9.7 miles 5h 25m ascent 681m
Carlavin Hill-Molls Cleuch Dod-Firthhope Rig-White Coomb-Great Hill
I could say that I had previously approached White Coomb from Carrifran Gans and from the Grey Mare’s Tail, wanted to try this way, but in truth White Coomb was an afterthought. Carlavin Hill and Great Hill were the actual targets, my final and penultimate Donald Tops.
The weather forecast was excellent, summarised my Mrs M as “scorchio“, and I arrived at Talla in warm morning sunshine, and with my first section of climb was in cooling shade. Perfect.
I walked up the road towards Megget with, according to the road sign, its 20% gradient, until the slopes of Carlavin Hill eased a little and then headed up the slope. This was just about half way to the bridge, above where the trees began down in Talla Water’s Cleuch.
Talla from the northern slope of Carlavin Hill
This slope was grassy steps with scattered rocky outcrops. Some short sections were steep enough to allow hand use without bending but nothing really worrying. Once the the crags gave way to the grassy plateau, the gradient eased and was much easier on the legs and lungs.
Carlavin Hill summit, Broad law in the background
Carlavin Hill had a small cairn and the stone wall running along to Molls Cleuch Dod ensured there was always somewhere to sit during rehydration breaks. Throughout the walk there were great views of the Moffat hills and the southern Manor Hills. At Molls Cleuch Dod there is a small cairn about 50m from the wall and a larger one by the wall. There is also a small hollow by the wall that would be a useful shelter when it is windy. The wind had in fact picked up enough to force me to put on a jacket but not enough to take to the hollow.
I followed the wall up to Firthybrig Head and then along to Donalds Cleuch Head, Firthhope Rig and White Coomb. You could easily miss Donalds Cleuch Head, the gradients being so mild, if not for the fence posts heading off towards Great Hill. The wind was blowing directly in my face as I walked the southwesterly part of this dog-leg, and the wind was aware of my thoughts. Just as I was thinking that the wind required increased effort but was not impeding my progress, I was struck by a sudden strong gust that stopped me in my tracks. Luckily it didn’t happen again.
Lochcraig Head from White Coomb
Saddle Yoke, from the col below White Coomb
From White Coomb I mad my way back to Donalds Cleuch Head and had a break for lunch. One Donald top to go, just 1km of grassy upland away.
Col before Great Hill
Great Hill itself is not spectacular, though it is a good viewpoint for the surrounding hills. The summit is flat with a couple of areas which could be the highest point. The one I thought most likely had a couple of stones and a jaw bone pressed into the ground.
Atop Great Hill, by the fence posts. The summit is behind me
From Great Hill I made for the junction of Donalds Cleuch and the Gameshope Burn. This was not visible from the summit so I headed for the Aerial on Broad Law, visible above the col between Carlavin Hill and Molls Cleuch Dod. There were erratics on the slope which would be good for sitting on if this route was used for ascent. They were also useful for sitting the camera on.
Gameshope Glen, the lower slopes of Great Hill
The burns were relatively low so finding a place to cross was easy. The banks were however still quite boggy in places.
Up until this point the boggy sections were almost dry and the mud had dried with cracks. Not so by the Gameshope Burn where a bonny burn became a boggy burn. In one section, by an old sheep shieling I sank deep into red mud and had to clamber to higher ground to find shallower bog. Water running out from the scree was a deep red colour.
Gameshope Linn
The Gameshope glen is well worth a visit with its steep sides, scree slopes, rocky outcrops, waterfalls and pools. Having just emerged from the mud and reached the rocky, and dry, track at the bothy I met a family in white trainers and advised against heading further up the valley.
Gameshope Bothy
The Gameshope Burn has several small waterfalls and gorges so I decided to treat myself to some water therapy. I found a smooth rock to sit on, took off my boots and socks and soaked my feet in the chilled water. looking about I could see that the water level would at times be higher than where my head was. I can see how this burn washed away its bridges.
Further downstream, a family was swimming in a rock pool. It looked wonderful, but they must have been a hardy bunch, my feet were almost numb in the water.
Resting in Gameshope Linn. A knotted hank would have completed the look.
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