Participants: Just me
Where: Repentance Hill, 113m/371', Tump, OS 85, NY 155 722 and Woodcock Air, 129m/423', Tump, OS 85, NY 171 722
I was driving south to an MBA meeting in the north of England and wanted to take in a hill on the way. These two, north of Annan, caught my eye on the map due to their strange names. So I left the motorway at Ecclefechan and after a few miles on the B725 arrived at a woodland car park just over Hoddom Bridge. I went to Repentance Hill first; a walk along the road of about a mile brought me to a signed path to Repentance Tower which crowned the hill.....
Although the hill is named Repentance Hill on the Database of British Hills website, it seems as though that is really only the name of the tower and that the hill should be called Trailtrow Hill. Anyway, it is the tower that is the main interest.......
It was built in the 1560's by Sir John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries as a watchtower for Hoddom Castle, which he also built. It was fitted with a large bell and a platform for a beacon. Unfortunately, it is now firmly locked so you cant get in. It was apparently named as an act of repentance by Lord Herries who had betrayed members of his family in order to make an advantageous marriage.
The tower is part of a graveyard which has many stones dating from the 17th century. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be tended nowadays despite the historical connections......
Despite its low height, there is a fine view to the Solway Firth with the familiar peak of Criffel beyond.....
The view north takes in Hoddom Castle, now part of a holiday complex.....
There was another Tump across the valley- the intriguingly named Woodcock Air......
I cant find anything that tells me the origin of the name. Although it is heavily wooded, there is a network of paths through the wood, all signposted and with the grass obviously regularly cut so it was a pleasant walk. One path started at the car park and I then simply followed whichever path seemed to be heading for the top. There was one viewpoint high up, looking west over Repentance Hill to Criffel......
Off the path, there was a lot of wind blown timber and I almost missed the trig.....
To make a longer walk, I dropped down another path to the south side of the hill where there was a view over the flat lands to the Solway.....
A pleasant and interesting pair of hills.
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