Black Hill (Lanark) collecting Boghill, Gallow Hill, Nemphler Moor and Hill of Maudslie along the way

20 February 2018

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Black Hill (Lanark), 290m/951' P51, Tump, OS 72, NS 832436; Boghill, 257m/843', P31, Tump, OS 72, NS 829 398: Gallow Hill, 247m/810', P39, Tump, OS 72, NS 889 442; Nemphlar Moor, 204m/669', P77, Tump, OS 72, NS 853 451; and Hill of Maudslie, 204m/669', P47, Tump, OS 72, NS 821 515.

 

Black Hill to the west of Lanark had been recommended to me by Alex and Bob of Blue Sky Scotland blog and that was the focus of the day. I worked out that by driving down the M74 and coming back by the A73 I could take in 4 more Tumps along the way with next to no effort, as will be explained.

 

The first stop was just past Lesmahgow to "climb" Boghill, I parked at a radio mast, crossed the road, went through a gate and over some rough pasture for a couple of minutes and I was there. About 5m of ascent I reckon. There were a lot of new plantings so the view was pretty restricted.....

Carrying on on the same road, it was only a few miles to the starting point for Black Hill. There was space for a few cars at the start of the hill which is NTS owned. The hill is a strategic viewpoint overlooking the Clyde valley. A Bronze Age cairn and an Iron Age settlement have been discovered here. Archaeological excavations took place during 2017 and more are planned in 2018.

It certainly was a great viewpoint. Ben waits to be let into the second of two fields to be crossed with the trig appearing ahead.....

A fine view of Lanark from part way up.....

The trig and a view over Lanark to (I think) the hills around Broughton.....

Looking north to the Glasgow/Motherwell/Hamilton area.....

Tinto- some say that our ancestors aligned their cairn on Black Hill with that on Tinto, who knows?

A couple of photos looking to the west......

This is a hill that I would be happy to revisit.

I then drove to Lanark for a walk round Lanark Loch, always a popular and pleasant way to spend a spare hour. And then it was time to head home and to demonstrate the absurdity, but fun, of Tump bagging. Gallow Hill in Lanark itself was probably nicely wooded at one time, but today has been built on. The highest point is in front of some houses.....

Nemphlar Moor is crossed by a road and the highest point is in the middle of a field- a little walking required here and a fine view of Tinto.....

Finally, back to the drive by. Hill of Maudslie in the village of Law has also been built on. The trig has been replaced by someone's house. All I had to do here to gain the tick was to step out of the car and then step back in.....

All quaintly enjoyable with Black Hill outstanding.