Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Scotland => Topic started by: April on 19:16:53, 04/08/20

Title: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: April on 19:16:53, 04/08/20
We drove to the Scottish Borders to sample some hills over the border. We parked at the end of the public road at Potburn and our first hill would be Ettrick Pen. We wanted to do the Ettrick Horseshoe and wild camp somewhere on the route.

On the way to Potburn Farm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185508037_9799424128_z.jpg) (http://)

It was cloudy and overcast but we could see the tops, on the drive through Langholm it had been low cloud there so this was an improvement.

Looking back at  Over Phawhope Bothy
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184708323_1a811f5d71_z.jpg) (http://)

We'd stopped for an early lunch near Entertrona Burn. After the forest road ended we followed a few trods here and there up Ettrick Pen but it fizzled out and we continued up the convex slope.

Capel Fell and Smidhope Hill in view
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184708033_de3da4e609_z.jpg) (http://)

The ground was rough and boggy in places, hard work carrying our camping gear

View eastward from the fence near Ettrick Pen summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184707158_19b6168b22_z.jpg) (http://)

We'd spotted some deer on the way up but they had eluded my zoom in so all I got was grass!

View north westward from Ettrick Pen
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185506327_2cfd5380db_z.jpg) (http://)

There was a bit more blue sky now and we had a little sunshine. The wind wasn't too bad but it was stronger up on the tops.

On Ettrick Pen summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184706563_09ba520c83_z.jpg) (http://)

Looking southwest from Ettrick Pen
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185252391_0afd677fa6_z.jpg) (http://)

We were heading that way on the way to Hopetoun Craig

Descending Ettrick Pen
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184705698_b5a0309c65_z.jpg) (http://)

We'd only seen one person at the parking area and a few people at the bothy in the valley. What a wonderful place, fabulous views and we had it all to ourselves.

Approaching Hopetoun Craig summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185251561_3507beb96d_z.jpg) (http://)

On Hopetoun Craig summit, looking toward Ettrick Pen
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184705013_86bcc02fc5_z.jpg) (http://)

Wind Fell top
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185504092_855389ec52_z.jpg) (http://)

We weren't fond of this top, a boggy mess and one for Karl's Kut Price Tours!

Descending Wind Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185503737_bdd82eb4ff_z.jpg) (http://)

Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185243211_ae4b355719_z.jpg) (http://)

It looked a long way up there! We veered right to get some water from Ettrick Head. We were filling up here for our overnighter and it meant we would have to carry it uphill.

Squeaky wants to visit Dumfries and Galloway
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185503027_e8fd3b7858_z.jpg) (http://)

This is where the Southern Upland Way crosses the fence from D & G into the Scottish Borders and leads down to Over Phawhope.

Ettrick Pen and Hopetoun Craig from the ascent of Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185249191_7740b7bd9d_z.jpg) (http://)

We saw a walker in the distance climbing up Wind Fell and another walker climbing Capel Fell to the left of the fence. The first people seen since we left Over Phawhope Bothy  :o

Wind Fell from the ascent of Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185502287_fcb13c53a3_z.jpg) (http://)

Loch Fell from Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185501837_03cfc9cacf_z.jpg) (http://)

Capel Fell summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184702108_f895d10450_z.jpg) (http://)

View from Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185501187_3712a709ac_z.jpg) (http://)

The views were marvellous, mountains everywhere

Descending Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185247451_54606d09e7_z.jpg) (http://)

Smidhope Hill summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185500682_54723881dd_z.jpg) (http://)

The wall provided excellent cover from the wind so we looked about for a decent pitch

Mountains and wind turbines
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185246756_af963869bf_z.jpg) (http://)

Lots of mountains in view from Smidhope Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185499962_0421e7be14_z.jpg) (http://)

Swatte Fell and Saddle Yoke
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184700293_1de044d5d5_z.jpg) (http://)

Saddle Yoke and White Coomb
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184700078_d7b7cbaed1_z.jpg) (http://)

View down the Ettrick Valley and more hills to see
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185499167_f0cef51b59_z.jpg) (http://)

The Hubba Hubba on Smidhope Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185498832_d211f1114b_z.jpg) (http://)

We had our tea and enjoyed our camp. We love this area, the views are superb, it is very quiet, hardly a soul about and we will be back for sure. The cloud obscured the sun so we didn't get a sunset but the day had been superb anyway. Rain started after dark, light rain was forecast overnight. It was heavy rain though and it pelted down for a time. It became lighter but it rained for most of the night. We awoke to low cloud and drizzle. After our breakfast and packing up the cloud was still low and we couldn't see anything. Pointless doing the rest of the horseshoe with no views so we retraced our steps over Capel Fell to join the Southern Upland Way from Ettrick Head down to Potburn.

The mist starts to lift as we descend Capel Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184699018_415e1e8a05_z.jpg) (http://)

Of course half an hour later as we reached Ettrick Head the cloud lifted and the tops we would have done were clear of cloud  ::)
 
Into the forest on the Southern Upland Way
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185498102_b4f0c92633_z.jpg) (http://)

The path was wet and muddy to start but then improved

On the forest road
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184698003_761e065fa0_z.jpg) (http://)

View near Over Phawhope Bothy
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50185243541_ebcd8144e3_z.jpg) (http://)

We stopped for a brew and some food near the bothy before the last mile back to the car where we saw the only people we would see on todays walk. Three lads that looked like they were doing the Southern Upland Way judging by their big packs.

A look back to Over Phawhope Bothy
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50184696908_4c7416bbd9_z.jpg) (http://)

It started raining on the last mile so perhaps it was just as well we missed out the tops as we would have been even more wet getting back to the car. A good two days despite the rain and clag on the second day and we will be back to do the hills we missed, White Shank, Fauldside Hill and Bodesbeck Law.

Day One was Potburn - Over Phawhope - Ettrick Pen - Hopetoun Craig - Wind Fell - Ettick Head - Capel Fell - Smidhope Hill - pitch. 6 miles. 676m ascent and 409m descent.

Day Two was pitch - Smidhope Fell - Capel Fell - Ettrick Head - Over Phawhope - Potburn. 3.8 miles 109m

Day 1 Map and route
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50186076477_80d96287a2_z.jpg) (http://)

Day 2 Map and route
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50186076197_0fac4af664_z.jpg) (http://)
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: beefy on 19:27:12, 04/08/20
Great pics Ape O0
Was a tremendous weekend
Wind fell top would be nice for pleb ;D
He likes bogs :D
The rain flooded the ground and it managed to get between the footprint and the groundsheet,  but the tent was dry inside,
Good tent the MSR  O0  
 
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: richardh1905 on 20:16:53, 04/08/20
Excellent report of what looks like an excellent wild camp, April.

I am particularly interested in Carrifran, the valley between Saddle Yoke and White Coomb seen in photo 25 - a massive re-wilding project is underway there, and the valley is filling up with trees.

http://www.carrifran.org.uk/ (http://www.carrifran.org.uk/)
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: pleb on 20:25:04, 04/08/20
Blimey that looks a bit bleak! Top marks on getting away from it all though  O0
The forest bit looks nice  O0
Why would I like a windy bog?
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: karl h on 21:08:43, 04/08/20
Great pics April. O0
Love that open country and big skies.
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: Islandplodder on 21:23:11, 04/08/20
Lovely pics, reminded me how nice that part of the world is.  I did the Ettrick Horseshoe the other way round a few years ago, a lovely walk and I hardly met anyone either.  Your TR made me want to go back and do it again!

Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: April on 21:27:10, 04/08/20
The rain flooded the ground and it managed to get between the footprint and the groundsheet,  but the tent was dry inside,


The ground was a bit soggy to say the least! Light rain my wotsit. Yes the groundsheet didn't let any water in, I have a lot more confidence in the thin material now.


I am particularly interested in Carrifran, the valley between Saddle Yoke and White Coomb seen in photo 25


Thanks Richard, it is a lovely glen. We walked above it a few years ago when we had a few days out from Moffat. We did mean to come back to this area, not sure why it has taken so long!


Blimey that looks a bit bleak!


 :o  Bleak?  :)  Not a word I would use to describe the area, beautifully remote maybe?


Why would I like a windy bog?


Better ask beefy  ;D


Love that open country and big skies.  


It was wonderful Karl  :)


Your TR made me want to go back and do it again!


 :)  Thanks Islandplodder, we won't be waiting as long to go back to Scotland again  :)
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: Ridge on 21:35:48, 04/08/20
Looks a lovely area. Great pics  O0
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: April on 12:55:53, 05/08/20
Looks a lovely area.



It is really lovely but perhaps I shouldn't be telling everyone?  ;)
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: Booga on 09:35:50, 08/08/20
A lovely part of the world, I stayed at Over Phawhope a couple of years ago and the mist was down in the valley, moving beautifully through the trees on the other side.
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: April on 07:49:32, 11/08/20
A lovely part of the world, I stayed at Over Phawhope a couple of years ago


It is lovely, so lovely we went back Saturday  :)
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: richardh1905 on 13:58:25, 11/08/20

It is lovely, so lovely we went back Saturday  :)


Did you manage to finish the round, April?
Title: Re: TR Ettrick Hills wild camp Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug 20
Post by: April on 20:02:26, 11/08/20
Did you manage to finish the round, April?


We did do the three tops we missed, TR coming up!