Cademuir Hill and Black Meldon

18 April 2017

 

Participants: Neil and Ben (for Cademuir only; there were sheep on Black Meldon)

 

Where: Cademuir Hill, 416m/1,365', Sub-2k Marilyn, OS 73, NT 230367 and Black Meldon, 407m/1,335', Hump, OS 73, NT 206425

 

The forecast was for a good start to the day but with cloud coming in from the west in the afternoon, so we headed east. When I climbed Cademuir Hill at Peebles in 2012, it was a tree covered monstrosity and we had to search in the conifers for the cairn.....
 

 

I had heard that the trees on much of the hill had been felled last year so it was time for another visit to see the views that were obscured last time. I parked in the main forestry car park on the east side of the hill. First impression was that there were many more paths- the FC is turning this hill into a playground for dog walkers, hill walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers. The lower slopes were still tree covered but it was very pleasant woodland.....
 

 

A combination of paths led to the upper slopes where there was a brand new track- still being bedded in according to a sign- which led through the usual post logging debris to the top. Not only was the cairn now in full view, there was also a bench and a table (the background view is to Peebles).....
 

 

And it was indeed a fine viewpoint. This is looking to the distant Pentland Hills (top left).....

West up the valley of the Tweed.....
 

 

and south to the Dun Rig hills.....
 

 

A very pleasant spot, if you can ignore the forestry mess. It will no doubt be nice when it's finished.

 

The only other hill that I had not done in the immediate neighbourhood was Black Meldon. I had climbed White Meldon, the slightly higher of the two, on a number of occasions but had not ventured on to its twin. Here are the two of them from the approach road- Black Meldon on the left.....
 

 

By now the cloud was that bit thicker although the distant views remained excellent. This is looking south-west....

 

and east in the general direction of Minchmoor.....

Both Meldons are old hill forts although the one on White Meldon is much the more impressive. There is very little remaining on the Black hill although it looks as though a few of the boulders have been used to make the cairn.....