Easter Earshaig to Brattleburn, Sunday 13th March, leader Michael Heale

On a dry bright Sunday, 11 ramblers set off from Easter Earshaig, near Beattock, to explore the Southern Upland Way to Brattleburn. The first two miles as far as Foy's Bridge were through pleasant wooded country, but the path was very wet and boggy, providing a good test of the waterproof qualities of boots, gaiters and ramblers. The party encountered some friendly frogs together with their frogspawn in the numerous puddles. The path opened out at Foy's Bridge giving good views of the Moffat Hills. Excellent views opened up all around as they descended towards Brattleburn and more puddles and frogs were encountered on the approach to the bothy. On seeing smoke issuing from the bothy chimney it was suggested that perhaps burgers and chips were being served, and the pace quickened. But it was a group of walkers from Glasgow who were just packing up to leave. Some of the party sat comfortably in arm chairs before the stove to eat their lunch while others preferred to sit on the stony ground outside. Leaving the bothy, they took a different route back, on the way encountering a couple who were staying in a cabin on the hillside and seemed surprised to see us. An easy track led back to Rivox where they rejoined the Southern Upland Way and retraced their steps through the trees and fields and puddles back to the start. One walker characterized the experience as " Bogs, Frogs and Logs" a very fair assessment.