Culter Fell
A long but stunning day in the hills.
This was my second attempt at the Culter Fell loop based on the route on the Walkhighlands – Culter Fell circular, near Biggar route as last weeks one was snowed off. I had attempted it but my dog was struggling in the deep snow right from the beginning and the ice balls hanging off him were too large & numerous for us to continue. He was trying his best but every step was a jump into deep heather and snow and it wasn’t fair and I knew we had to knock it on the head and come back another day. It tugs at my heart when I see him trying his hardest as dogs never give up and he was struggling but still going. Getting back to the car and giving him a good rub down with towels and some biscuit treats at least made me feel better. He was probably fine and loving every minute. It’s hard not to project our emotions on to animals.
This time the weather was much milder and the deep snow had gone, so it was time to give Culter Fell another go. Even the forecast “sunny spells” didn’t appear and apart from a very short period of broken cloud, it was wall to wall sunshine all day which made for a pleasant change to my normal walks.
We started off from Culter Allers Farm (NT 0308 3117) where there’s enough parking for 4-5 cars just before the road splits towards Cowgill reservoir. If it’s full here, there are some spaces further down the track to the left.
Making our way East up the steep, boggy and heather clad hill until we joined a track which we followed up Tippet Knowe and on to the fence junction at Glenharvie Moss.
Trurning left we headed to Chapelgill Hill 696m our first Donald via Dun Knees (my how we laughed about that hill name later). It was a bit cold and blowy on Chapelgill Hill so we didn’t hang around. From here it was a short return route to Glenharvie Moss then the steep, snowy climb up to Culter Fell 748m (Graham) where we stopped for a quick lunch break while enjoying the views of hills marching off into the distance. This is one of the many “aren’t we lucky” moments we seem to have, and we are. What an amazing part of the country we live in with these hills just a short drive away.
After scoffing our lunch and “accidentally” dropping some on the ground for the dog, it was onwards down the SE saddle towards Moss Law, then down into Holm Nick. You could cut the route short here if you wanted and return via Coulter Reservoir. It’s almost worth it for some of the wonderful names of burns and features: Bucht Slack, Suckler Grain, Rashy Stell, Kittle Step & Bramble Sike. At some stage if I get time, I’ll look up some of these names to see what the history is behind them.
From Holm Nick it was a short climb up a well made track before this ended and we were back to grass. At the fence junction, we turned left towards the aptly named (at this time of year) Gathersnow Hill 688m, the second Graham on the route. This is a typical Borders hill, round topped and featureless,
From Gathersnow Hill we headed SW to another fence junction where we jumped over and headed to Hillshaw Hill 652m (Donald). Back to fence junction where we turned left towards the hideous SSE owned wind farm.
As we descended down to the access road on Fingland Moss, my dog put up two Mountain Hares in their winter “plumage” and it was a delight to watch them bounding off through the heather as he, the well-trained Spaniel that he is, came back to me. Phew. This was another of those special aren’t we lucky moments. Mountain Hares with their white fur. So bloody lucky,
A short walk through the towering turbines along the wide access road with all sense of remoteness gone and we finally turned off and headed back into the heather to tick off the last Donald, Hudderstone 626m and then it was a long but pleasant descent back down to the road via Woodycleuch Dod, Ward Law and then back to the car.
Route Info
Hills Climbed
Chapelgill Hill 696m (Donald)
Culter Fell 748m (Graham)
Gathersnow Hill 688m (Graham)
Hillshaw Head 652m (Donald)
Hudderstone 626m (Doanld)
Stats
Distance: 24.28 km
Time: 8 h 25 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.
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