Wester Hill and Darling's Hill, Galashiels

21 April 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Wester Hill, 254m/835', P 50m, Tump, OS 73, NT 507360 and Darling's Hill, 317m/1,040', P 38m, Tump, OS 73, NT 506 375

My first ever trip on the Borders railway- the Waverley line. It was closed as part of the Beeching cuts and partly reopened as far as Tweedbank in 2015. Something that I had been meaning to do for some time and when a look at the map revealed that there were a couple of Tumps just north of Galashiels, well, no time like the present. For once, the train timetables matched, I had 15 minutes to change trains at Edinburgh on both the outward and inward journeys.

It was a steep pull up from the station up Wylies Brae and then Langlee Brae. Wester Hill was tree covered with a mast on top so there was a good track up. The high point was at the foot of the mast. But very limited views.....

I retraced my steps to the road and continued uphill past Langlee Mains Farm. There is an excellent path network in this area with pedestrian gates into all the fields- very welcoming. I could see Darling's Hill in front of me after passing the farm.....

There was a track and then a path all the way to the high point which boasted a substantial cairn.....

It was a wonderful viewpoint, the outstanding view being in the direction of the Eildon hills.....

Sell Moor Hill, a Marilyn, was to the north.....

and Meigle Hill, another Marilyn, was to the west.....

It was a great spot to sit and have my lunch before returning to Gala for my train home. The town from Langlee Brae.....

An excellent day out, the Border hills are some of the best in the country.