Cauldcleuch Head & Greatmoor Hill

Walk Summary

Greatmoor Hill ahead. End of track on SE flank of Balderston
Hill. Through gate and head diagonally right to fence

So pleased I did not stick to yesterday's plan and walk this route yesterday. Again had planned 3 routes but only had time for two so after Blackwood Hill chose Roan Fell in what were really dreary conditions with low cloud and very damp almost drizzle.
What a difference a day makes with weather being bright and sunny showing off verdant green pastures, ochre/gold hill tops and crisp blue skies.
Ideal hill walking conditions allowing me to attempt route without having to lug  heavy backpack loaded with survival gear.
At nearly 9 miles including two Marilyns, one of which is a Graham, with no running water off the tops to be found  should have taken some water with me for hydration and aid to digest "Scooby Snacks". Must admit was starting to feel really tired on descent of Cauldcleuch Head, which involved a fair bit of re-ascent over unclassified hills (fail to qualify under 30m TUMP prominence criteria) of Muckle Land Knowe towards Little Land Knowe, Crossbow Hill, Hind Knowe and Dod Hill. It did occur to me to suggest a new category called sub-TUMPs however this has already been suggested and rejected by the Hill-bagging fraternity under the amusing acronym STUMP!
A cracking circular easy to navigate route basically hand-railing the wire fence all the way round.
Weather also provided ideal conditions for photos providing a great photo commentary of the route. In addition freezing temperatures helped by hardening the ground mitigating what would have been extremely boggy conditions particularly on approach to and descent from Coldcleuch Head summit

Walk Statistics

Walk Date - 21 January 2017
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Lidalia Caravan Club Affiliated Site, Newcastleton
Start Point - Roadside grass area at west end of passing place east of Braidlie Farm (NY 47724 96652)
Start Time - 10:06
Finish Point - Roadside grass area at west end of passing place east of Braidlie Farm (NY 47724 96652)
Finish Time- 14:18
Total Duration - 4hrs 12mins 
Overall Average pace - 2.09mph
Total Distance Walked - 8.78 miles
Total Height Ascended - 662.90metres

Peaks visited
Munro (282)
NONE
Simm (2190)
Cauldcleuch Head (80)
Munro (227)
NONE
Murdo (443)
NONE
Corbett (221)
NONE
Corbett Top of Munro (???)
NONE
Corbett Top of Corbett (???)
NONE
Graham (219)
Cauldcleuch Head (3)
Graham Top of Munro (???)
NONE
Graham Top of Corbett (???)
NONE
Graham Top of Graham (???)
NONE
Donald (89)
Cauldcleuch Head (8)
Donald Top (51)
NONE
New Donald (118)
Cauldcleuch Head (10)
Marilyn (1218S - 1552E,W&S))
Greatmoor Hill (64S - 305E,W&S)
Cauldcleuch Head (65S - 306E,W&S)
Hump (2168S - 2976E,W&S)
Greatmoor Hill (77S - 393E,W&S)
Cauldcleuch Head (78S - 394E,W&S)
Donald Dewey (248)
Greatmoor Hill (16S)

Historic County Tops (49E - 93E,W&S)
NONE
S: Scotland. 
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland

Other walks on this trip
2017
January
19^th Peel Fell & Larriston Fells
20^th Blackwood Hill & Roan Fell
21^st Cauldcleuch Head & Greatmoor Hill
23^rd Andrewhinney Ridge
24^th White Meldon & Cademuir Hill
25^th Meigle Hill, Black Hill & Eildon Mid Hill
29^th Moncrieffe Hill
February

03^rd Long Crag

Route

GPX can be downloaded from

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More Photographs

Route from Greatmoor Hill summit to Cauldcleuch Head summit

Click on photograph to view slide-show