TR - Graham/New Donald - Blackhope Scar

Lindsay

Moorfoot Hills

1 December 2007

Blackhope Scar is one of the Moorfoot Hills located south of
Edinburgh. I decided to climb this hill from Gladhouse Reservoir to
its north. The reservoir was reached from the B6372 Penicuik to
Gorebridge road then following the road signs to Gladhouse and
Moorfoot, which relates to the nearby farm. Signs request vehicles be
parked at the reservoir and not on the verges.

I walked along the tarred road to Moorfoot Farm then took the vehicle
track which headed south to Gladhouse Cottage and the ruins of
Hirendean Castle. Just beyond Gladhouse Cottage the track crossed the
River South Esk by a bridge before continuing south on the east side
of the river with the wind turbines on Bowbeat Hill in the distance. I
continued along this track as far as a second vehicle track on the
south side of The Kipps.

This second vehicle track, which was my planned route, rose towards
the bealach between The Kipps and Blackhope Scar. Higher up the track
became quite rough and eroded before it headed off towards The Kipps.
I left the track and walked across heather and boggy terrain to a
fence which I followed towards the summit of Blackhope Scar. The
terrain did not improve as I gained height and in fact deteriorated
near the summit as there were some peat hags to cross.

The summit was marked by a trig point at the junction of three lines
of fences. It was rather windy here as it had been during most of the
walk and the views weren't that great due to some cloud. The wind
turbines on nearby Bowbeat Hill were now only around 1.5 kilometres
away.

I left the summit of Blackhope Scar and descended steeply into Long
Cleave and below the wind turbines. Here I was sheltered from the wind
and followed animal tracks down to the vehicle track at the head of
the Glen and the River South Esk. Here there was a red brick building
containing some straw and I used the building for my lunch stop.
Thereafter I followed the track north to Moorfoot Farm and the short
walk to my car.

Time taken - 3.5 hours.
Distance - 13.5 kilometres.
Height climbed - 475 metres.

Photographs taken on walk can be seen at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/g...dec07/index.htm

Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com