Mid Hill

Ladyurd Hill belongs to an obscure category of hills called Donald Deweys. The Deweys were originally drawn up by a Mr Dewey for England and Wales only, then subsequently adopted in Scotland by various hill-list compilers in the early 2000s. The Donald Deweys are Lowland hills lower than Donalds (which are Lowland hills starting at 610 metres, or 2000 feet, and follow no other real criteria other than being deemed important enough to be on his list by Percy Donald back in 1935) but at least 500 metres high, with a minimum prominence of 30 metres. There are 247 in total - I have yet to hear of anybody having done a 'round' of them. Where the actual summit is, is a matter of some debate. The OS map at the 1:25k scale puts it at the Southern end of the fairly long summit plateau, but confuse matters by showing it as being towards the Northern edge of the plateau on their 1:50k scale map. Near to the Southern 'summit' are two shallow depressions; an 1850s OS map shows these as being at the site of an old whinstone quarry. Whether the hill takes its name from the old farm below, or vice-versa is unclear. As is the meaning of 'urd', which also appears in other nearby placenames: Netherurd, Kirkurd and Lochurd. Wikipedia references an 1840s book which suggests it might mean quarter, which presumably would be as in 'living quarters', but other than that there is nothing to go on.

Penvalla is a distinctively shaped hill above Harrow Hope.

Looking towards a distant Pykestone Hill.

The octagonal sheepfold shown in NT1340 : Another unusual fank with Penvalla beyond and the isolated farmhouse of Stobo Hopehead to the right.

An old wall, an old fence and a newer fence cross the heathery top.

The view to Tinto in the distance across the col between Penvalla and Ladyurd Hill with Broomy Side straight ahead.

Cat Hill is a minor top (437m) on the ridge running NW from Riding Hill. Penvalla is the prominent summit to the left with Hammer Head in view straight ahead.

Wainwright's maxim 'Watch where you are putting your feet' applies here on a heathery slope with concealed bumps and hollows and the occasional piece of old fence wire. NT1540 : Pass beneath Ladyurd Hill shows this spot in a hard winter frost.

Undulating moorland hills in the Broughton Heights, in the north-western corner of the Scottish Borders.

A tiny remnant of the previous week's snowfall in what looks like a small quarry on the slopes of Green Lairs.

Rolling moorland summits in the Broughton Heights, in the north-western corner of the Scottish Borders.

Summer grasses in the meadow alongside the Easton Burn.

The back of the ruined cottage by the Easton Burn.

The roofless remains of the cottage. The John Buchan Way passes its front door.

An old quarry by the track south of Hammer Rig. Exposed rock is rarely seen in this area.

Coniferous woodland on the north side of this hill on the Stobo estate.

Only the walls are standing as a reminder of this cottage by the track from Stobo.

The loch on the Weston Burn with the slopes of Penvalla in the background.