East Lothian TuMPS, Pencraig Hill, Barney Hill, Skid Hill, Gullane Hill

28 September 2018

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Pencraig Hill, 109m/358', P 46m, TuMP, OS 67, NT 572 766; Barney Hill, 181m/594', P 33, TuMP, OS 66, NT 514 760; Skid Hill, 186m/610', P 98, OS 66, NT 507 764; Gullane Hill, 69m/226', P42, TuMP, OS 66, NT 475 827

 

An early autumn trip to East Lothian is always worthwhile, the weather tends to be better than in the west and the views can be spectacular. I had worked out a route that would take in a few non-strenuous TuMPS plus a visit to the beach so that Ben could have a run about. First stop was a few miles west of East Linton at a lay-by at the foot of an old quarry and a wooded area- Pencraig Hill. There was a woodland walk which was a bit overgrown but it didn't matter as the highest point was only a few minutes from the car, it's here somewhere.....

 

 

 

There was also a viewpoint looking north to the Firth of Forth, North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock, in fact the only place on the hill where you really got a view of anything. The colours of the fields were nice.....

 

Back to the car and it was only a short journey to the next two hills, Barney Hill and Skid Hill which the map said were part of the Garleston Hills. The road over to Aberlady took most of the work out of them and I parked just past the high point for Barney Hill. There were cows in the field for this one but they stayed well out of the way. The highest point appeared to be just to the east of one of the ariels and again there was a fine view of the Firth. The view south, to the Moorfoot hills was good also but I was looking directly into the sun so no photographs. 

 

 

 

There was a fine view of my next objective, Skid Hill from here, along with Byres Hill and the Hope Monument which we visited last year.....

 

 

I shifted the car to a parking area at the foot of Skid Hill, which was really only half a hill, as a quarry had removed a lot of it. The quarry was no longer being worked. This was a steep one and there was a narrow bit at the top of a small gully which led to a flat summit area and a trig. Fine views though.

 

 

The final hill of the day was at Gullane. I parked at the pay and display car park at the beach and walked up the hill past some very grand and no doubt expensive houses. The hill had a topograph and a seat and was right on the edge of the golf course, which was busy.....

 

 

We sat here for a bit before making our way down to the beach for a walk along the sands. There are some magnificent beaches on this stretch of coastline and at this time of year there was hardly anyone about.

 

A relaxing day out.

 

Inchcolm Island

24 September 2018

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Inchcolm Island, 34m/112', P34m, TuMP/SIB, OS 65/66, NT 1`87824

 

A visit to Inchcolm had been on my radar for a long time. Somewhere else that I'd never been to while I lived in Edinburgh. Spring, summer and early autumn were ruled out because there is a large gull colony on the island and a visit to the high point is a bit fraught. I also needed really clear weather as the views are something special. Everything came together at last- and I also found out that dogs were permitted, although the lead had to stay on.

 

Inchcolm is named after St Colm and the monastery there was established in the 1100s as an Augustinian priory becoming an abbey in 1235. Buildings were added and altered over time and the conflict between Scotland and England reached even this small island. After the Reformation, the site passed to the Earls of Moray. The island entered a new chapter with military use during WW1 and WW2. A large number of fortresses were built, the defences have been largely demolished but the foundations remain. So there was a lot to see during our 90 minutes ashore.

 

The Maid of the Forth is based at South Queensferry beside the Forth rail bridge.....

 

 

There was a good view back to the bridge shortly after passing under it.....

 

 

The on board commentary was excellent, describing all the points of interest as we passed them. This is a tug stationed beside the oil terminal at Braefoot Bay.....

 

 

and this is the terminal itself.....

 

 

Inchcolm coming into view.....

 

 

The Maid of the Forth at Inchcolm.....

 

 

Walking towards the abbey.....

 

 

 

We had a look round the abbey, it's remarkably complete and would justify a visit on its own and then headed for the highest point on the island.....

For such a low lying summit, the view was amazing. Looking towards the Forth bridges.....

A view back to the abbey with the eastern "hill" beyond. This is where most of the fortifications are.....

 

The visitor centre and the eastern hill.....

The eastern hill provides the classic view of the abbey.....

and a view down the Firth with the Isle of May on the horizon.....

The sun was in the wrong place to get good photographs south to Edinburgh and the Pentlands but by using some trees as cover I managed to get this one of the city with Arthurs Seat and the Castle prominent.....

On the way back, we detoured under the three bridges, what amazing structures. Despite the smooth, modern look of the most recent, the Queensferry crossing, in my eyes it is still the original rail bridge that is the most impressive.....

 

I can highly recommend this trip, three hours worth of interest and unusual views of familiar places.

The Heddles (Muirshiel Country Park): Duncarnock and Dyke Hill (Neilston); Creag an Eoin (Balmaha), Dumbowie (Dumbarton)

20 August 2018

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: The Heddles, 304m/997', P33m, TuMP, OS 63, NS 315 646

 

August is a month in which I can summon up little interest in hillwalking. It is usually damp and humid and not at all nice for walking. After a brilliant May- July, August reverted to type. However, the temperature had dropped a bit so I decided to chance it and headed for Muirshiel Country Park and The Heddles, a TuMP that I had omitted at a previous visit earlier in the year. It was pretty nondescript, just a bump in the moor.....

 

 

There was a good if wet track most of the way. However, when I left it to cross the moor, I was reminded about another reason why I avoid August, clouds of flies. Still, it was only a short walk and the views from the top were OK, here's Ben admiring the view.....

 

 

22 August 2018

Participants: Just me

Where: Duncarnock, 204m/669', P39m, TuMP, OS 64, NS 502 560 and Dyke Hill, 211m/692', P37m, TuMP, OS 64, NS 489 560

 

Duncarnock (locally "The Craigie") is a striking volcanic plug topped by a Fort which was probably occupied between 1200 BC and AD 400 and perhaps reused until around AD 700. There was space for a couple of cars at the start of the Glanderston Mains track which I followed to Glanderston Dam. Duncarnock from the Dam.....

 

 

I crossed the top of the dam wall, briefly went into a field containing cattle (the reason Ben wasn't with me) then took a very steep path up the side of the nose of the hill. It required some hands on scrambling higher up and brought me out at the trig. It was a very fine viewpoint with Glasgow and Paisley to the north and a glimpse of the higher hills beyond.....

 

 

 

I found another path for the way down which dropped to the east of the hill and then circled it to arrive back with the cows.

 

I then drove about a mile to a parking spot at the east side of Dyke Hill. It was just a bump in a field. This is Dyke Hill from Walton Dam.....

 

 

There were cows at the top.....

 

 

The view to Glasgow.....

 

 

7 September 2018

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Creag an Eoin, 100m/328', P 41m, TuMP, OS 56, NS 420912

 

Creag an Eoin overlooks the car park at Balmaha and is accessed from there.....

 

 

It is a steep wee hill but fortunately there is a path (don't know why) that zig-zags up the hill and takes the worst out of the steepness. The highest point is clear of trees so there is a view of Loch Lomond and the hills beyond.....

 

We followed the hill with a walk to the westerly Balmaha pier and then a forest walk so it was a pleasant short day trip. Lots of tourists about.

22 September 2018

Participants: Just me
Where: Dumbowie, 158m/518', P 42m, TuMP, OS 64, NS 422 752

There are a number of TuMPS above Dumbarton but at least one is the rim of a quarry. Dumbowie looked on the map as if it might be the best of the group so I drove to the Overtoun House car park which was just north of the hill. This is a view of it from Loch Bowie on the way to the car park.....

It looks like a nice country park and I must come back some time to try out some of the walks. Today however was just the hill and I followed tracks to its north before following another track through fields which led to an electricity pole disguised as a tree. There didn't look to be a way up through the gorse from there so I carried on round to the south side of the hill and ascended from there. There was a path of sorts, found on the way down.

It was a nice pointy summit.....

with views of Dumbarton castle and the Clyde.....

of the Long Crags.....

and a nice view down to Loch Bowie.....

A good wee hill but better in the winter time I would think when the gorse has died back!

Three TuMPs in the Eastern Ochil Hills

15 September 2018

 

Participants: Just me

Where: Lamb Hill, 422m/1,384', P30m, TuMP, OS Map 58, NO 009 076, John's Hill, 483m/1,585', P72m, TuMP, NO 001 081, and Sim's Hill, 483m/1,585', P 49m, NN 999 076

 

It was the kind of weather that I like, temperature in the mid-teens, light breeze, clear visibility. Time to pick some more TuMPs off my to-do list. This time I fancied a walk in the eastern Ochil Hills, starting from Littlerig on the Dunning road. This is a much quieter area, although two folk were staring up Lamb Hill as I was getting back to the car. A gate opposite the car park avoided the need to climb a fence with barbed wire on top and it was a short, steady climb to the summit of Lamb Hill, took me less than 30 minutes. The view of the rest of my walk opened up from here, this is looking towards Sim's Hill (left) and John's Hill.....

 

 

There was also a good view of Corb Law, a HuMP to the north still to do.....

 

 

There were plenty of 4WD and sheep tracks on the hills so the walking was of the easy variety. John's Hill was next and it was a better viewpoint. This is looking towards the hills of the south Ochils including Ben Thrush which I had climbed with Ben earlier in the year.....

 

 

The Ben Chonzie hills on the horizon.....

 

 

Another view of Corb Law.....

 

 

Windmills on the long ridge of the Marilyn, Steele's Knowe- they are particularly prolific hereabouts.....

 

 

Then it was down to another col and a much steeper climb to the top of Sim's Hill, which was of equal height to the hill I had just left. The windmills this time were on the north ridge of Ben Thrush, which it would be possible to do with Sim's Hill, although my route was much better I reckon.....

 

 

I returned to the col below John's Hill and continued down a lovely little glen which took me back to the car park. There was a nice view of the hills to the other side of the Dunning road.....

 

 

and a fine view back to John's and Sim's Hills. Whoever John and Sim were they have given their names to a couple of nice wee hills; this is a walk that I would do again.....