A wee hill with some big views

Eskielawn, Backwater, Glen Isla

Eskielawn is a fine wee hill, a peak I brushed over once before on a longer outing exploring the remoter recesses of Glen Prosen. Returning to devote my full attention to this shapely mount, I approached from Glen Isla this time, on a route that would take me from the glistening Backwater Reservoir up over pasture, through shady woodland and out across windswept moorland.

Access to the summit is straightforward – it sits just above a col through which a track linking the glens of Isla and Prosen passes and, leaving the car a kilometre and a half to the south, at a car park overlooking the reservoir, I joined this upland byway at Glenhead Farm.

Signed from the end of the public road, the way enters grazing land at a gate and rises gently round the lower slopes of Cuilt Hill, curving north to follow Hole Burn upstream. Ahead, I spotted the rounded summit of Corwharn poking its head out above a blanket of forestry.

Walking north, the gravel road leads first to a derelict and heavily overgrown stone barn at the insalubriously named Hole and then crosses the Hole Burn by a concrete bridge before rising to a junction flanked on all sides by metal gates.

Bearing right here through one of these gates, I climbed over open ground, skirting the fringes of woodland on a section of track that is rather rutted and can be muddy if the weather has been wet. Beyond another gate, however, the terrain improves, the way crossing gently sloping pasture to a wooden gate on the western perimeter of Drumshade Plantation.

Despite its commercial roots, Drumshade is a pleasure to walk through, an airy mix of Scots Pine, larch and spruce where, for those who go quietly, it is not uncommon to spot both red and roe deer lurking among the trees.

The route ascends steadily to a trickling burn where it crosses not only the water but also a grassy, seldom used forest road before continuing uphill to emerge on to open moor at a wooden gate at the top of the plantation.

Leaving behind the sanctuary of the trees, a cool breeze chased me over the heather-clad shoulder, the roughly hewn and, in places, boggy track skirting above scattered larch, their awkwardly twisted boughs and branches shaped by constant exposure to the elements.

Reaching the base of Eskielawn’s distinctive crown, it is tempting to just batter straight up the slope, an enticing break in the heather beckoning. The established path, however, bears right and offers a more evenly graded, less knee-grinding incline via the eastern shoulder.

It skirts the oval summit plateau, where a squat wee cairn nestling in the grass marks the top. From this elevated vantage point an impressive mountain vista extends north across Glen Prosen towards the peaks of Driesh and Mayar and, further off, Lochnagar.

Stay with the track as it contours round the slope, dipping to meet the top of a line of grouse butts before descending steeply over the western flank of Eskielawn into the deep trough of the valley below.

While the outward route enjoyed the comfort and seclusion of Drumshade Plantation, the return leg finds sanctuary in the equally enchanting Glenhead Plantation where, once again, I spot roe deer foraging.

ROUTE

1. Walk 1.5km north on road to its end by Glenhead Farm.

2. At junction by farm, turn right on track (signed Glen Prosen) and ascend through metal gate. Follow track east then north to Hole.

3. Cross bridge over burn, ascend through metal gate, turn right through second gate and follow track up and over grazing land.

4. Enter Drumshade Plantation at gate and continue ahead on track.

5. Cross stream, bear right, crossing grassy track, then go left, ascending through plantation.

6. Leave plantation at wooden gate and branch left on heathery track.

7. As slope begins to steepen, bear right on rough track curving up over eastern flank of Eskielawn to summit.

8. Remaining on track, descend southwest, passing grouse butts, to meet track in base of valley.

9. Turn left, enter woodland and follow track south to point 3 then retrace steps back to start.