Tinto Training

Another night of Lisa's training. We meet after work at this local hill outside Biggar. Lisa sets off walking and I run to the top and off the otherside exploring the southern path up and back again till Lisa arrives. It's a warm clear evening with views all round. I opt to walk down the hill with Lisa to keep her company and save my legs for the weekend.

Stobo walk

A short outing to try to get Lisa's legs used to walking before we go on our trip. Parked up at Stobo village hall and joined the John Buchan Way following it until we divert to take in the hill Pattevan. It's Lisa's first time around this way, so I point out things as we go along. explaining where all the paths go and what's what. We have a phrase "know your neighbourood". Getting out and about running & biking etc... certainly does this for you. The weather held off though it was still pretty muggy. As we come down to Broughton Place we hear a cacophany of sheep. We see that Garry & family have been getting Barney to clip his sheep .

Upper Tweed Run

I wanted to make the most of the weather before it broke as was forecast for the weekend So parking up at Tweedsmuir, I planned to run back home via the tops. I set off up Broad Law via the access track, managing to run all the way to the top. I use this as a gauge since we moved here of how I’m fairing (climbing wise pretty good). It’s then via the undulating ridge of Cramalt Craig, Dun Law, Dollar Law and Drumelzier Law and the old railway to Broughton. To finish off I have a 45 min warm down on the bike to go get the car, refusing the offer of lifts and enticements of friends to join them at “the Laurel” for one. I forgot my camera so no pics today folks.

Three Brethren

The Three Brethren & a freshly painted trig point

Starting at Traquair and using the Innerliethen XC route to get the height to Minch Moor from where you leave the trails to follow the Southern Upland Way on good tracks to the Three Brethren. From here there are some marker posts with black rings which take you down fast fire roads to the car park at Yair. Then it’s a quiet road ride all the way back. I’ll have to see if I can’t figure an of road alternative to this some how

Evening In’t Pentlands

Andy with Black Hill in the back ground

We went out with the plan to do the Esk reservoir route. But missed a track junction on a new route so ended up coming back via Glen Course. Luckily for us though we missed out on most of the showers as they were on the other side of the hill

Brattleburn

Brattleburn bothy just off the SUW

Had a warm and muggy run into Brattleburn bothy last night to check how it was and leave some new magazines. Legs heavy still, so just went there and back no diversions. Doesn’t look like the swallows have nested in the doorway this year.

Tour De Coulter

At the start of the climb to Holm Nick

Went for a relaxing ride last night; a circum navigation of Coulter fell. Seemed to be lots of wildlife about Leveret’s, a Peregrine and trout rising a plenty on the reservoir. Legs were tired on the climbs but still managed to spin it to the top, the benefits of a “granny” ring. Bike needs a new headset bearing though as its creaking worse than my knees!

LAMM



Lewis & myself
4th Score Class

LAMM - Bienn Dearg

So we finally got the details and the wait over, this years event was Inverlael. The area of Munro’s to the SE of Ullapool. Getting away late on Friday coincided with traffic for Rock Ness and with an accident closing the A9 at Dunkeld we entailed a 2hr diversion around the little lanes of Perthshire and a trolley dash at Aviemore Tesco’s before final arriving at the event centre at 11:30. Just time for a quick beer and bed.

Hopes of a relaxing lie & registration were scuppered. With 6am revelé on the pipes! We were bussed south along with many other courses our start being at the head of Loch Glascarnoch. Ten minutes of marking up and review of the options and we were away heading to the slopes of An Faochagach. It was good running on the higher ground and we picked up a few CP’s as we headed round to Bienn Dearg and its cluster of Munro’s. With half our time gone I chose a variant to the original plan thinking we were going well enough to do it. However, despite still going well when reaching the run in to the finish it became clear we were probably going to be slightly late (8+ minutes in the end). Still we had a good day and ended up 3^rd overnight. Unfortunately the weather closed in for the evening which meant most folk spent their time under canvas, so not quite as social as normal.

Sunday dawned another nice day and as we needed to be back early we’re one of the first score teams away. Route choice seemed more complicated to string together today and believing we didn’t have the legs for the big run south opted for a NE anti clockwise route in. We made steady time and progress but as the day went on we had to drop CP’s in order to keep to time resulting in the last hour taking route 1 to get back in time without collecting anything. Ultimately this last pointless hour cost us a place and we ended up 4^th. But we’d gone well and been treated to two great days in the hills.

Gameshope

 

Visited Gameshope bothy last night to drop in some new magazines and check in on place. Nice bright evening but with a cool wind. Ran back via Garelet Dodd, Erie Hill & Garelet Hill.

 



Gameshop burn & bothy



Looking down on Fruid resevoir

Ettrick Donald's



Looking across to Capel Fell from Gateshaw Rig



Starting at Moffat and heading out on the Southern Upland Way (SUW) to the head of the Ettrick valley. I opted for the variant which takes you through the forest and up onto Gateshaw Rig & over Croft Head. I’ve been up this area a lot of times and yet had never done the path or hill so made a nice change. Weather was dry but a cold wind was present and I soon cooled whenever I stopped.

A steep decent to selcoth burn and a direct climb of Capel Fell passing one of the waymerks (one of 13 hidden treasure sites along the SUW route) before making my way down to Over Phawhope bothy. 



Over Phawhope Bothy



A waymerk. But where???



I stopped a while to check over the bothy. Seems a group of local artists have contributed in their own way forming the “Way Art” project each adding something artistic to the bothy. A nice touch!

I came back via Ettrick Pen and along the grassy ridge via Wind Fell & Loch Fell. Mist now just sitting on the very last bit of the summits. It is easy navigation using a number of fences before eventually dropping back to pick up the SUW. After which its fire roads back to the start.