Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Scotland => Topic started by: April on 19:13:49, 18/08/20

Title: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 19:13:49, 18/08/20
We drove further north in The Borders than we have so far, past Talla Reservoir and we parked near Talla Linnfoots. There was a lot of low cloud on the way and there was cloud about on the hills we were going to do. As we were getting our boots on a car stopped near us and a man with a Scottish accent asked me if he was on the right road to go up Broad Law. I said he was and said he could park near the cattle grid at the Megget Stone a little further up the road. We did have a bit of an ironic giggle about it. First time at Talla Reservoir and I a non Scot was able to give details for a hill and start point for a walk I've never done before or even heard of until a few days previously.

Talla Linnfoots
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237001318_6b1fcbe2ec_z.jpg) (http://)

To start we were walking up by Gameshope Burn and it was a gentle ascent on a good track
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237001068_004070f4a0_z.jpg) (http://)

The wind was quite strong and cool when we started off.

The burn was lovely with lots of waterfalls on the way up
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237648501_12dddbb8b2_z.jpg) (http://)

Looking back toward Talla Linnfoots and the mist
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237648381_a6543557fe_z.jpg) (http://)

Gameshope Bothy
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237647711_5f679a534f_z.jpg) (http://)

The low cloud had started to lift off the tops and we were heating up. There was very little wind now and the sun was now beating down.

Looking back at the bothy
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237865802_375887166a_z.jpg) (http://)

There was still a bit of mist lingering near Talla Reservoir. The track that lead up to the bothy was now a rough and boggy at times trod. The temperature increased and we felt like we were in an oven.

More nice falls on Gameshope Burn
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237646981_22de604e84_z.jpg) (http://)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237646786_26dc8db86e_z.jpg) (http://)

Gameshope Burn again
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237646361_4ba1376109_z.jpg) (http://)

We stopped for a break near Donald's Cleuch Burn and we saw 2 figures working up on the hillside of Speir Gairs. We thought they might have been planting trees or doing fence work up there. They were using an all terrain vehicle of some sort.

Lunch over we walked through the nicely named Crunklie Moss until we came to a fence at the foot of Great Hill. We filtered some water from the burn and filled our bottles up. The ascent looked steep. The heat and rough ground so far had tired us a little and we weren't looking forward to the climb in the heat.

Looking back from the ascent of Great Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236998168_46332939a5_z.jpg) (http://)

The hill in view is Din Law and we pitched there a few years ago when we did a 3 nighter from Moffat.

Gameshope Loch in view from the way up Great Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237863907_ea75408266_z.jpg) (http://)

We had to keep stopping to get our breath, crikey it was hard work up climbing up here in the heat and carrying our camping gear.

Almost on the top of Great Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236997493_023d44834e_z.jpg) (http://)

There was a bit of a breeze now so that helped a lot.

The view over Garelet Dod from Great Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237863092_151def996c_z.jpg) (http://)

Saddle Yoke from Great Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236996763_9687557175_z.jpg) (http://)

Our next top was Donald's Cleuch Head

White Coomb from Donald's Cleuch Head
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236996598_2c6f829005_z.jpg) (http://)

We had a banana break here and we saw some walkers in the distance on White Coomb, the first people we'd seen during our walk apart from the workmen high on the hill earlier.

Toward Great Hill from Firthhope Rig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237644066_b3776cacf0_z.jpg) (http://)

After our break we'd summited Firthhope Rig and we thought it looked a good place to pitch. The grass was very smooth and flat. We headed toward White Coomb first though we would bag that then find water for our camp and return to Firthhope Rig

Cloudberry
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236996088_db1193ca79_z.jpg) (http://)

There were a few of these on the way up White Coomb

The Ettrick Hills from White Coomb
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237643811_3e5cfd5ede_z.jpg) (http://)

We spoke to 2 lovely ladies from Glasgow on the summit, the first people we'd been close enough to speak to in 6 and a half hours. We said we loved the quiet hills here and they mentioned they'd come up from The Grey Mare's Tail side and that was a different story with lots of people about.

View over Firthybrig Head to Culter Fell and Broad Law
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237643551_3841e542dc_z.jpg) (http://)

Lochcraig Head from White Coomb
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237642881_459193feb0_z.jpg) (http://)

We dropped north eastward from White Coomb to look at the view and made our way along the fenceline back to Firthhope Rig. We spotted a tarn where we got some water for our camp. I'd seen a photo of a tarn on White Coomb but I'd no idea where it was because it isn't marked on the map. It was a bit of luck finding it because we thought we might have to drop down a bit to get water from the head of Donald's Cleuch

Back on Firthhope Rig we found a grand spot and got the MSR pitched
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236994803_bb26b451bd_z.jpg) (http://)

It is 800m this hill so quite a high up pitch.

The Ettrick Hills from Firthhope Rig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236994503_d62c437c00_z.jpg) (http://)

White Coomb from Firthhope Rig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236994268_7bdb20bd3d_z.jpg) (http://)

View toward Culter Fell from Firthhope Rig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237641876_aa2103b74a_z.jpg) (http://)

Very hazy view from Firthhope Rig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236993723_41b589265e_z.jpg) (http://)

We had our tea sitting outside on our chairs. It was breezy but that meant no midges which had been a slight nuisance in the valley earlier. To our dismay at about 7.15pm the cloud that had covered the tops to the east started encroaching on Lochcraig Head and then Firthybrig Head. It wasn't long before we were also in it. No sunset for us! Never mind we'd had a great day and we hoped the cloud would be gone in the morning.

We awoke next morning and we were still in the clag. We packed up and retraced our steps to Donald's Cleuch Head and then made our way to Firthybrig Head.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237641276_9ca57b2f61_z.jpg) (http://)

No views to be had!

It was simple navigation following the wall to our next top Moll's Cleuch Dod.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236993193_278da45404_z.jpg) (http://)

Still no view

On Carlavin Hill summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50236992888_cb7f0c4ab3_z.jpg) (http://)

No view on this hill either! We left the wall and took a pathless route north eastward to descend near Gates Cleuch. The ground was very rough, boggy and hard going at times but this route looked the easiest route off the hill during the planning of the walk.

There were lots of these flowers about and a google says they are Grass of Parnassus, they are very pretty.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237640446_3c9b7a3f59_z.jpg) (http://)

Talla Reservoir
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237858517_9d697208b3_z.jpg) (http://)

At last we could see something! We could also see the track that would lead us back to the road and down to the car at Talla Linnfoots.

Looking up at Gates Cleuch
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237639901_ebc9991ce9_z.jpg) (http://)

We'd descended to the right of the cleuch.

Talla Reservoir from the bridge over Talla Water
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237857782_f8ee52c39a_z.jpg) (http://)

We walked a little way back up Gameshope Burn to sit and eat some lunch out of the wind before walking back to the car. Of course the cloud was now lifting off the tops but when we were driving back past Moffat we could see cloud was still covering the hills we'd been on so hanging around in the tent for an hour or two wouldn't have made any difference.

Day 1 was Talla Linnfoots - Gameshope Burn - Great Hill - Donald's Cleuch Head - Firthhope Rig - White Coomb - Firthhope Rig. 5.97 miles and 649m ascent. It felt much longer than 6 miles, the ground is much harder to walk on in Scotland, it is very rough at times.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237639201_897d7264b2_z.jpg) (http://)

Day 2 was Firthhope Rig - Donald's Cleuch Head to Firthybrig Head - Moll's Cleuch Dod - Carlavin Hill - Gates Cleuch - Talla Water - Talla Linnfoots. 4.74 miles and 108m ascent. Again it felt like more, the walking was even more rough on day 2.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50237857187_3c4d712cf9_z.jpg) (http://)

Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: beefy on 19:26:20, 18/08/20
Great pics wee lassie ;D
Was a slog in that heat though eh  :o
When will we get another fab sunset and clear skies for the stars?

Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 19:28:05, 18/08/20
When will we get another fab sunset and clear skies for the stars?

Probably not this Saturday  :D
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: pleb on 20:12:18, 18/08/20
Never mind your sunset, when am I going to get a bit of a climb in? Just been thinking, no hills near me, not been up anything this year. Rain forecast for I don't know how long.
Anyway some cracking views there  O0
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: pleb on 20:51:06, 18/08/20
Sorry that wasnt very positive of me, was it?  ;D  Some great stuff there, now when do I get up a hill?  ;D
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 20:57:40, 18/08/20
Some great stuff there, now when do I get up a hill?  ;D

 ;D You need to watch beefy's vid. You were higher than us two  :D

I doubt you will be going up hills this weekend, weather looks dire  :(
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: karl h on 22:47:30, 18/08/20
That looks lovely once again  O0
I wont be going there though. Those funny place name are too hard to spell  ;D
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: Ridge on 07:41:10, 19/08/20
Lovely pics, well the first day anyway shame about all the clag on day 2.
Particularly like the looking back at the bothy shot.


this weekend, weather looks dire  :(
:( >:( :(
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 08:11:14, 19/08/20
I wont be going there though. Those funny place name are too hard to spell  ;D


 ;D  There are some wonderful names near here - Dead for Cauld, (cauld meaning cold), Muckle Knees, Drowning Dubs, Porridge Cairn to name a few  :)
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 08:13:12, 19/08/20
Particularly like the looking back at the bothy shot.


Thanks Ridge, we didn't mind the clag at first but we were pleased when we dropped down out of it so we could see something!
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: richardh1905 on 22:37:50, 19/08/20
Lovely photos of the mist capped hills on Saturday morning. Very atmospheric. Shame about the clag later.
The grass of parnassus is lovely -my wife spotted some on Ben More on Monday, and there was a lot near Mull Head on Orkney, near to where we lived.
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: Islandplodder on 06:46:24, 20/08/20
It's such a nice part of the country, and so quiet. Don't tell everyone though!  We need more piccies of clag and bog and sheep that mug you for sandwiches to keep the crowds away!
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 17:55:18, 20/08/20
The grass of parnassus is lovely -my wife spotted some on Ben More on Monday, and there was a lot near Mull Head on Orkney, near to where we lived.


Thanks Richard, these flowers are so beautiful, first time I have seen or heard of them  :)


It's such a nice part of the country, and so quiet. Don't tell everyone though!  We need more piccies of clag and bog and sheep that mug you for sandwiches to keep the crowds away!


You are right Islandplodder, most of it was awful  :D
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:03:20, 21/08/20
Thanks Richard, these flowers are so beautiful, first time I have seen or heard of them  :)


...and did you try the Cloudberries? I have seen the plants before, but can't remember seeing and trying the fruit.


But on Wednesday I did find and try some Cowberries on the banks of a Highland stream - the fruit looks and tastes rather like cranberries, a little tart but lovely taste.
Title: Re: TR Wild camp on Firthhope Rig Sat 16 to Sun 17 Aug 20
Post by: April on 12:24:56, 21/08/20
...and did you try the Cloudberries? I have seen the plants before, but can't remember seeing and trying the fruit.


We didn't try them just in case they weren't cloudberries  :)  I was pretty sure they were and I was tempted then thought better of it!