Auchrobert Hill

 28 May 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Auchrobert Hill, 346m/1,135', P 48m, Tump, OS 71, NS 755 387

Now part of a wind farm, Auchrobert Hill is south of Strathaven in Lanarkshire, reached from the north by leaving the B7086 at Deadwaters and following a minor road signposted Coalburn. There was good parking at the entrance to the wind farm and an excellent track most of the way to the summit.....

The summit area was very flat and it was worth following the track until level with the high point to avoid some tussocky and marshy ground.....

Nutberry Hill near Muirkirk was the highest hill in that direction.....

and Tinto was prominent to the south.....

A pleasant short walk.

Patie's Hill, Spittal Hill and Green Law, (Pentland Hills)

 19 May 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Patie's Hill, 478m/1,568', P35m, Tump, OS 66, NT 163 574, Spittal Hill, 526m/1,726', P32m, Tump, OS 66, NT 165 587 and Green Law, 529m/1, 736', P 70m, Tump, OS 66, NT 167 595

Another bright and breezy day. I had had my eye on the south Pentland hills for some time so made an early start to get to the car park at Nine Mile Burn before it filled up. A short walk along the road from the car park brought me to the start of the track through the hills. I followed this past Spittal Farm and up to the col between Patie's Hill and Spittal Hill. The two hills from near the start.....

Patie's Hill.....

Looking east from the track towards Scald Law and South Black Hill.....

From the col, I made the short climb to Patie's Hill.....

There was an excellent view of Spittal Hill with The Kips and Scald Law in the background. The latter were to feature strongly in the views as I made my way along the ridge to Green Law.....

I returned to the col and the start of a good grassy path up Spittal Hill. Looking back to Patie's Hill.....

And to Patie's Hill and another Tump- still to do- Mount Maw.....

The Kips and Scald Law from the summit of Spittal Hill.....

There were views of the North Esk reservoir to my left as I wandered along the ridge with the Marilyn of East Cairn Hill in the background. One that I did from the north.....

Approaching Green Law. I had wondered if I had done this hill from the north many years ago but I didn't recognise anything when I got there so obviously not....

The Kips and Scald Law from Green Law.....

Hare Hill and Black Hill with Edinburgh and the Queensferry crossing in the background......

Then it was a return the way that I had come as far as the Patie's Hill/Spittal Hill col. From the col, there was a good view of the Mount Maw to The Mount ridge, another one on the to do list.....

An excellent walk of around 2 hours 30 minutes in the quieter part of the Pentlands.

Hart Hill (Campsie Fells)

 18 May 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Hart Hill, 437m/1,434', P 53m, Tump, OS 57, NS 697 884

Hart Hill is the twin of Cringate Law which I climbed a year or two ago. Both are within a wind farm. I accessed it by way of a really narrow road to the north of the Carron Valley leaving the car at a parking area at the end of the track that goes to the Earlsburn reservoirs. It was a bright day but there was a strong breeze which made taking photos on top somewhat problematical. Cringate Law (left) and Hart Hill (right) from the Carron Valley reservoir.....

The approach track.....

Earlsburn reservoir (No.2, there is another further north which I guess is No.1).....

Hart Hill from the reservoir, the going was easy on grassy slopes.....

The reservoir from Hart Hill, the hill beyond is another Tump, Earl's Hill.....

Almost there.....

Looking north, the hills of the Southern Highlands in view.....

And looking south over the Carron Valley to Meikle Bin.....

Apart from the wind, this was a pleasant short day out, in an area which I doubt sees many other walkers.

Hamilton Hill (Peebles) and Swinsy Hill (Carluke)

 14 May 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Hamilton Hill, 371m/1,217', P 59m, Tump, OS 73, NT 235 443 and Swinsy Hill, 113m/ 372', P 33m, Tump, OS 72, NS 831 473

Back to the Borders, this time to Peebles, to bag Hamilton Hill. I parked in the car park next to the cemetery and walked up Rosetta Road past the caravan park to a point where it swung sharply east. The route to the hill continued straight on following the route of an old Drove Road.....

It was a good track, passing Standalane Farm with my objective in view from an early point. The gorse was in full bloom and a coconut smell was very noticeable.....

I left the track close to its high point and headed up easy grass slopes to the cairn. Although it was a bit hazy, the views were good. Looking west to White Meldon.....

South-west to the Manor valley.....

East to the Glentress hills.....

I spent a bit of time at the cairn, eating my lunch and admiring the view. I then descended due south, walking easily through banks of gorse..... 

View down to Peebles.....

I can highly recommend this walk.

It was still early when I got back to the car so I diverted at Carluke on the way home to bag Swinsy Hill. No view from this one, which I accessed from a side road leading to a plant nursery at Cozieglen. I parked in their overflow car park and headed straight up the hill. A bit of a mistake, there was a path further round to the north which I found on the way down and which was much less steep. There were lots of bluebells. The high point was an obvious grassy mound.....

Dochrie Hill (Ochil Hills)

 7 May 2022

Participants: Just me.

Where: Dochrie Hill, 366m/1,201', P 39m, Tump, OS 58, NO 082082

A dry but hazy day for a visit to what I guess is a rarely visited Ochil top, one that lies to the north of Milnathort. I accessed the hill from the south by a minor road that runs past the houses at Meikle Seggie and parked at a sharp bend in the road where it exits a forest. I then walked a few hundred metres further north to the start of a track which took me most of the way to the summit. Baulk Hill and in the distance, right, Dochrie Hill from the start of the track..... 

I could have added another Tump, Knock Wood. This photo should demonstrate why I didn't bother|.....

Instead, I simply made my way up grassy slopes to the only obstacle, a new barbed wire fence before the final bit over deep heather to the high point. There were however some useful wooden slats where the fence met an old wall so no problems getting over. Heading up.....

The actual high point was a grassy patch amongst the heather.....

and despite the haze there was a reasonably good view south to Loch Leven and West Lomond. I returned the same way.

Ben: 2010- 2022

My hill walking companion Ben has sadly passed away. He accompanied me on 286 separate hills- a mix of Munros, Corbetts, Grahams, Marilyns, Humps, Tumps and a few unclassified hills; he was the best of companions. He loved the hills and is dreadfully missed but leaves some wonderful memories.