Members Present: Bob Kelly, Dave Bone (yup, a select group).

Due to accidents on the M6 I arrived too late to be shown round the Moffat Water Hall but fortunately Bob having been hill bagging for a few days (a “good week” for it) arrived early and got the tour. Soon we were settling into the vast, empty space and finding our way round – a really well equipped village Hall, excellent value. We settled down with the books and maps in eager anticipation (well, maybe not) of the hordes to arrive. Then selected our spot for a quiet night (at least it gave us the best weekend’s kip in ages).

Saturday was supposed to clear out during the morning to give sunny spells – as usual the timing was wrong but the showers weren’t heavy as we combined two engineers’ brains to lock the doors and headed up the road to Carrifran for the planned walk. A steep haul to start, turning ridiculously steep for the last 150m onto the double topped Saddle Yoke. A strong wind inconvenienced us on top – with squally showers making things uncomfortable for the walk North then NE off the hill and up to above Priest Craig. That wind was going to keep at us – even increase as the day went on. Nevertheless we were going well and the going was good on grass (wet of course but what isn’t this year), so to avoid Rotten Bottom in which even an Echo Sounder would find no bottom, we headed N rather then E, over Cape Law then Din Law.

Things were looking better now so with the target of Gameshope bothy/shed for lunch, a direct line was taken for the outflow of Gameshope Loch, a lovely and very lonely upland Loch. The target had now vanished from view – it’s rusted roof being good camouflage in the colours of Autumn, but it didn’t elude us for long. Nimble or otherwise crossings of the stream got us to the shed. Not a bothy but open to the elements and with a dead sheep inside – we elected to use the nearby fine stell as a lunch spot while the sun made attempts at coming out to play.

Another steep ascent got us started on Great Hill, on reaching this the views opened out as a sunny spell arrived – pity the clearest view was of a large wind farm – at least it was making plenty of electricity. On now via some more tops to the day’s highest point on the Corbett of White Coomb. A hasty touch of the cairn as we staggered past – that wind was battering us now but at least the showers had about done with us, and onwards towards the sun. The final top of Carrifran Gans beckoned. Wind and yet more wind here – crossing the fence was an effort, and then real effort – following the escarpment edge of the Carrifran valley back N. Leaning on the wind on the edge, it may have made conversation difficult with the insane rattling of waterproofs, but it was exhilarating. Now the windy stories I could tell…

A sharp descent (in sunshine!) by the Firth Hope Burn dropped us into the Carrifran valley for a walk out allowing a look at the tree plantings. All looking rather fine and in many places looking like a woodland now. Back at the Hall rather early for a DB walk, giving plenty of time to get Papers, get fed, get weather forecasts and get very annoyed with Bob’s car. It insisted on locking him out despite imprisoning the key in the oven – the key had succumbed to the British weather, so a little more engineering with toothpick and tissue paper ensured another good night’s sleep. The rain started in the early hours, was still going on the morning and was still going by Monday morning. Bob left, so did I after a look at Waterfalls in spate and a wander round the Lochwood Oaks, some brought down only recently. A good day out at least, but there are many more excellent circuits out there and the Hall would make a great base for those who want to try them.

It’s been quite some time since the Club has been to the Southern uplands - the Moffat hills are the first real hills of size you meet heading up the M74, with a tantalising glimpse of some steep and rugged hills to the right as you pass Beatock. There’s a lot of quite wild, high land out here, but quite easy walking once up. Moffat itself is a lovely little town worth a stop over and a look round. I’ve got to know the area quite well and I’ve a few things to introduce to you on some hill walks. OS Landranger maps 78 & 79 cover the proposed walks.

I’ve booked accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights in the Moffat Water village Hall, which is 5 miles out of Moffat on the A708 to Selkirk (www.moffatwaterhall.org) at NT141086. It is very neat and well equipped – treat this as a “camping barn”. It has a fully fitted kitchen with microwave, oven, dishwasher etc. A wc with disabled access and a large shower, heating (though hopefully not required) and a large main room, obviously, with floor space for sleeping on. You'd just need a sleeping bag and mat/airbed whatever. Ten places at £11 per person have been reserved so please contact me to reserve a place with payment and to get final arrangement details. I hope to collect the keys and the hall to be open at some point on the Friday evening. After leaving a wooded section the road has a straight, terminated by a hump backed bridge (take care!) and a left curve – the hall is the last building on the left 80m further on.

I do have a couple of circuits planned for the two days but I cannot cover all that there is to offer and ideas can be provided for others if necessary. For Saturday, I plan to head to the Carrifran car park (gated) 2mi further on and take on the skyline walk essentially, over Peat Hill, Saddle Yoke, Raven Craig and options then depend on conditions – the longer route visits Din Law and Gameshope Loch before ascending Firthhope Rig and White Coomb, and crossing to Carrifran Gans. Then to finish, head N along the very edge before dropping down to the Firth Hope burn and descending to the valley past its fine waterfall. The walk out takes one out through the tree planting of the Carrifran Wildwood project, which are particularly fine at this time. Distance 10-13mi, with a Corbett & several Donalds.

On Sunday after tidying up the suggestion is to return to Moffat and head up Annandale to stop near its Hall (looks like a large green shed). The walk takes one through Ericstane to Corehead (yet another Borders Forest Trust project) and take the path into the famed Beeftub, climbing its rim to the watershed, turning right to generally follow it to Whitehope Heights with a diversion or two to appreciate the deep valleys below. On to Hartfell, then strike out in some direction to drop into the upper reaches of the Hartfell burn and some more challenging going down through interesting “rock” scenery to the Hartfell Spa. After taking the waters, there’s an easy path to the road and the finish of a 10mi (min.) with yet another Corbett. All that remains is the ~2.75hr drive back to Manchester. Please give it a go!

It’s been quite some time since the Club has been to the Southern uplands - the Moffat hills are the first real hills of size you meet heading up the M74, with a tantalising glimpse of some steep and rugged hills to the right as you pass Beatock (the most distinctive is Saddle Yoke). There’s a lot of quite wild, high land out here, but quite easy walking once up. Moffat itself is a lovely little town worth a stop over and a look round. I’ve got to know the area quite well and I’ve a few things to introduce to you on some hill walks. Sadly I can’t offer you some climbing though.

I’ve booked accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights in the Moffat Water village Hall, which is 5 miles out of Moffat on the A708 (www.moffatwaterhall.org). It is very neat and well equiped – treat this as a “camping barn”. It has a fully fitted kitchen with microwave, oven, dishwsher etc. A wc with disabled access and a large shower, heating (though hopefully not required) and a large main room, obviously, with floor space for sleeping on. You'd just need a sleeping bag and mat/airbed whatever. Ten places at £11 per person have been reserved and there’ll be more details in the next Newsletter. I do have a couple of circuits planned for the two days and those with lists will collect a couple of Corbetts (White Coomb and Hartfell) plus several Donalds with a few waterfalls, spas and renowned landscape features – I also hope to show you some of the Carrifran Wildwood and Corehead projects on the way [you’ll have seen comment in various editorials on these). Meanwhile I would like to collect names of those interested and will be collecting payment in advance of the meet.