Scottish Borders Walks
Eildon Hills from Bowdenmoor
Date: 16th August 2012
Distance: 3.9 miles
Ascent: 1170 feet
Time: 3 hours 20 mins
With: David
Start Grid Ref: NT277743
Walk Summary:
A fine route over the shapely Eildon Hills starting from the lily strewn Bowdenmoor Reservoir.
Route Summary: Bowdenmoor Reservoir - Eildon Mid Hill - Eildon North Hill - Eildon Wester Hill - Little Hill - Bowdenmoor Reservoir
Pictures:
1. Harebell growing on the slopes of Little Hill
2. Little Hill and Wester Hill from the climb up Mid Hill
3. The viewpoint indicator on the top of Eildon Mid Hill
4. A close up of Melrose Abbey
5. David on his way to Eildon North Hill
6. Looking back at Mid Hill and Wester Hill from North Hill
7. The top of North Hill
8. David enjoying the view south from Wester Hill
9. Little Hill with the Tweed Valley and Galashiels in the background
10. Eildon Mid Hill
11. David on Little Hill with Bowdenmoor Reservoir below
12. Eildon Mid Hill from Bowdenmoor Reservoir
Walk Detail: Just five days after my first walk on the Eildons I was back, this time in the company of my stepdad, David. Rather than repeating the same route this time I started the walk from Bowdenmoor Reservoir. This had the advantage of starting the walk that little bit higher up which I thought would make it easier on David who, though once a keen hillwalker, hadn't done much walking for quite some time.
We first of all tackled Mid Fell via the thin and steep rocky path from the west. Although short it is an enjoyable little ascent with views very quickly opening out in all directions. Within 40 minutes of setting off we were on the top reclining amongst the heather and bilberry enjoying the view down to Melrose.
As I could see the house we were staying in I had the idea of ringing Lisa and Rhiannon to see if they could see us on the top of the hill. After a bit of jumping around and arm waving they saw us although to my embarassment another walker had silently appeared behind us and had been watching our gesticulations with some amusement.
From Mid Fell we next climbed North Fell and continued east for a while before dropping down a bit and contouring back below the top of the hill. In this area there was a long embankment in the heather which must be part of the remains of the hillfort that is marked on the map. Having dropped back down to the col between Mid Hill and North Hill we then contoured around the southern slopes of Mid Hill and on to Wester Hill where we stopped for a short snack.
On the way back to the car we walked up on to the grassy knoll that is Little Hill. Little Hill is referenced as another place that Arthur and his knights are waiting their return to this world. Of more immediate interest to me was the fact that its lower slopes were carpeted in harebells.
Although starting from Bowdenmoor made the walk slightly shorter it was in many ways more satisfying. This was partly because the lilly strewn surface of Bowdenmoor Reservoir was itself a delight but the flower strewn slopes of Little Hill were also en-route. Added to the fact that visibility was much improved than on my previous visit then this was an even more enjoyable trip than my first one. It was also really good to be able to see David out on the hills again.
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