Borders Tumping

 12 September 2023

Where: Dunhog Moss, 303m/994', P 36m, Tump, OS 73, NT 469 244; Gersit Law, 195m/640', P 61m, Tump, OS 74, NT 612 268; Brox Law, 99m/325', P36m, Tump, OS 74, NT 697 338; Hume Castle, 224m/735', P 64m, Tump, OS 74, NT 704 414.

I set off early on the long drive with the first stop just south of Selkirk. The target was Dunhog Moss which is the highest point south of the town and is crowned by a large transmission mast. There is a service road to the mast and I could have driven up but I decided on the short walk. The actual summit was close to the mast and next to a wall. There were good views to the south.....

Back at the car I next drove cross country to join the A7 at Ashkirk. The next hill, Gersit Law was a couple of miles to the north. I parked in a layby south of the track to it and walked north along the road verge. I could have walked through a caravan site instead, I returned that way. There was a fine view north to the Eildon Hills from the track.....

The hill is crowned by the Mausoleum of Sir Thomas Monteith.....

It is only open to the public by appointment but when I reached it, a guide was talking to a couple of visitors and I was allowed in for a look. There were a couple of large statues inside which the guide told me were reckoned to represent Sir Thomas' daughters and a wonderful domed ceiling......

Again the hill was a good viewpoint looking south to the Waterloo Tower with the Cheviot hills beyond.....

Next it was on to Kelso and Floors castle. Brox law is the highpoint of the castle grounds easily reached along a good track from the castle car park. It was however a bit of a nothing hill next to a pond in an area used for rearing pheasants. There were dozens of them about.....

Turning for home, I headed for Hume Castle, which I'd never heard of until I started looking for Tumps. It was a peaceful spot with the best views of the day, looking south to the Cheviot. The high point of the hill seemed to be inside the castle beside a seat.....

An interesting outing, the only downside was the Edinburgh City bypass which is more like an endless car park than a major road!