way. I had planned to explore the largest Iron Age settlement at the base of Shaw Hill but on the descent I received a panicked call from the good lady. Her GPS was taking her somewhere she didn't want to go. However, seconds into the call the signal disappeared not to return until I was in the car and on the road back. Thankfully all turned out fine.
All in all it might have been Plan B and a shorter walk but I enjoyed it.
Ascent: 366m
Distance: 8.7km
Time: 1.45
Wildlife: Buzzard; Red Kite; Kestrel; Pheasant; Red Legged Partridge; Raven; Blue Tit; Coal Tit; Great Tit; Chaffinch;
