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Mini-METHS – Moffat, Scottish Borders – Wednesday 22nd – Sunday 26th June, 2022

 

Venues: Rockhill Guest House; Buchan House; The Green Frog Camping

 

Participants: George Wallace (leader – high level) Kay Black (leader – low level), Eric Scott, Val Scott, Stuart Halliday, Jane Smith(guest), Maureen Wilson, Rhoda Leslie, Nigel Horrocks, Jenny Horrocks, Lloyd Woods, Janet Woods, Dave Kelly, Kathy Kelly, Chris Kelly, Peter Tolhurst and Antonia Tolhurst.(17)

                       

Wednesday day 22nd

Most participants had arrived outside the Rockhill Guest House before 3 pm, in good time for the short drive and hike to the Devil’s Beeftub, a prominent viewpoint above the village. A cloudless sky and an optimistic weather forecast augured well for the rest of the meet. The gentle walk towards the high point gave an unrestricted panorama south over the Moffat Hills and the Annan valley. Later, the whole party assembled in the Stag Hotel for an evening meal and get-together.  (George)

 

                                                                                                                                                    

 

Thursday 23rd June. 

Members chose between a high level hike or a low level walk.

 

Low level walk

 Kay met up with Rhoda, Jenny and Maureen and using her local knowledge led the group on a circuit of Castle Loch near the town of Lochmaben. Four lassies set off from the bowling green car park. We ambled round at a leisurely pace, allowing time to inspect and identify flowers (many thanks to Jenny's 'wee app'). There has been a castle at the loch for about 800 years and many battles fought over this area. We could only look at the castle through the fence, as it's in a dangerous state of repair.It was an unusually warm day so after lunch we visited an ice cream parlour, and opted not to walk round the other 2 lochs in the vicinity!

(Kay)

                                                                          

High level walk

The main party assembled at the car park adjacent to the Selcoth fish farm on the A708 Selkirk road for the ascent of Capel Fell 2223ft. Initially ascending a wide track through a forest plantation and, finally, a challenging steep grassy slope, the following members found themselves on the windy summit: Peter, Antonia, Stewart, Jane, Nigel, Dave, Kathy, Chris, Lloyd, Janet and George (Eric and Val had decided to take their own route and walk directly up the Selcoth Burn in the hope of meeting up later). After descending south to join the Southern Upland Way, the party flopped down for a welcome lunch break. Throughout the day, conditions were dry underfoot and pleasantly cool for strenuous walking. Now heading west along the narrow path which is the Southern Upland Way, the party arrived at an unusual arched footbridge which spanned the upper reaches of the Selcoth Burn. Here the gorge narrows between impressively high-angled scree-strewn hillsides. The steep slope led down to a circular sheep fold below Croft Head when everybody paused for breath while Dave arranged a group photo.

 

           

                                         

 

At this point Peter, Antonia, Stewart and Jane detached themselves from the main party and walked directly back to the start down the Selcoth valley. The rest climbed to the summit of Croft Head 2085ft, aided by a series of beautifully engineered zig-zags. For the record, these included Lloyd, Janet, Nigel, Dave, Kathy, Chris and George. After soaking in the view, the group headed down the grassy north ridge to complete the circular walk. Unfortunately, on the lower reaches, stretches of intimidating deer fences and locked gates had appeared since the route was first reconnoitred by George.  Advance became more and more difficult as the party were funnelled by the offending obstacles like fish in a trawl. After much scrambling, help was at hand when Nigel produced for the first time something sharp and useful from his much-neglected first aid kit and the party were released across the stream and on to the open road. Later, all participants came together for an evening meal at the Star Hotel. (famous for being architecturally the narrowest pub and also for having the widest selection of whiskeys in Scotland).                                                                                                                                                             (George)

 

Friday 24th June

Before departing for Sweetheart Abbey and the traverse of Criffel, George and Eric administered the Suswa Wash, in the time-honoured manner, to initiates Jenny, Nigel, Kathy and Chris.

(George)

 

   

 

High level walk

With the traverse of Criffel well in our sights and 13 members (George Wallace (Leader), Nigel Horrocks, Antonia & Peter Tolhurst, Janet & Lloyd Woods not forgetting Mistral, Jane Smith & Stewart Halliday, Valerie & Eric Scott, Chris Kelly, Katherine (Kathy) & David Kelly) set off to the Abbey of Dulce Cor, affectionately known as Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey 6 miles south of Dumfries. Having parked one vehicle at the Abbey car park for the drivers to reach their vehicles after the walk, we drove to Ardwall to commence the steady, yet challenging, ascent of Criffel (569m) along a well-defined and trodden path.  George led from the front for most of the way and brought up the rear near the summit.

 

Valerie & Eric decided that the call of a cream tea at the Abbey Cottage Tea Room was far stronger than reaching the summit so took the low road back to New Abbey, the same distance without the gradient to contend with.

 

Other walkers / runners whom we met were disappointed about the views when they had reached the summit, including from Douglas’ Cairn, due to the low cloud yet it had cleared for us to enjoy magnificent views over BlackShaw and the estuary of the River Nith albeit very windy.  Lloyd found his throne made of stones at the cairn and we enjoyed a lunchtime stop despite the wind before starting our descent which was boggy in places, via Knockendoch, where we took time out to soak in the beautiful views and finish our lunches in reasonable calm.  George took the opportunity to provide us all with a history lesson of the area including the fact that the coastal village of Carsethorn in the distance was a busy port with regular sailings to Liverpool, the Isle of Man, and Ireland with over 21 000 Scots emigrants leaving from here for a better life in the New World.

 

                                                

                                               

 

Kathy, also, mentioned that they were to visit Kirkbean after the walk where our Founder’s ashes are interred.

 

                                                                                                                

 

Peter led the debate on England vs. Scotland before our continuing the descent along a newly-laid path of gravel with intermittent drainage channels to stop the erosion.

Chris, with his technical tracking equipment, indicated that we had walked 8.5km before we, all, joined Valerie & Eric at the tea room whilst the drivers went back to the car park to collect the cars in preparation for the drive back to Moffat.

Another personal milestone for one of the members of the group, was that his Mother had climbed Criffel when she was 4 years old so he followed in her footsteps a century later.

On a philosophical note, one of our members pointed out that METHS was all about getting together and socialising with the common thread of our passion for walking and fresh air.

(Stewart)

 

Low level walk

We (Kay, Rhoda, Jenny and Maureen) met in New Abbey, and after a quick look at Sweetheart Abbey, which was out of bounds, we went to the Mersehead. This was another circular walk of about 3 miles on level ground, but it was cooler and made for a very pleasant day. The walk starts on a good gravel track, and goes through a short section of old woodland to a beautiful beach. The tide was so far out we could barely see the water. We found a seal carcass on the shore, a first for all of us. The end of the walk is across the merse (low lying land by the sea) back to the track. We came back via Dalbeattie where we had a lovely afternoon tea with Val Wallace in Dalbeattie. 

 (Kay)

                   

 

Participants met at 7 pm for the evening meal at dinner at Claudio's restaurant, Moffat.

 

                                                                                             

Saturday 25th June

The exertions of the previous two days and the onset of heavy morning showers dampened enthusiasm somewhat. Nevertheless, Kay led Peter, Antonia, George, Nigel, Janet, Lloyd, Jenny, Kathy, Dave and Chris into the Carrifrans valley off the Selkirk road. In just 20 years this designated nature reserve has witnessed a startling transformation. On both sides, the bare hillside has been clothed in native trees with impressive results. Showing what can be done by determined volunteers. Meanwhile back in Moffat, in improving weather, the rest of the group were doing their own thing. Mainly, that is, appreciating the spectacle of an important vintage car rally which had taken over the whole village for the remaining weekend.

Consequently, the meet retreated to the Somerton Hotel in Lockerbie for the evening meal and final farewells.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            (George)

 

                                                   

 

Photographs contributed by George, Kay, Kathy, Stewart and Janet

 

© METHS, 2022