Author Archives: drow 'n smirr

Southern Upland Way: the Middle Marches

The central section of the SUW, from the River Nith at Sanquhar to the River Tweed at Yair Bridge is 70.4 of the SUW’s 212 miles, though our journey clocked up 76.5 miles with 4403m ascent. This took us from … Continue reading

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SUW15: The Old Drove Road

13.7 miles  6h 25m   ascent 848m; max elevation 567m Minch Moor Route: SUW Traquair to Gala with a diversion to Minch Moor’s summit For much of this section the SUW followed an Old Drove Road and there were Cross … Continue reading

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Darnaw’s Dragonfly Monument

5.8 miles  4h 30m  ascent 340m Route: Quarry SE of Clatteringshaws, Low Craignell, Craignell, Darnaw, Dragonfly Monument Then we set off again over two very desolate hills that have for names, as Sammle told me, Craignell and Darnaw. We were high up on them and keeping … Continue reading

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SUW14: The Two Towers

12.4 miles  607m ascent  5h 34m; max elevation 487m on Middle Rig Route: SUW Tibbie Shiels to Traquair Sunshine at last. Though we started with a grey sky, the sun eventually showed its face and gave us a great day. … Continue reading

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SUW13: the footsteps of poets

11 miles   523m ascent   4h 57m; max elevation 466m on Pikestone Rig Route: SUW Potburn to St Mary’s Loch Springtime on the Southern Upland Way. I took a T-shirt along in case it was warm and sunny when … Continue reading

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The Loch Urr Marilyns

Fell Hill   4.2 miles  2h 1m  265m ascent;  Bogrie Hill  2.5 miles 1h 29m  221m ascent These are a couple of wee hills either side of Loch Urr. I imagine in better visibility the views would be better and … Continue reading

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The Wiss

4.6 miles  2h 8m  ascent 346m Route: Tibbie Shiels-SUW-Wester Rig-Long Moor-The Wiss-Nether Hill This was a simple walk. My plan was to start at Tibbie Shiel’s Inn, head south along the SUW for about a mile, over Wester Rig and … Continue reading

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Broughton Heights

6.9 miles  3h 45m  ascent 669m Route: Broughton Place-Broomy Side-Pyked Stane-Broomy Heights-Hammer Head-Trahenna Hill A first outing to this group of wee hills. I was considering taking in all three Marilyns but opted for two instead. There was sunshine with … Continue reading

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