Dod Head

Well, it probably can't officially be called an obelisk, due to having such sloping sides, but its only description on a map is 'pillar' (this only shows up on very detailed online mapping, which is a bit odd considering the size of the structure) which is probably even less accurate a term. The real conundrum with this thing regards what it is doing here in the first place! Investigations weren't that straightforward, but OS maps from around 1910 show the route of a pipeline, or 'conduit' as they put it, right at the spot of the obelisk. The pipeline runs underground (apart from occasional aqueducts) so it seems a little odd for it to get plotted on maps. It takes water from the two mile long Talla Reservoir, a good way south of here, to southern Edinburgh, and its overall length is around 35 miles. Although online information is a bit sketchy there are mentions of similar structures along the pipe's route. Apparently they are surveying towers. As the water gets to its destination solely by gravity accuracy was obviously required, but this still doesn't really explain why it is so grand. My best guess is that because the money required to convert a small water body into a massive reservoir was so huge, the money spent on these was just a drop in the ocean. Plus railway lines had to be constructed from various places to transport materials for the building of the reservoir at the turn of the 20th century. As with everything railway-related, there is a colossal amount of online information regarding them. Thinking information about the structure would be readily available online I didn't bother measuring it, but I reckon it's around 20 feet high with a four foot square base. There were no obvious markings.

A short detour from the large mobile phone mast, which is passed on the poorly waymarked (along this wiggly bit anyway) Cross Borders Drove Road, brings you to the trig point. This medium-length Long Distance Path runs from the Western side of the Pentland Hills to Hawick. It is based on the route said to have been used long ago by cattle drovers to get their animals to English markets. 'Based' is certainly the operative word round here as it seems highly unlikely that such an odd circuitous route would have been used for any length of time, even if there were access problems with some of the surrounding land. I was surprised to read that the route has been designed with horse riders in mind. They would certainly be advised to skip this section, and stay on the road until reaching the A701.

The path down from Broomlee Hill has been re-routed through a new tree plantation east of the quarry.

A fence with a pedestrian gate enclosing new tree plantation east of Woodend Quarry.

The picture was taken from the North wall of the 'Macbiehill' road. The bumps are a scheduled monument. Whilst there are numerous areas in this part of the Scottish Borders altered by early quarrying activity, this one has been singled out. So if you're prepared to mix it up with the cows there are traces of rare old limekilns somewhere out here. According to Historic Environment Scotland, the quarry was once one of the most profitable in Southern Scotland, and 'unusually' was worked by the owner - so there's a timeless business message there for us all. The quarry was 'Bents Quarry' and the nearest hamlet is/was 'Lamancha'. In the deep distant past I used to deliver parcels round here. After mispronouncing the name several times I was informed that the 'ch' was silent: "like the 'ch' in 'chianti'."

Grassy fields at around 300m with a new conifer plantation to the right.

Sheep in an upland pasture with a communications mast in view.

In grassy pasture on the almost level ridge running NE from the communications mast. Three hills are on the skyline (L to R): Broomy Law, Tinto and Black Mount.

A communications mast on the flat grassy ridge with the southern Pentland hills of King Seat and Byrehope Mount on the skyline.

On the way to West Linton, passing a substation. The distant hill is the Pentland outlier: Mendick Hill.

Grassland beneath the Pentland Hills.

The A701 road can be seen to the right. Viewed from an Edinburgh bound flight from Prague.

Looking north from Deanfoot Road. For an earlier picture at a different season see NT1652 : Clump of trees off Deanfoot Road.

With Deepsyke Forest in the distance.

Looking southwest towards Mendick Hill.