I ascended two small Marilyns today on the way home from the Southern Uplands. The first hill of the day was Meigle Hill, which I ascended from Clovenfords.
Hill: Meigle Hill
Date: Sunday 2nd March 2014
Company: Just myself
Distance: 5km, Ascent: 255m
Time: 1Hr 20Mins
I parked in a small parking area within the new housing estate.
After passing through the farm on the A72, I reached the start of the track which leads to the transmitters at the summit of Meigle Hill.
Start of track ascending Meigle Hill:
The good track made for fast progress up the hill.
Looking back to Clovenfords:
The track ascending Meigle Hill from Clovenfords makes its way up through open farmland. Today I passed several horses and numerous sheep. Fortunately today several dozen cattle were housed in large sheds and not roaming free.
Horses standing next to track:
Track ascending Meigle Hill:
During the ascent I could feel one of my boots rubbing against my heel causing a hot spot. I stupidly chose to ignore this rubbing and circa fifteen minutes later had a burst blister on my heel. Compeed to the rescue.
Looking back to Clovenfords:
Looking towards summit of Meigle Hill:
Moorfoot hills beyond Clovenfords:
The weather today was far better than expected. The weekend MWIS forecast had suggested only 20% cloud-free Munros. A statistic that is fairly irrelevant for the Southern Uplands as the Southern Uplands has no Munros!
Meigle Hill:
Approaching the summit of Meigle Hill:
On reaching the summit, I visited the trig point and the large cairn.
Trig point at the summit of Meigle Hill:
I placed my camera on the dyke with a view to getting a photo of myself atop the
large cairn. I had 10 seconds to get from the camera to the top of the cairn.
What I didn't factor in was the slippery snow on the cairn and the fact it was
fairly unstable. I managed to get to the top in time for the photo on my third
attempt .
Large cairn at the summit of Meigle Hill:
I returned from the summit to the car via the same route. On reaching the farm next to the A72, I stopped to take a photo of two nosey sheep.
Twa sheep:
I then drove from Clovenfords to the B6362, above Stow, for an ascent of Sell Moor Hill.
Hill: Sell Moor Hill
Date: Sunday 2nd March 2014
Company: Just myself
Distance: 2.4km, Ascent: 80m
Time: 35 Mins
I parked in a large parking area next to a large square cairn with a block stating "1911 2011".
Start of walk towards Sell Moor Hill:
I followed the edge of the forest until coming to a fence junction. I managed to climb over the two fences at the junction (there is a short section that is not barbed at the fence junction). I then followed the dyke leading towards Sell Moor Hill.
Following the dyke towards Sell Moor Hill:
After walking several hundred metres, I followed the snow-covered track leading to the summit.
Following the track to the summit of Sell Moor Hill:
Looking back towards starting point:
Following the track to the summit of Sell Moor Hill:
Unfortunately the view from the summit is spoiled by a nearby windfarm.
Trig point at the summit of Sell Moor Hill:
View from the summit of Sell Moor Hill:
From the summit, I returned to the car via the same route. It was great walk
three consecutive days without rain and with little wind
.