On Thursday 1st Sepember,a large group of sixteen Biggar Ramblers enjoyed a short, but challenging climb up Bizzyberry Hill in Biggar. The walk took place at the unusual time of 5.30 in the evening and involved walking up the recently improved public footpath including a steep final ascent, completing a short loop around the summit area and descending by the same path. It was a lovely evening and they were treated to some spectacular views of the countryside around Biggar. A 'par helion' was spotted, where duplicate images of the sun were projected on adjacent clouds. After completing the walk, and having worked up an appetite, the group attended a “bring-a-dish” buffet supper in Biggar and enjoyed a lively social evening. www.biggarramblers.org

The Ramblers walk on 28th August was from Clyde Valley Park, heading along the Clyde Walkway and turning up through a field to Nemphlar. After walking through the village, the walkers followed the road back to Crossford to partake of coffees and lunches at the Clyde Valley Park cafeteria.  Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside were enjoyed and they passed an orchard with lots of Victoria plums and apples, ripe for picking. 16 Ramblers took part on this five mile walk  where the sun never stopped shining. www.biggarramblers.org 

Ten Biggar Ramblers had a strenuous but scenically rewarding outing on Saturday 20th August just south of Broughton village.  They ascended Pykestane hill from the hamlet of Drumelzeir.  The special features of the 11 mile walk were the very pleasant lead-in along Drumelzeir Burn, the 3 mile ascent along well defined tracks all the way to the summit of Pykestane Hill and lovely views of the river Tweed during the descent.  www.biggarramblers.org

 

 

On Wednesday 17 August a party of 11 Biggar Ramblers left from the Lower Green in

West Linton in lovely sunshine and headed up Medwyn Road. The first stop

was at the Golf Course at the site of the early bronze age flat Kists which were

exposed in 1993 by the waters of West Water Reservoir. The walkers then

continued up the road alongside the Golf Course with superb views of Mendick

Hill. West Water Reservoir was the next stop and then down to the Baddinsgill

Road. The next part of the walk took everyone through Lynedale and down the

Loan and back to the Lower Green. A leisurely walk on a sunny day which was enjoyed by all. www.biggarramblers.org

After meeting at Leadhills School Car Park at 10am a small group of Biggar Ramblers made their 

their way to the other end of the village where they took a rough grass path up to the

Game Keepers stony track along Hunts Law, this being the track they would

follow throughout the walk that day. They were grateful for this, because as the walkers

continued up the hill the group became immersed in a windy wet mist shutting out any

views of heather covered hills and valleys. The mist cleared now and again but only for a

brief time giving the walkers a glance into the surrounding areas before it was back to following

the track in the mist, it is at times like this that all ramblers are grateful for such good tracks. After lunch and in brighter weather conditions it was on to Priest Pool, passing Sill’s Hill, negotiating the

Ford with no real problems. They then traversed around the side of Snar Law passing a

derelict Shepherds cottage in the lower valley beneath Sowen Dod to follow the track up the

last ascent to the other end of Hunts Law, where they returned on their outward grassy path to the

village of Leadhills. www.biggarramblers.org 

Biggar Ramblers host Clydesdale to Solway Area Gathering

 

Last Saturday Biggar Ramblers hosted the Clydesdale to Solway Area Gathering. Forty five members of the Biggar, Clyde Valley, and Dumfries and District groups came together to share walking experiences on a choice of 3 walks showcasing the lovely countryside around Biggar. 

 

Using the Elphinstone Hotel as a base each group left by minibus for the start points.  Five walkers did the most challenging walk, climbing up Culter Fell into the cloud followed by a cross country ramble back to Biggar, a distance of 10 miles.  The second group of 14 set off to Stobo and walked 7 miles of the John Buchan Way to Broughton. This undulating walk through four valleys follows the old drove roads that are still used on the Rideouts from Biggar, Peebles and West Linton to meet at Stobo Hopehead. The third group of 16 walked 6 miles starting from Quothquan with a short climb up Quothquan Law, followed by a woodland and hillside walk across Biggar Common and back to Biggar. 

 

On return, the walkers enjoyed relaxing in various ways: with icecreams, cups of tea, or visiting the Glasgow Boys exhibition in the Museum. The day ended with a hot buffet at the Elphinstone and an interesting talk by Iain Brydon from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association Scotland. It is humbling to learn how much time and skill it takes a volunteer to train a dog through several stages. Once qualified to search for a missing person, a dog and handler are checked each year. Importantly if someone goes missing on the hills, it is the police, not the ambulance service, who will call out the Mountain Rescue. The audience was very appreciative and a donation of £225 has been made to SARDA.  The Ramblers dispersed around 7.30pm after sharing an enjoyable and interesting day of good exercise, good company, and good food.

 

 On Thursday 14^th July, a small group of four Biggar Ramblers enjoyed a seven mile circular walk in the lovely countyside around Peebles. We left from Kingsmeadows Car Park, and after walking through some suburban streets, set out along the open countryside of the John Buchan Way towards Broughton. As the path climbed upwards on Cademuir Hill we detoured to reach the summit, site of an old Iron Age hill fort, where we enjoyed spectacular views of the Tweed and Manor valleys, and beyond. After a coffee break, we retraced the path to rejoin the JBW and followed it down into the Valley, where we walked onto the Cademuir Forest plantation. We walked on pleasant forestry trails through the plantation, and back into Peebles, where we had tea and cake in a local café before driving back to Biggar.