Trotting round the Tub
Our Lady of Lourdes Hiking Club members were living on the edge during their recent outing.
The popular hillwalking group from The Murray skirted the rim of the well-known 500ft deep Devil’s Beef Tub near Moffat as those in attendance made their way through the gently rolling countryside of Dumfriesshire.
The Beef Tub is named for the Border Reivers (“Devils” according to the Duke of Buccleuch) who used it as a cache for stolen cattle.
A comfort stop in a Moffat garden centre ensured a relaxed start to the day and was the starting point for the low-levellers’ excursion.
This group walked 14 kilometres northwards towards the Beef Tub to meet the highlevellers’ track at Scout Crag.
The high-level group, meanwhile, had to adapt its route at the last minute due to a temporary road closure.
This required a drop-off further north on the A701, a rapid recalculation of compass bearings and an out-and-back walk from Annanhead Hill at the edge of the Beef Tub along the Annandale Way, a conveniently waymarked track.
Once the mist cleared the paths taken by both groups offered fabulous scenic views over the Southern Uplands hills, all enhanced by the covering of snow that some hikers made use of to slide down.
Both groups, having enjoyed a day of mist, sunshine and glorious snowy landscapes, met back at the Annanhead Hill start-off point, had a very quick comfort stop and an early return back to East Kilbride.
The next outing sees two excursions planned from Aberfoyle to Callander in the Menteith Hills on Saturday, March 17.
Anyone wishing to try one of these walks will be made very welcome. Visit the club’s website at www.ololhikingclub. co.uk or call (01355) 222464 for more information.