Blackhill Wood

Heading north over the Lammermuir hills just over 320m [>1000feet]. Not the shortest route from 'civilization' but much better for the local communities.

Looking down from Dunside Hill, from the Fallago Rig Wind Farm access road.

Looking down from Dunside Hill, from the Fallago Rig Wind Farm access road.

A small and rather scrappy wood on Dunside Hill and in Wester Stop Cleugh.

One of a series alongside a moorland track in the Lammermuir Hills.

Just off the Fallago Rig Wind Farm access road at the col between Dunside Hill and Scar Law. Inscribed J.O.H. 1994, but I have yet to find anything more about it.

Although tarmacked this is not a public road. Part of the Southern Upland Way and also the most easterly route of the Herring Road. This is the view west just after leaving the fishery at Watch Water Reservoir, and in the distance you can just make out Twin Law, though not the cairns on this hill.

In this case not only the way to Scarlaw farm but also the Southern Upland Way with the hill of Twin Law in the distance.

This chap looked very content with life as he snuggled up to another ram at Scarlaw.

Looking over the Fallago power station road towards the recently replanted Dunside Wood.

The glen leading to Byercleugh, currently being trashed by wind farmers. The view is towards Pyatshaw Knowe.

Road junction by the Dye Water. Since NT6458 : Trottingshaw was taken, the red shed has collapsed. The signage is mainly aimed at construction traffic for a disastrous and appallingly badly planned wind farm on Meikle Says Law.

Downstream view from the bridge.

It is the height of lambing here. About half the ewes in the glen have lambed.

The established road over the hill from Dunside towards Wedderlie NT6457 : Red road has been upgraded as an access road for the Fallago Ridge power station, a disaster. After years of fighting off the big landowner and his allies the government overuled local planners and allowed a wind farm in the remotest and wildest corner of southeast Scotland. There is plenty of room on the well roaded and agricultural periphery, but of course they had to go for the very centre of the range. From here I could see the Cheviot, in a country which looks after its landscapes. Such a shame the Northumbrians lost the Lammermuirs. Had this range remained in England, it would be a national park. Instead it is history.

Wind farm construction road being built. Here it deviates from the old road over from Wedderlie and runs up the Dye Water towards the doomed skyline in the background. (which happens to be about the remotest and highest bit of the Lammermuir Hills)

View over grouse moor towards Watch Water Reservoir and Dirrington Great Law.

Dry conditions on Dunside Hill. Even though it was easy to walk here on dried out peat, I still had the good fortune to rescue a lamb drowning in a bog.