Last month’s walk: The Ettrick Horseshoe.
Walkers: Alan, David, Di, Myra,
This was meant to be a trip up to Glen Lochay to bag the Munros Meall Glas and Sgaith Chuil but the weather forecast for Sunday unsurprisingly put us off. We opted instead to bring forward Novembers walk round the Ettrick Horseshoe and try to bag a whole clutch of Grahams and Donalds. The forecast for the Southern Uplands wasn’t much better but we went anyway safe in the knowledge that there were a few escape routes if needed and that we wouldn’t be over 700 metres at any point on the walk.
We headed over to Selkirk then took the Ettrick Bridge road south to the village of Ettrick where we turned off and drove for 6 or 7 miles along an unclassified road. You know when you are at the starting point as the tarmac suddenly ends at NT189094 about ½ a km before Potburn Farm. There’s a turning circle and plenty room to park as long as the farm gates are left clear.
We headed up the path on the right and climbed up through the trees on a good track. The path for the Ettrick Horseshoe soon leaves the track but we kept heading up as we wanted to take in Bodesbeck Law before picking up the horseshoe later on. It was dry and calm to start with but the wind was picking up as we cleared the trees and climbed up the open hillside towards the summit. We made the summit of this Donald in under an hour mainly due to starting at a very healthy 378 metres but the MWIS wind prediction was spot on. We didn’t stop for long and didn’t take any photos as we were in the cloud and consequently there weren’t any views to be had.
We started to drop down the other side and picked up the boundary wall that was a very useful handrail all of the way round. The wind dropped a bit as we lost height and the cloud cleared the tops for a few minutes as we were approaching White Shank so we managed a few photos after all. (See photo section of the website) The persistent rain that was also forecast started soon after and stayed on for the rest of the day.
We found some shelter behind a wall and stopped for lunch before the final climb up to Capel Fell which is both a Graham and a Donald. This was a bit of a struggle as we were walking right into the wind and driving rain at this point and when we dropped down the other side to Ettrick Head we all agreed that we should take the track back to the car and leave the hills on the other side of the glen for another day.
The track back down is part of the Southern Upland Way and we popped into Over Phawhope bothy on the way for a look round and what a cracking wee bothy it is too. It was spotless, had plenty of dry firewood and some comfy chairs but as we were all soaking wet we didn’t stay long and set off for the last mile back to the car then drove to Selkirk for tea and scones.
I for one am looking forward to bagging the other Donalds and Grahams on the other side of the horseshoe sometime soon as there is definitely life out with the Munros.
Later on in the month Bob, Dawn and I tagged on to The Duns Walkers weekend in Ballater. I had intended climbing Carn Bhac and Beinn Iutharn Mor but the dreadful weather knocked that on the head but I had a grand time on Morrone, Creag Bhalg and Geallaig Hill. A Corbett and two more Grahams.
Alan
And a few words from Dawn about her and Bob’s Munro exploits:
Friday 24th October
On the way to Ballater, Bob and I decided to pop up Carn Aosda, Carn a’Gheoidh and The Cairnwell. (3 new Munros for Bob, 3rd time round for me.) The biggest decision was which one to do first and since the sun was shining on Carn Aosda that settled it. Not the nicest of hills to climb but since time and daylight hours were short it seemed like a good idea.
We were amazed to see so many mountain hares hopping about. Some of which were starting to get their white winter coats.
Halfway to Carn a’Gheoidh blizzard conditions set in and with winds gusting up to 75mph it turned into a bit of a challenge. This was to be Bob’s first experience of whiteout conditions on a mountain in gale force winds. Anyone who has experienced this will know how painful it is to have snow and hail stinging your face and eyes. (I must remember to add ski goggles to my Xmas wish list!) Not so sure that Bob wanted to repeat this experience but little did he know that just 2 days later he would!
The final climb up to The Cairnwell was particularly tricky as the wind kept trying to pick us off the mountain. However we found shelter in a little wooden hut and were able to polish off some food whilst mustering up enthusiasm to go back out into the raging wind. Thankfully we got back to the car just as the rain came on.
Sunday 26th October
Set out for Lochnagar at 0840hrs. Parking charges at the Spittal of Glenmuick was £3 but somehow the machine managed to swallow the coins without giving out a ticket. I suggested writing a note to explain and thankfully it was accepted by the warden, although Bob did worry whether he would find his car clamped on return.
The day started off nice and sunny but also very windy. As we climbed the steep ascent from the col below Meikle Pap the wind kept trying to blow us off our feet, which was rather disconcerting. Up on the summit the wind was not quite so severe. It still made the walk a very chilly one and we had to keep moving to keep warm.
Now I had sworn Bob to secrecy but I have to admit that my navigation was pretty rubbish on this one. Something to do with not getting the map out because I had 3 pairs of gloves on and thinking that we couldn’t possibly be near the top so quickly. Anyway we ended up half way to Carn a’Choire Bhaidheach and since we were so close it seemed like a good idea to bag that one then go back to the summit of Lochnagar. The weather looked like it was closing in again with more snow, so time for a quick photo and then we descended by the same route. By the time we got back to the car at 1630hrs the mountains were white with snow.
I hope my husband doesn’t read this as this is the second time I have stuffed up my navigation this month. (But that’s another story and one which I will never be allowed to forget!)
Time for a trip to the doc’s for an Alzheimer’s test I think! Now where did I put my keys?
Dawn
This month’s walks: Rememberance weekend 8/9th Nov
The main walk will be the Deepdale horseshoe. It starts from Patterdale, close to the YH that we are staying in on the Saturday night and goes over St Sunday Crag before a bit of a scramble up to Fairfield and Hart Crag then down the ridge on the other side of Deepdale back to Patterdale. Graham will be in touch with meeting arrangements, car sharing, walk details etc for those that are going.
Sunday 16th November: White Coomb via the Grey Mare’s Tail
Possibly a couple of Graham’s/Donald’s as well, Molls Cleuch Dod and Lochcraig Head depending on weather etc. Starting point will be the car park for the Gray Mare’s Tail. OS map 79 NT187145. Leaving at 8.00am will be early enough for this walk. Please let me if you want to go know by Thursday 13th November so that I can organise cars etc.
Other stuff:
The website is now up and running www.bemac.org Anybody who wants walk photos posted please either e mail them to me or send prints and I will scan them. Perhaps different people might like to write the walk report from time to time to get a different perspective on things.
Thanks to Dawn for some Ballater photos which are now on the website.
Alan