The direct route to.....Taberon Law

Hill: Taberon Law

Type: Donald Top

Height: 636m

Back to the Manor Hills today for the Donald Top of Taberon Law. This hill could be included as part of the Pykestone/Drumelzier circuit but it adds on almost 2 hours and 300m of ascent. The quickest route on the map was from the south but that was probably a steep heather/bracken climb. However, although it is not shown on the 1:50 OS map, I had spotted on my 1:25 map that an ATV track seemed to rise from the valley to the summit. Google maps also showed a faint line, not sure what state it would be in but this was worth a punt.

Cars are not allowed into the private road so I parked at a lay-by about 300m north. Walking back to the entrance to Stanhope Farm was the most dangerous part, a windy country road, fast traffic, minimal verge to get onto, good luck.

Stanhope farm

Stanhope burn

My next concern was that from the map it looked like I would have to walk through the farm buildings, was this going to be okay with the owners? It was a pleasant walk to the farm but no sign of activity, human or animal. There was also a sign directing walkers so all good.

Through a short section of trees to the edge of the valley. I could hear a bird that I was not familiar with. The app said it was a Spotted Flycatcher but although it kept singing it was high up in the canopy and I never saw it.

Into the unknown

Next concern was what livestock was going to be around. I did see some cow droppings but luckily it was just sheep all the way.

This track goes to Dollar Law and along the way joins up with the Thief’s Road for those wanting a long walk through to the Meggat reservoir.

It really was pleasant ramble at this stage. Hemmed in by green bracken and purple heather, the only sound the wildlife and the sounds of the Stanhope burn, the peace and tranquillity was just what I wanted out of this ramble. 4 Peewits flew across, only seen these a couple of times this year, sadly rare birds now.

Taberon Law

All these beehives but didn't see a single bee. I suspect the noise and sight on a summers evening would be interesting

Then Taberon Law came into view and I could see a scar up top, looked like my hunch was correct.

Larsen trap

The lower section was an unsightly section carved out of the rocks, a few twists and turns and I reached a green section where a Corvid/Rapture trap (sometimes known as a Larsen trap), was hidden away from walkers on the main track. Checked it out and it did have a registration tag on it. It was unused at present but not a corvid or raptor was seen on my ramble today.

Of course this estates main income will be grouse shooting. The hills were lined with many gun butts in case there was any doubt.

After this it was a proper ATV track, obviously for the shooters and not walkers hence not shown on the bigger map. Being a hypocrite I used it anyway.

It was a case of head down and keep plodding upwards. It reminded me of the direct assault on Culter Fell. I sprung a few grouse, maybe only half a dozen in total, possibly the rest shot on the inglorious 12^th.

No difficulty apart from a few slips on the boggy sections churned up by the ATV’s. Sadly the weather had once again changed with a strong breeze, much colder than yesterday.

Looking east over to Drumelzier

View south to Broad Law

A small stone marked the summit. On a better day the views would be quite extensive but no so today.

Craig Head looks like ATV track continues over it

Jacket on as the first of a few showers hit me. I had intended to walk the ridge along to Craig Head and descend from there back to Stanhope. But I was too cold for that. 

The descent

Just one line of gun butts

A quick descent back to the less exposed valley. No need to rush, taking in the views and the many gun butts.

I spotted quite a few of these traps, another example of this just being a wildlife killing estate. Small satisfaction as I triggered this trap. Out of use until it is reset.

Two of the Peewits

Spent some time watching the Peewits watching me. Nice, as I said a rare sight so worth spending a few minutes with them. Also as I walked back I was intrigued by the huge cairn on the other side of the road, Worm Hill, I need to look it up.

Overall a short but worthwhile ramble and glad my hunch paid off.

Ascent: 452m

Distance: 9.51km

Time: 2.46

Wildlife: Peewit; Meadow Pipit; Rabbit; Spotted Flycatcher (h); Chaffinch; Blackbird; Red Grouse; Pheasant; Wood Pigeon

The hidden grouse moors.....Hunt Law

Hill: Hunt Law

Type: Donald Top

Height: 639m

After a superb breakfast at the excellent Queensberry B&B in Moffat, a good option if staying over, I made the short drive north to the Manor Hills. It was a grey sky but still a lovely drive through these rolling border hills. As I passed the Devils Beeftub I spotted a big bird in the sky, immediate thought Golden Eagle but by the time I safely stopped and got the binos out I saw it no more. As 40 birds have now been released in this area there was a good chance of it being an eagle.

My walk objective was to pick off another Donald Top, this time Hunt Law, an outlier of Cramalt Craig. I remember doing CC with Broad Law from the Meggat stone but the onward rough ground and then the trek back was too much for that outing but no hardship to have to come back and bag it on its own via a new route.

During my planning I identified 4 different options and I hummed and hawed over making this a bike/hike. I couldn't find any reports using my planned route, there's a surprise, and I was concerned about potential gates/fences that I could not get the bike over. As it turned out it would have been ideal for the bike but heehaw.

The bridge over the River Tweed at the start

I parked up at a convenient layby opposite my start point where I crossed the bridge over the River Tweed at Patervan Farm. The OS map suggested an on-off grassy farm track at the beginning but aerial maps appeared to show a timber route and indeed this was the case. This goes for about 2 miles circling Polmood Hill before reaching an open area at the base of Birkside Law.

Texel sheep

This is sheep country and there were plenty of them about. Most were traditional breeds but the 1st ones I encountered was this pair of Texel sheep. I love the attitude they give out, always think they are ready for a scrap, probably with me lol.

The winding track, Hunt Law at the back

Palmood burn

Broad mass of Hunt Law

After a short spell a grassy track weaves its way below Birkside Law with the long flat top of Hunt Law right in front. Apart from the sheep the only other sound was the waterfalls of the descending Polmood Burn. Still a beautiful spot for a walk.

A well constructed sheep pen, there were a few more around

I presume this was a Corvid/Raptor trap but a new design to me. It was empty but I did not see any ravens/crows on the ramble.

Grouse butts near the top of Hunt Law

Final track to the top

Apart from the sheep shooting pheasant and red grouse appears to be the economics of this place. The grassy track became a new rough ground ATV track as it rose taking me to the rear of Hunt Law. 

View West to Culter Fell/Tinto

View NE Pentlands just peaking through

The main view is dominated by the Corbett of Broad Law and the demoted Corbett of Cramalt Craig. Although only 4 metres shorter than Broad Law its descent was measured at 146m and not the 150m required for Corbett status, small things do matter to some.

The mast on top of Broad Law

It surprised me how this hidden side of the Manor Hills is devoted to grouse shooting, I am surrounded by a vista of patchwork heather. Not at all evident from the Meggat side or indeed any other side. It gave me a moments pause to think about the many acres of shooting moorland I have tramped across and question just how many people shoot for a so called pastime, a lot more than I would like to think.

Patchwork grouse moors

At this point I would have left my bike and walked the remaining 40 metres of ascent up a grassy slightly eroded ATV track to the top. Fairly short distance but nice views over the wind turbines to Culter Fell. Through the gap in the Drumelzier hills could be spotted some Pentland tops. And behind me the aforementioned grouse moors and Broad Law.

Spotted quite a few of these but thankfully empty of mustelids

A gentle saunter back the same way spotting a few traps, wouldn't be a grouse moor without them but thankfully empty. Had a look at this enclosure, not sure if it was a corvid/raptor trap but the skies were certainly absent of them.

Birkside Law's steep slopes

On the walk out Birkside Law was prominent and looked a much more shapely hill than Hunt Law, more deserving of recognition I thought.

Fly Agaric mushroom

Under the trees I spotted a large fungi patch dominated by the Fly Agaric.  Interesting how many had a clean cut wedge out of them with no sign of the wedge. I don't know a lot about mushrooms but I know red is normally dangerous and these definitely are.

Suddenly I was stopped in my tracks by the sound I had hoped to hear. A stag roaring but only a couple of times. I stood for 5 minutes but no more roaring. Where are you? I began to question myself but I knew what I heard, probably on the top of the hill or in the trees, even other side of the hills. No sighting, just the sound of the roar, unforgettable and the highlight of my day.

Ascent: 471m

Distance: 13.8km

Time: 3.12

Wildlife: Buzzard; Pheasant: Red Grouse; Grey Heron; Wren; Robin; Great Tit

Picking off the tops on the Manor hills.....Garelet Hill

Hill: Garelet Hill (680m); Lairds Cleugh Rig (684m); Eire Hill (690m) (A narrow pass)

Type: New Donald; Donald Top; Donald

It had been about 5 weeks since I climbed a hill and I knew that if I did not start hillwalking soon it would be easy to lose the motivation. Not that I had been inactive, I was actually feeling at my fittest for some time but through other exercise. So, the one thing to get me going was to get planning and that was to draw up a winter programme. Targets I have a love/hate relationship but they work for me, sad that way.

Suitably motivated I headed off to my first winter plan objective. It was a beautiful blue sky day but the forecast was for strong and cold northerly winds. Not quite winter but certainly not shorts weather.

It was a return to the beautiful Manor Hills in the Games Hope valley.

It was as cold as it looked

I drove alongside Fruid Reservoirs looking at the frothy white waves being driven by the wind funnelling up the corridor of the reservoir lying between the hills. The car temperature showed 6 degrees but when I stepped out it was a wow, this is cold, moment. Motivation tester but I had driven a fair bit so was not giving up yet. I had thrown 3 jackets in the car and it was time for heavy duty gear to be donned including hat and gloves, was this for real?

I had decided to tick off a couple of Donald extras but this meant repeating the Donald of Eire Hill before ticking off its outliers.

Steepness of gradient can be seen at the start

Bracken dying off but adds colour

I had conveniently put the steep ascent which begins right from the start to the back of my mind but it did not take long for it to become forefront. Fit I might have felt but that was not hill fitness and I was soon puffing and blowing, much to the delight of the watching sheep on the flanks above me.

The ATV track lasted for a while before I was ‘enjoying’ the struggles through the tussocky terrain that only the South of Scotland provides for entertainment, remember this a hobby to be enjoyed I muttered.

Tussocks but Eire hill can be seen

Bit boggy, Erie Hill follow the dyke

I was glad to reach the treeline and the easier going where I followed the found again ATV track to the top of Eire Hill. Again I had forgotten how long this section was, probably not really too long but it felt like it.

Ridge I want off to the left

The views were superb but the wind was as predicted, strong and cold, so the jacket hood was now up as well, what a wimp but at least nobody else could see me.

Lairds to the fore, Garelet just seen behind

Rather than descend to the deer fence I did a bit of cross country before joining the track to Lairds Cleugh Rig, there was a bit of a descent but not much of an ascent is this really a separate top?

Unmarked top of Lairds Cleugh Rig

Nothing to mark this top but I could now see the main target of Garelet Hill which even with my dodgy eyesight I could see had a trig on top. As I ascended I came across the only other person I saw on the hills. A young hill runner came shooting down the slope towards me, no chance he was stopping for a chat. A brief ‘morning’ as he sped past.

Once again a gentle descent took me to the deer fence. I had a slight concern about whether I would need to scale it but fortune was in my favour and a gate was found.

Culter Fell in distance from Garelet Hill

View to Broad Law

A short saunter up the hill and the trig was reached. The views were really good with two caveats, deforestation and wind turbines. Keep looking north and east over Broad Law, Meggat reservoir etc, but forget the south west vista. I omitted the turbines snap.

Looking down to Talla Linfoots

Returned the same way watching heavy rain showers going north to south over to the west but none came my way.

Descending towards tussocks and Fruid reservoir

Apart from the tussocky ground it was a straightforward return with time to enjoy the very attractive borders landscape.

The Donald of Cape Law behind the farm

An enjoyable straightforward ramble completed quicker than the route planner indicated so pleased with that. Great views but the winter gear clearly required from now on.

Ascent: 553m

Distance: 8.4km

Time: 3.02

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Raven; Sparrowhawk; Kestrel