The Dog Rambler

Tuesday

4 E-diary
May 2010

Walk Eddleston to Cloich Forest circular Length 8.5

miles
Dogs on walk Darcy, Dylan, Isla, Phoebe

Off to the Scottish Borders today for a ramble out of Eddleston, near Peebles. Darcy, the
tall black Labradoodle, Dylan, the Pointer and Phoebe the Deerhound / Lurcher were
joined by a new walking companion today, Isla a Collie. They immediately welcomed her to
the walk; Phoebe as soon as she got into the Jeep, where Phoebe was filling the boot. Isla
jumped onto the back seat and settled down quite happily, despite Phoebe wheedling her
head through the bars in the dog guard and giving Isla a good sniff. We collected Dylan
who joined Isla on the back seats before finally collecting Darcy and swapping him with
Dylan. Dylan going in the boot with Phoebe where it would have been a crush to have both
the big dogs.

On reaching Eddleston we parked near the entrance to Barony Castle, which our walk was
going to take us past. Out of the Jeep and we set off up the grand driveway through the
towering entrance gates. Whitewashed stones on the trimmed grass framed the driveway.
Ahead could just be made out one of the white painted towers of the castle. To our right a
horse trotted across to its fence to get a closer look at us, with Dylan and Darcy pulling
away from it a bit spooked. Because we were on the driveway the dogs started the walk on
their leads. To our left quite bizarrely three Llamas were lolling in a field. These really
caught the dogs attention with their long black necks and large heads, slightly too big for
their bodies.

Nearing the castle we skirted on the road to its right heading around the back of it. Here
in a hidden sheltered glen three houses were being built in various styles combining modern
and traditional. As the road petered into a track the dogs finally got their freedom and
did they appreciate it. Isla and Phoebe instantly took to each other engaging in a chase
along the track, with Phoebe wheeling round and heading back, Isa trying to keep close on
her tail. As Phoebe wheeled away again Darcy and Dylan joined the chase.

The track lazily would it way upwards through a loose wood of young trees. The dogs
hurdled through them only stopping their chase when we reached a gate. Through the gate
and they were about to carry on until some sheep came into view. Sadly for the dogs they
spent much of the next mile or so on their leads as we crossed grazing land, knitted
together by the drystane dykes making an uneven patchwork of fields. The sheep with
their spring lambs gave us cursory but wary glances as we edged along their fields.

Away to our left the Morfoot Hills stood bold and colourful in their spring clothing, with
Dundreich (one of our recent conquests) dominating the skyline. To our right was Cloich
Forest a deep green coat over the western side of the Cloich Hills, occasionally broken by
the fawn and tan of clearings where tree have been felled. The dogs behaved fantastically
with the sheep, only stealing the occasional glance at them and the odd pricking up of an
ear or two. Isla from time to time decided her best option was to walk between my legs,
not a successful strategy and we ended up in guddle.

We were heading for the forest and soon our track stopped heading south and turned right
heading above the cottage of Upper Stewarton and the farm of Nether Stewarton. A
welcome stream across the track beside the cottage and some derelict outbuildings was an
indulgence for the dogs. They drank lavishly as the sun beat down, with its ever present
frame of clouds.

At last we left the grazing land behind and entered a different world in the lush shaded
forest. The sun dappled the ground creating islands of brightness in a sea of dark sultry
undergrowth, fallen branches, and crackling pine needles. Free again and the dogs were
off on a chase about and a tussle. Then Dylan led Isla off into the trees, with Isla the first
to reappear on my calling.

We climbed gently through the trees, dodging fallen branches on the track, before the path
fell more steeply into an unexpected glen. A farmhouse and grazing ground nestled in the
glen surrounded by the tall pine trees, nearly sparkling in the sun. Here we joined a more
industrial forest track taking the northern direction. It began to climb out of the glen, with
Darcy now taking a breather and trotting along a bit behind, leaving the others to play.
With a host of sticks and other natural objects to play with or carry in their mouths, Isla
instead found an empty yogurt pot to carry along.

The track wound its way out of the northern end of the glen, in increasing areas of felled
and cleared trees. The track eventually brought us to the farm of Cloich and finally the end
of the forest track and a junction with a road to nowhere. We headed right, down the
road until passed a small observatory where a track took us gain southwards, heading back
to Eddleston.

Along here we met a local couple with a Ladrador, who gave the odd mix of dogs a
strange look. The track took us through a narrow strip of trees, known as Swiss Cabin
Wood. There was no evidence of a Swiss Cabin. However, there was a football, lying
forlornly beside the track which Darcy decided to rescue. Isla then challenged him to game
but they soon got bored and rejoined the others.

With the castle nearly back in sight we had to negotiate some cows loitering with their
calves near the gate we had to pass through. Fortunately they showed little interest as we
negotiated the gate and began to pass around the side of Gallow Law a small hill and then
down a small narrow dene with sides of deciduous trees and back to the castle.

We walked back down the driveway, with the horse this time ignoring us, but the Llamas
making their way over for a closer look. Back at the Jeep, the dogs had a good drink
before jumping in ready to head back to Musselburgh and Edinburgh.

Nick
Photo slideshow from the walk

E-diaries now also available at www.scribd.com/TheDogRambler

Nick Fletcher
The Dog Rambler
9 Links Street
Musselburgh www.thedogrambler.com
East Lothian nick@thedogrambler.com
EH21 6JL t. 0131 665 8843 or 0781 551 6765

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