Broad Law – Navigation practice
Today was another stunning day in the hills. How lucky are we to live in such an amazing area with access to so many hills and walking routes!
Last night was we participated in a Mountain Rescue team search exercise. It was a late finish and knew that it was an early start this morning so a quick change of kit & rucksacks and then back out again to the Talla/Megget area.
Today’s plan was to pratice my navigation with my good friend Sean from CPS Activities Ltd and as usual, he delivered. We’d planned a much shorter walk than normal so we could get some proper micro navigation practice in as you can’t walk as far as you would normally when you’ve got your head buried in a map and your supposedly good friend is stopping all the time and asking you to relocate.
We parked up on the side of the road and walked towards the Meggett stone at the cattle grid where the route heads NW up Fans Law. From here we headed past Codleteeth Hill (would love to know the history behind these hill names) and on to Talla Cleugh Head 690m (Donald).
Retracing our steps, we then headed NE up to the Shepherds’ Cairn before following the SW shoulder of Broad Law (Donald) up to the summit at 840m. Broad Law is part of the Manor Hills range, and is the second-highest point in the Southern Uplands (Merrick being the highest at 843m) and the highest point in the Scottish Borders.
From there the highlight of the day (for me), the Broad Law VOR beacon! VOR is Very high frequency OmniRange and is is a type of short-range radio navigation system for aircraft. It’s a large horizontal structure and looks like a spacecraft has landed. The VOR on top of Broad Law is the highest in the UK. They are slowly being phased out as GPS navigation takes over. We climbed inside the “high security” wooden fence and climbed the steps to get right under the beacon. It’s an impressive structure and well worth a visit.
My nav was pretty spot on throughout the day apart from one embarrassing moment where I’d missed some really obvious features and when Sean, yet again, asked me to relocate, I made a right mess.
I made the environment match the map even though my head knew it was wrong and it felt wrong but I pressed on. Even while I was explaining to him where I thought we were, I was saying “this doesn’t feel right”. So deep down I knew but I’m my own worst enemy and put so much pressure on myself that I make mistakes.
Hopefully that’s a a lesson learned. But regular practice is required and a recent trip back to the same area for some contour only navigation also helped.
Route Info
Hills Climbed
Talla Cleaugh Head 690m (Donald)
Broad Law 840m (Donald)
Stats
Distance: 10.3 km
Time: 4h 10 min
Note:
The time taken is our time. We’re not fell runners wearing a tiny pair of shorts & carrying no kit, nor did we stop for hours and have a picnic.
Your time may be different. If you do follow this route and end up: hours late, in the pitch black, weeping. Tough.
Is that Sean Magee? Did you post on a Facebook group for Trainee Mountain Leaders about night nav practise in The Pentlands? I’d be really interested if you’re still organising!
Hi Mike,
Sean is a friend of mine and kindly helps me out with my ML practice in return for website help and great banter (his opinion may vary to mine). I do know that he organises regular night nav training in the Pentlands. Contact him via his website at: https://cpsactivities.com/contactus/ and he will give you some dates.
Regards.
Hi folks. Hedley is indeed correct I do arrange night nav training in the Pentlands. This is either through Mountain Trainning Association for members only or through my business.
Have been helping Hedley with his training with great success. Have also been trying to help him with his banter but some nuts are harder to crack 🤣
Am going to get some dates on the MTA website if you are looking for a private session then please do get in touch