Thursday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

top 15
March 2012
Walk

Climbing West Kip and East Kip in the Pentland Hills

Length

6 miles

Dogs on walk

Finlay, Gustave, Jerry, Lucas, Ozzy, Solo, Tim

After yesterdays trip to the Lammermuir Hills I was inspired to visit another route not walked for a long time. On arrival it seemed that I was not the only one. The car park was more than half full but I suspected and hoped that most people would be or had headed off in the direction of the reservoirs. Not all though. As we splayed ourselves over the access road leading to the house and castle at Bavelaw a man appeared from a side track. He gave us a bit of a sideways look. I think quite disapproving of the dogs being out. We were going faster than him and after I made a point of giving a very cheery hello we were soon ahead of him. He would have to look at the dogs whether he wanted to or not. They were not even being very boisterous. Yet. Sadly for him his route appeared to be following ours. For once we had climbed the avenue of arching beech trees and jinked around a couple of corners tossing us onto the sudden change in landscape of the moor, he was still behind but at some distance now. Thankfully, as Ozzy decided it was time for some real fun. Tim ever eager was not a problem but Ozzys powers of persuasion soon had Jerry joining in. Lucas too gave in to his charms and various races across the heather and into the wiry moorland grass began to stretch their

legs. Not for Gustave today though. As we climbed the steady low incline of the moor on a rugged path he chose to keep me company. Just as well because Finlay and Solo had ideas on who should lead the walk. The colour of the moorland is beginning to develop as we fast approach Spring. Many hues of green bringing life between the wintry denseness of the woody, twisted heather. Like washed up seaweed on the shore the wealth of green grasses swayed under the rolling sea of the clouds above. We reached a gate or the dogs did before me. They waited and we all looked ahead to the rising conical hill of West Kip. Looking far more of a challenge than it really is. A couple of walkers dressed in red slotted in behind us as they too joined from another path. Again we outpaced them, Finlay and Solo doing a good job to keep us moving along. Jerry thrashing through the heather and Ozzy and Tim still annoying each other. So much so that I had to end it and insist they stopped barking. Especially as we were approaching some sheep. But the sheep just looked a little disdainfully our way. As we reached the base of West Kip the low cloud of earlier had lifted and Gustave now stepped up and began to climb his way up ahead of me. It is steep but not too high and before long we were well on our way up. Lucas using me as his guide and Tim and Ozzy too. I think they needed a breather. Finlay and Solo turned from time to time to check our progress and in doing so they were suddenly beaten to the top by Jerry and Tim. All around the views were hazy as though a slight mist was wrapped like a shawl across the hills and the glen beneath us. In front of us the drop between the two hills with the climb up East Kip waiting. Not too tired the dogs found their energy in this bealach and once more raced and chased. Finlay too broke into a run but only to power his way to the bottom of it leaving a nonchalant looking Solo some way behind. It was Jerry who was the target of the chasing. Eventually escaping to leave Lucas, Ozzy and Tim to fight it out amongst themselves. Having set the early pace up the hill Gustave was back beside me. Hardly sufficient room for us side by side on the path. As we dropped on the long diagonal grass path into the central glen of The Pentlands and to the welcome waters of the Logan Burn. A drink, a

clean up and a play and we were off again on the last section through Green Cleugh. A twisting and turning narrow cut between the bulky bases of the two scree encrusted hills. Everyone had reached a walking pace now with Gutsave, joined behind me by Lucas and Ozzy and for the most part Tim. Jerry could still not quite bring himself to walk on the path and Finlay had a new idea. Why walk on the path when I can walk in the Logan Burn? So I followed Solo as we wound our way back toward Bavelaw. Coming out again near the beech avenue and the short walk downhill to the car park. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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Friday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

top 16
March 2012
Walk Dogs on walk

Deep into Gore Glen

Length

6 miles

Cyrano, Dylan, Finlay, Maggie, Tim, Struan, Talaidh

A damp and drizzly day would have led us to wet dogs without the need for Gore Water and River Esk. Both of which dominate the Gore Glen. Before even setting off I had been in conversation with a woman just finishing her morning outing with her three dogs. Nearly four as Tim tried to climb into her car. We were discussing the merits of whether I should wear my waterproof and both decided that it was a wise precaution. Although once I had told her we were headed down into the glen she thought I may get away without it in the shelter of the trees. It would have worked for a while but not toward the end when the rain moved well beyond a drizzle. It was a busy start to the morning as we met another two dogs before reaching the top of the bank which would lead us steely and quickly into the glen. At such an early stage it was hard to keep the dogs close to me. Cyrano and Tim both a little too keen. Tim having been so good all week nearly blotting his copybook. Finlay was not too far ahead until we began our descent. Then he was off, knowing there was water to be found. Cyrano went with him and the two of them left us all far behind. We would find them again standing in the shallow waters of the quite small Gore Water. Maggie having been slouching along behind missed her moment and would have to wait. Her attempt to go into the green soup of a stagnant pond was quickly thwarted by me.

Tall spindly trees covered the slim glen meaning plenty of sticks for the dogs when the water was reachable. But it was the bigger River Esk that they were really waiting for. Well all except Dylan who is not too keen on rivers. This time Maggie was not too far behind as Cyrano and Finlay got away again. Tim too his time and we both we watched Finlay in the distance already swimming in a deep hole in the river. Once we had caught up Tim too was in. I threw a few sticks and when I ran out a few stones for all of them and Talaidh. Dylan and Struan staying back and waiting until we had finished. From now on Cyrano and Finlay were best pals seeking out the many hidden ways into the river. Maggie in a slightly lazy mood only joined them occasionally. It was left to Struan to entertain Tim and he raced with him up the grassy slope climbing our way to the top of the glen. Without the river Finlay led up front with Dylan while Cyrano tried his luck dropping sticks and in once case a branch at my feet. Bigger, thick trunked trees here with open canopies letting the light onto the ground where lots of green spring growth was bursting through. A couple of fallen trees remained from Januarys storm which we climbed over before dropping back down to the river and some wide grassy plains where the glen really widens and flattens. Dylan sprung into life and he soon had Tim chasing him. This woke up Maggie and she was after them. They raced in wide circles over the flat grassy plain. Cyrano and Finlay back in the river. Maggie was torn. But as Dylan and Tim increased their speed the lure of the river easily won out for her. I gathered some sticks and soon had them wading deeper, but the current kept snatching the sticks away. We meandered across the plain and the river meandered too. Never far away and neither were Cyrano and Finlay. It almost became their path. Dylan, Struan and Tim ran through the slowly lengthening grass and Maggie plodded along with me and Talaidh. We turned at the end of the grassy plain and made our way back. Still Struan left to entertain Tim as Maggie made one last dash with Dylan before we were back into the trees. Strung out in a line we followed the glens top path before dropping back down the

grassy slope into its heart again. A slope which seems to inspire chasing from those who could still be bothered or had not run off over the stone bridge at the bottom to get back into the water. Now the rain came but most of the dogs were pretty thoroughly wet anyway a little more would make little difference. Other than to steam up the windows of the car as they gently steamed on the back seats and in the boot, along with my wet walking gear. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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