the dog rambler e-diary 25 - 27 january 2012

8/3/2019 The Dog Rambler e-diary 25 - 27 January 2012

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Walk Through the Gore Glen Length 6 miles

Dogs on walk Cyrano, Dylan, Finn, Jolie, Phoebe, Solo

In our ever changing weather we set out on an unseasonably warm day into what turned

out to be the muddy depths of the Gore Glen. Always muddy it was at its worst today,

deep and gloopy, clinging nicely to the dogs. With the river running beside us for nearly the

entire walk it was possible to keep them somewhat clean. Although rather wet instead.

Cyrano was at his most excitable knowing that down in the glen the river was waiting.

First we had to make our way from the car park well above the glen along its high path toa set of wooden steps built into the banking. I was last down them. Phoebe and Finn

almost did not make it to the bottom wrapped around each other as they were last week.

Cyrano was way ahead of them and Solo was upping his speed to catch him. Both heading

for the water. Jolie looked on at Phoebe and Finn and their mad wrestle. She left them to

it for now and checked out Dylan. He was a little too boring for her just clambering about

on the bank so she returned to break up Phoebe and Finn.

Solo and Cyrano scrambled back up the bank from the river nice and wet. Now we were

The Dog Rambler

E-diary

Wednesday

25 January 2012



heavily shaded by thickset trees clawing their way up the steep slopes on the glen.

The dogs suddenly ran on ahead as we saw a guy we know out with his dog. He was

chatting to someone else so we did not stop. Across an old stone bridge and we joined upwith the deeper and wider River Esk further into the glen. Cyrano tried to race off again

heading for a very distant loop in the river with a gravel beach area. It was too soon and I

called him back. He stayed with me till we reached it. Even though Solo took off when

much closer. They splashed about but Finn, Jolie and Phoebe cashed each other around the

edges. Dylan waited someway off for us to move on before rejoining us. He is very funny

about water these days.

We did not linger for his sake and he immediately ran back through the slalom poles of the

trees on the now wide glen floor. All together again we headed deeper into the glen where

the path snaked upwards to run along its top. A few stricken trees crossed the path, yet

more reminders of the harsh winds a few weeks ago. Well versed at it now the dogs barely

slowed their pace as they clambered through the tangle of branches and over the thick

trunks.

With the river lost to us for now Cyrano turned his attention to sticks. In copycat mode

Solo grabbed a stick too. Phoebe and Finn having calmed down now trotted along the path

between faded broom and thickly set trees. Fields stretching away to our right over a

slightly tumbled down wall and to our left the drop down to the now hidden river.

Not hidden for long. The path dipped downwards and we were reunited with the river

meandering through some wide grassland. Dylan raced off, turning his head urging theothers on. Soon he had Phoebe, then Finn and Jolie haring after him. Cyrano and Solo

were more interested in being reunited with the river.

We carried on for a while beyond the grassland and into the old grounds of Arniston house

and its giant Cypress trees. Here we turned around and headed back. The dogs slowing

down, having exhausted themselves, were much quieter on the way back. A final dip in the

river delivered some cleaner but wet dogs to the car.

Nick



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Photo slideshow from the walk

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Walk Around Harbour Hill and Capelaw

Hill

Length 6 miles

Dogs on walk Jerry, Lucas, Otis, Ozzy, Tim, Struan, Talaidh

Struan took charge of the entertainment as we headed from Bonaly for a traverse around

two of the northern hills of The Pentlands. Up through the wooded Scots Pines toward the

open moor there was little sign of what was to come.

Struan had obviously been storing up his energy for a day like this. Once on the moor there

The Dog Rambler

E-diary

Thursday

26 January 2012

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was no let up. He more than stretched his legs as he threw himself into the heather Tim,

Lucas and Ozzy, his rear gunners. Like a huge plane he strafed across the top of the

heather his crewmen more like the enemy gunning for him. Tongues beginning to hang

long as they all gasped for air. Talaidh disdainfully cast them a look and returned her attention to me. Two very different dogs for brother and sister. Otis took up command at

the front leading us all upwards.

Having climbed across the moor we headed right along the top of it. Some trees sheltering

Bonaly Reservoir over to our left. The dogs took a breather as the stunning views of the

further off Pentlands appeared. Otis already getting dirty kept on the muddy path

whereas Jerry rampaged around in the heather occasionally buzzing the others for a bit of a chase.

Below we could see a walking party on another path which we were to join. But first a few

sheep slowed our progress. Then we upped our pace hoping to beat the party and get

ahead of them. It would be a nightmare if we had to weave our way between what looked

about twenty strung out over some distance. We did beat them and set off down the

glowing cleugh curling toward Glencorse Reservoir, tucked deep in the base of the wideglen. The sun on its surface like a beacon drawing us onward.

We were not caught like moths in its glare and turned upward instead toward Capelaw

Hill. Struan and Ozzy great friends even though they have only met a couple of times.

They hung around together always ready for one of them to begin the playing all over

again. Tim followed them most of the time but was not quite part of their gang today.

Lucas played it cool slotting in behind me until the next chase exploded then he was off tojoin it.

Still Otis led the way with Jerry leading his own very wayward path which encompassed

wide circles and shimmying runs. Otis coming back to join us as we encountered sheep,

looking menacingly down at us from their higher vantage point. It did not deter Otis and

after we had rounded the far side of Capelaw Hill be suddenly set off on one of his rare but

very mad runs. At first he was alone, taking everyone else by surprise. But not for long.Ozzy and Tim soon had him in their sights and like spitfires quickly closed him down. But

some nifty turns got him out of their way again. As he slowed Struan took over once more



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and all except a now panting Otis and a quiet Talaidh were to be seen racing over the

heather.

We took a breather, a drink and some a swim at Bonaly Reservoir. Its cold, clear flat waters rippling as the dogs cut through it. Then it was back down over Bonaly Moor and

into the woodlands which hid the car waiting in the car park at the bottom.

Nick



Walk Across the hills to Castlelaw Fort Length 6 miles

Dogs on walk Brooklyn, Cyrano, Darcy, Dylan, Finlay, Maggie, Tim

The Dog Rambler E-diary

Friday

27 January 2012










A cold bright day but with grey, murky snow clouds circling ominously. After another cold

night thick frost coated the ground as we reached our start point from Dreghorn. We mayhave some clean dogs still by the end of today given the hardness underfoot. I braved not

putting on my waterproof trousers a decision I thankfully did not regret as we were

rewarded with long spells of sunshine lighting up the frosty paths and snow covered

hillsides.

Today we were taking a good track right up and over the hills through a twisting pass to

drop down the far side near the military firing range and above Glencorse Reservoir. First through a wide grassy field tinged with white. Dylan the first to run wild followed by a

very boisterous Brooklyn. He took some controlling today, too full of excitement and

energy. But he proved he can do as required when we hit upon some sheep well into the

walk.

The field took us gradually upward toward the barrier of hills. I kept a close eye on the sky

as the dark clouds swirled above the hills and some light rain brushed against us fromwhat appeared to be a clear sky just above us. I was becoming convinced that I had made

the wrong decision.

Nevertheless we ploughed on the dogs gathering by the gate that would lead us to the long,

relentless climb up the cleugh between Allermuir Hill and Capelaw Hill. The frost giving

way to a thin layer of snow the higher we climbed. The sun in our eyes meant we did not

see another walker coming the other way until the dogs where almost surrounding him.We stopped for a quick chat, a good chance for me to take a breather. As Darcy and Tim

began to agitate each other we set off again. As we moved on Darcy and Tim wrapped

themselves around each other in a playful bout. Unable to move forward they were soon

falling behind. Unlike Finlay who strode on purposefully with Dylan only just behind. Until

he and Cyrano chased through the deep heather banks just off the track. Brooklyn was off

the other side of the track racing up and down the long slope hoping to get some takers

for a chase. Maggie peered over but thought much better of it. She was happy to conserveher energy on this long unforgiving climb. Up and down he came until at last Tim raced

after him. But only along the track, he did not fancy getting marooned in the heather.



At last the track flattened out revealing the line of hills making the main spine of the

Pentlands. All cloud capped by a swathe of low snowy cloud. Hopefully not coming our

way. We still had sunshine. With the track levelling and even beginning to drop down theother side now the dogs began to open up. All around me several chases broke out. This

time Tim being drawn into the heather and Darcy tailing Dylan with some heather in his

mouth. Cyrano circling around them. It was just me Maggie and a far away Finlay on the

slightly slippery track.

We all had to come together as a fair number of sheep had scattered themselves around

the descent to Castlelaw Hillfort. The fort is well worth a visit with its preserved earthhouse, an underground storage cellar dating back to around 400 BC, beneath the ring of

earthen ramparts. We did not go in to it. Instead under the watchful, white shade of the

rising hills we turned back to take on the sheep once more.

Safely beyond them again, they too being watchful from quite close quarters, the dogs still

had the energy to run about. Particularly with Dylan proffering heather toward the others.

Brooklyn was running in ever wider circles in danger of disappearing if not careful. Finlayhad as usual slipped backwards by this stage of the walk and he and Maggie sniffed about

the track while Cyrano ran in smaller circles around the tugging and chasing Dylan, Darcy

and Tim.

The steepness of the cleugh back down toward Dreghorn slowed the dogs with all but

Brooklyn keeping mainly to the path. Although Darcy and Tim still found sufficient energy

for another wrestle. At the bottom Cyrano and Finlay stood in a deep small pool andlooked toward me for something to dive for.

With two wet dogs and the rest quite clean we dropped onto a different path at the end

through some wind battered woodland and around to the car that way.

Nick







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the dog rambler e-diary 25 - 27 january 2012

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