LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I drove to Big Wood in the rain with Mike of the 'B&B Stroma' following me in his car. I dropped my car off at Big Wood car park, then drove with Mike to the start of the walk at Gattonside. I followed the Southern Upland Way route north from the road B6360 up a steep green lane to the hills. I soon had to stop and shelter under a tree as the lighter rain turned much heavier. When the rain eased I looked back over a gate to a good view of the Eildon Hills, covered in yellow gorse bushes in full bloom. Wouldn't five minutes of sunshine have been lovely? I crossed the back lane to Gattonside Village near Gattonside Mains, then came across a partial blockage in the road. Badgers had recently excavated a burrow and deposited all the spoil in the roadside, reducing the effective width of the lane. There was a good sign directing me up another lane into the hills, where I had to shelter again under trees. The track slowly gained height, passing 'Easter Housebyres' homestead towards Kedslie Hill. The sign posts slowly became less and less, and I had to rely on the map more and more. As I approached the lake, or large pond, on Easter Hill, I stopped in the rain to admire the view and listen to the skylark detracting me from its nest. The experience was so good, with the solitude, the big sky, the pitter patter of the rain, the woods on all horizons etc, that I decided to take a video. But, would you believe it, the skylark stopped singing. Typical, it's never easy to share a wonderful experience after the event. After the lake I joined a vehicle track northwards towards Kedslie Hill, the high point of the walk. I crossed the tarmac (metalised) lane to Langshaw, but continued on the rough lane towards the bright yellow gorse bushes by the trackside of Kedslie Hill. As I approached the summit of the plateau hill I saw a Land Rover type vehicle travelling towards me from the Langshaw Road. Because of the undulating nature of the area, I only saw the vehicle for a short time. However, the vehicle never passed me. Was I walking so fast in the rain? Strange. As I approached Bluecairn I tried to put my cunning plan into operation, that is to cut across the hypotenuse of the triangle to the tarmac road towards Big Wood. I studied the map and the horizon very carefully, looking for an exit in the road, while skirting the dwelling en route. I couldn't be sure the route would be possible and I didn't want to have to return through the long, wet grass, so I continued up the lane to the crossroads. There I turned left along the tarmac road towards the crossroads by Big Wood and the parked car. I was beginning to feel really wet at this stage, so I stretched my legs, got my head down, and marched to the car. I did have the occasional look around as I couldn't resist the temptation to enjoy the scenery, even in the rain. It was on this stretch of road that I saw the one and only other human being, a woman driver passing me in a car. When I reached my car I toyed with the idea of using my dry change of clothes, but as it was still raining with no shelter, and as the trees in the wood were dripping, I decided to get back to the B&B for a shower. Well, what an experience, I enjoyed every minute. Magic walk.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start at:Gattonside. FInish at: Big Wood