On Wednesday 18th January, 6 Biggar Ramblers met to walk from Gladhouse Reservoir to Eddleston up the remote South Esk valley. The head of the valley gives access to local highest peak Dundreich at 2,044 ft. After a rapid thaw, all the snow had gone but the group startled a perfectly white mountain hare, no longer camouflaged. Its every twist and turn could be followed as it made its rapid escape through the tussocks of heather. A picnic lunch was consumed near the summit cairn. Great panoramic views could be seen but there was a cold wind so they didn't linger and made the steep descent to Boreland Farm, then across the fields into the back of Eddleston, 7.5 miles in total. It was a linear walk so the previously parked car was used to ferry drivers back to the start while the others made their way to the Scots Pine café where the group met up for well deserved tea and cakes. It was a good day out.

It was minus 5 degrees when 12 Biggar Ramblers set off to walk the 5 mile Differick circular above Kirkfieldbank, an easy leg stretch on any other day. On Saturday the 14th January however, after heavy snowfall two days previously and low temperatures the night before, the route proved to be much more challenging than expected. Hard packed snow and ice as well as drifted snow had to be negotiated. The route from the houses at Greenrig followed a very straight track between fields which is said to be part of an old Roman road which led ultimately to the large Castledykes fort near Ravenstruther. The highest part of the walk at 1000ft was reached on this stretch. After 2 miles on the track, the route turned left on a minor road leading to Hawksland and then back to Greenrig following another treacherous ungritted stretch of minor road. The skies were blue so that the views of snow clad Tinto and the Lowther hills were breathtaking.

Report on walk of 5th January, 2017
There were eleven members of Biggar Ramblers who enjoyed a very pleasant circular walk from Castlebank Park, Lanark, on a beautiful winter's day, with blue skies and good underfoot conditions.
We went through the park to the Horticultural Centre which was mothballed for the winter, but enjoyed again the wonderful carvings of the wildlife at the Fairy Dell. The walk continued up Jookers Johny's lane and on to the main road, passing Cartland Hotel and so crossed over the road to the first section of the Cartland Crags walk. This was very pleasant, quiet and still, no bird song, but views of the spires of Lanark in the distance, seen through the leafless trees. Out from the woodland setting on to the road and up the Stey Brae and back to Castlebank Park, a walk of about three and a half miles.
Walk leader Dorothy Duncan

On Wednesday 21st Dec. eight hardy members of the Biggar Ramblers turned out for the advertised 'short winter hill walk'. It was only four and half miles but it certainly lived up to its winter billing.

Setting off from the walkers car park at Broughton Place straight up onto the ridge was quite a strenuous start. The weather was nice at this point but on striking out on a spur to Trahenna there was a sudden dramatic deterioration as the group were engulfed by a blizzard! Once back onto the main route the wind was behind and the conditions eased. Just before the summit of the Hammerhead there is a cozy little depression and they hunkered down for 'elevenses' and even a little festive nip of John's sloe gin! The views had returned. It is an excellent vantage point overlooking the surrounding hills. Once fortified, the group tackled the steep descent through heather onto the John Buchan Way. They followed this along the pass through the hills back to the cars. Overall a very enjoyable pre-Christmas leg stretch in great company. Everyone is looking forward to continuing the programme in 2017.

The Ramblers always welcome new members and the listing of walks for January can be seen on the excellent Biggar Ramblers web site.

On a bright, crisp, frosty 4th December, eleven ramblers set out from Nether Cog, by Crawick Water, to ascend Conrig Hill (1600 feet ) by way of The Dod. The route took the party up a forestry track, before heading up the steep rough trackless hillside. As the party got higher they encountered difficult tussocky terrain and a brisk cold easterly wind. However they were rewarded with wonderful views of the surrounding hills, looking lovely in the bright Winter sun; Tinto, the Lowther Hills, Blackcraig Hill in the valley of the Afton, Benbrack and many more high hills in all directions. After reaching the summit of Conrig, the party made a slow tortuous descent to the Southern Upland Way and, as they made their way westwards along the ill-defined path, fine views of the Nith Valley from Kirkconnel down towards Thornhill opened up. A lunch stop was made on the SUW in a spot fairly sheltered from the cold wind. The party then continued to Lochburn Bridge, on the way passing through a small herd of cattle complete with bull. But they all seemed quite friendly, and pleasantries were exchanged. The party continued past Clenries Farm and on along an easy track that took then eventually onto the hillside high above the valley of the Crawick Water. The hills were beautifully lit by the low Winter sun as the party descended back to the starting at Nether Cog.