BORDERS WIDE Hill Walking Club
Sunday, March 10: Nine SBHWC members and two guests assembled on the verge beside the Kale Water at Tow Ford for a walk in the Cheviots. With a cold, wet and very windy day in prospect, full waterproofs and warm clothing were the order of the day.
We started up Dere Street and made steady progress up to the tower on the col by Woden Law, pleased that we had a cloud-free ridge to contend with. The track was relatively sheltered from the easterly wind here and we made swift progress. The small cairn on Gaisty Law was inspected on the way to the junction with the Pennine Way at Black Halls. The wind had increased with our height gain and with gritted teeth we walked north along the PW focussed on getting to the Yearning Saddle Mountain Refuge Hut below Lamb Hill. Happily it was not occupied by another group and we luxuriated in its protection as we ate lunch.
Suitably fortified, we left the hut to find that the rain had stopped, which was welcome as the wind hadn’t as we ascended to our high point of Lamb Hill (511m) and on to locate the small gate on Ewemoorside Hill that admitted us to the narrow trod through the heather to Callaw Cairn. A better track then led us down to the unusual complex of sheepfolds inside the hillfort on Huntford Hill. This vantage point commanded a good view of the extent of the medieval Dormount Hope deer trap and its earthworks recently identified by Dixon and Gilbert. The trap is thought to have been most likely in use prior to the 12th century.
Another track led down to more sheepfolds and the planned easy crossing of the Yett Burn. We saw a pair of feral goats lower in the valley and contoured round the toe of Cuthberthope Rig and down to cross the Capehope Burn. A good track led up to the tarmac lane at Buchtrig farm and an easy walk back across the fields to Dere Street and our cars.
As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and we made good time on this walk with 11.4 miles underfoot and a total ascent of 2230 ft, completing it in 5hr 30 min. The outing was enjoyed by all, helped by the weather not being as bad as initially forecast, and at the end both guests joined the club!
If you would like to walk with us or find out more about the Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club and our programme of fortnightly walks, please contact the Secretary, Mrs Jane Bell, on 01896 823172 or visit the club website https:// borderhillwalkers.wordpress.com.