Minch Moor

15 August 2011

Where - Minch Moor, 567m/1,859', Sub-2,000' Marilyn, Map 73, NT 359330
Participants - Neil and Ben

It was back to the border hills today for a walk along the Minchmoor road which is part of the Southern Upland Way, and a visit to the hill of the same name. I have done this a couple of times before; it is a pleasant, easy walk with fine views once the forestry section is left behind. As usual, I left the car in the car park at Traquair village hall which is just off the Way. Initially, after a short forest section, the track passes between fields and the hill comes into view for the first time- it is between the two forest areas in this picture.....

The route was full of interest. The first thing of note was modern- an unusual environmental scheme/sculpture down to the left of the track (heading east).....

There was an information board that explained what it was all about.....

I don't really get a lot of the modern sculptures- for example, the giant figure outside Cumbernauld seems completely pointless and a waste of money but small projects like this one especially if they build in another theme such as the environment I find interesting. But maybe in hundreds of years time they will attract the same level of interest as do the buildings and legends of our past. And shortly after the sculpture we stopped to have a look at one of these.

The Minchmoor road is an ancient drove road that was frequented by bandits  in days gone by. Nearing the first high point of the track, there is a spring named the Cheese Well, marked by a couple of inscribed stones. Apparently if someone passing it left an offering, usually cheese, for the fairies who were supposed to haunt the area then this would ensure a safe and successful journey. Here is Ben unsuccessfully looking for some cheese at one of the two stones that mark the spring.....

So no cheese, but plenty people obviously believe the legend and leave a modern offering- a coin- instead.....

Not long after passing the well, we reached a signpost pointing up a side track to the summit of the Minch Moor. Unfortunately, the early sunshine had faded, and the rain came on just as we reached the cairn. It was a short lived shower however so I hung around for the blue sky and sunshine to come back in order to take the obligatory summit photo.....

That was the last rain of the day, the sun came out again and the walk back was excellent with great views of the Dun Rig hills ahead and, when lower down, a view looking west along the Tweed valley.....