What's in a name.....Blackhouse Heights or Black Cleugh Hill

Hill: Blackhouse Heights/Black Cleugh Hill via Black law

Type: New Donald/Donald

Height: 675m

For a variety of reasons I had not been out and about enough on the hills to get my early season walking fitness up to the mark so today would be a tester.

To add to the possible difficulty another beast from the east was imminent. The forecast for today was for a blue sky light winds, sounded great..

The car had to be defrosted but as I approached the start the low grey clouds were dominant with little blue sky to be seen.

Parked at the Megget reservoir and walked up to the stile at the start of the Manor Valley trail.

To get to my New Donald I was having to ascend the old Donald of Black Law again so I was familiar with the route. But different weather conditions, this time it was much colder and I could see light snow being left on the hilltops as every cloud scudded by, great.

After about 15 minutes I got this view of Conscleugh Heights

Black Law directly ahead 

My plan was to go to Black Law then onto the New Donald of Blackhouse Heights (1/50map) aka Black Cleugh Hill (1/25map). After returning to Black Law I then wanted to go onto Conscleugh Heights and Deer Law but rough moorland and an unknown descent off Deer Law.

Leaving the Manor Law track at Foulbrig I repeated my previous route and followed the fence to Black Law. Taking time of course to look at the view and take a breather.

A cornice beginning to form on Dollar Law

The Pentlands on the horizon

I had forgotten how poor the terrain was. It was typical of these parts, mainly pathless Borders tussocks along with patches of heather and boggy moss. Throw in many peat hags which had to be detoured and it was hard going. I must have climbed over the fence from side to side over a dozen times. 

As I climbed the terrain was getting whiter with the snow covering and the wind was unrelenting. The feel like temperature in the biting easterly wind was definitely sub zero. I was well clad and not overly cold apart from my cheeks and nose. I had a slight concern re frostnip.

Black Law fence junction onwards to the true summit (2m higher)

Black Law summit

Reached the fence crossroads and headed onwards to the true top of Black Law marked by a small stone pillar.

At least the cloud was not obscuring my route to Blackhouse but the terrain was possibly the worst of the walk. It was only 35 minutes but it seemed much longer. A mixture of lined hags and heather with many eroded stony areas all on very narrow lanes so awkward going.

From Black Cleugh Hill summit looking over to Dun Rig

The summit top is yet another fence crossroads at the top of moorland but it did have  reasonable views across to The Pentlands.

Looking back to Black Law, sheltered side less snow

As I turned and headed back to Black Law I was now starting to feel tired as the terrain and unrelenting cold wind was taking its toll.

Decision time hop over fence and head to my left or straight down

The return took the same time but felt longer so I reluctantly decided to leave the other two tops for another day, my fitness not good enough and it would have been a risk as I would have had a long crap terrain cross section off Deer Law.

Although the descent was still awkward walking I at least had the wind at my back.

The track I wanted

Reaching Foulbrig a coffee and sandwich helped me get back up the rising trail to Black Rig.

One short climb then downhill all the way now, yippee.

Looking over to Conscleugh a lot of rough ground in between

Happy to see the Megget reservoir and get the car heating system on full blast

It was a good walk but but my legs were really feeling it towards the end, probably a bit too ambitious but I will need to return to get those other two.

PS: As the 1:25 map is the most detailed/accurate then I presume the hill should rightly be called Black Cleugh Hill.

Ascent: 768m

Distance: 16.8km

Time: 4.55

Wildlife: Pheasant; Raven (pair)

Black was spot on for Black Law.....Moffat hills Day 1

Hill: Black Law

Type: Donald

Height:  696m

Lockdown freedom was coming and I needed an away trip so I booked a couple of days in Moffat to hopefully finish the Donalds in this area.

As predicted the glorious lockdown weather changed immediately from dry blue skies to cold and rain. From the forecast I knew I was going to get wet today but this was worse, like a late autumn day going into winter, not a spring day thinking about summer ahead,

I missed Black law out on a previous round and at the time regretted it. But with hindsight it would have been a slog under those very wet underfoot conditions. It was a slog today even after all that dry weather.

Back to Meggat reservoir where my start followed my previous descent trail from Craigierig farm. 

This trail is also a footpath to the Manor valley. The rain had been heavy on my drive down, relented as I changed but as I entered the farm section it was heavier stuff, hood up on my 4 seasons Gore-Tex, yip it was that bad. Two days ago I was sunbathing on Loch Lomond hills!!

Dreich weather

Just a long wet up the estate track. 

A glimpse of Black law

At one point the clouds lifted to give me a view of Black Law but that did not last longer than a few seconds. Head down watching the huge numbers of meadow pipits, wheatears and skylarks constantly flying across the track.

Some weather relief and a proper look at the way ahead

The track descends to the fence line which I originally planned to follow but the clouds cleared briefly and I spotted an ATV track on this side which took a more direct route. Changed plan for about 20 seconds. The time taken for me to sink into deep peat and sphagnum bogs, help get me out.

Back to murky reality the fence to the top

Safely back on the track I returned to my original route and followed the fence. Not a lot to say about the ascent as the fence goes all the way to Black Law via Redsike Head. To my left there was the interestingly named 'Bitch Craig' but I was not going looking for it. Visibility remained low for most of the ascent with the rain coming and going. As usual the odd track was found which disappeared in to a hag or bog. Much fence hopping to get the better conditions. In times of real wet weather some of this could be dangerous.

The view back from the summit

Finally I get to the summit of Black Law. As per last week somewhat uninspiring as a junction of two fencepoles is it, nothing else. The map shows the Black Law summit at 696m, which is where I was standing, But in the gloom there was clearly a higher spot further on. Map showed point 698m and not named. For the sake of confirmation I walked to it, a waste of effort, further away than it looked and not named.

Atmospheric

Some nourishment and then the descent. As luck would have it conditions changed and it was an atmospheric descent. Instead of constant rain and cloud it became sunshine and showers. The colours in this light outstanding but much more reminiscent of Autumn. The impressive steep flanks of Dollar Law plunging into the Manor valley, glad I wasn't climbing those.

Estate track can be seen flanking the hill ahead

Back on the track my little ascent was about 70m where I was planning my food break at the top. As i turned and looked back the sky was absolutely black. A quick stuffing of the face just as the heavy rain arrived, the worst of the day. As i hurriedly packed my jelly baby bag burst at the bottom and out they fell. I don't know what was on that track but they were not wasted. 

But the gods looked after me, the rain went off just before I reached the car to get changed. And as I drove to Moffat it was a beautiful afternoon!! Then after an hour it was back to heavy showers and sun. 

A typical Scottish day and another Donald ticked off. Never a bad walk and there are some good memories. The downside of the rain is that under our freedom rules wee nippy only allows  alcohol served outside just now and that is not happening in this weather in Moffat. Off licence time, but I want a pint!!

Ascent: 549m

Distance: 12.5km

Time: 3.04

Wildlife: Pied Flycatcher; Pied Wagtail; Wheatear; Pheasant; Red Grouse; Buzzard; Raven; Meadow Pipit; Goldfinch; Skylark