The Southern Uplands see a lot less footfall than most hill areas, but this quietness is part of their appeal. And there are some lovely gems here, just waiting to be unearthed. This is a brilliant long ridge walk, taking in four Donalds and three Donald Tops along the way.
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Height Profile
metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NT1473809826 Head west along the road, crossing the bridge over the Blackhope Burn, and look for a small building on the right. Go through the gate here and head uphill alongside Hang Gill to a fence at the top corner. The path zigzags to a cairn, then brings you to another fence.
2
NT1396710204 Go through the fence, then turn right to cross another. Now the path takes you up the long ridge, with the cliffs falling into Black Hope on your right. You'll reach the summit of your first Donald Top, Nether Coomb Craig by a fence.
3
NT1292010984 Follow the fence to the north-west, to the summit of Swatte Fell, the first Donald of the walk. The OS Explorer map shows this as being near the fence to the north-east at 729m, but a recent resurvey suggests that there is a higher point to the north-west of the fence junction at 730m.
4
NT1187311418 Now follow the fence north east, first to Falcon Crag, then down to the col at Hass o' the Red Roads. The climb up to Hart Fell is initially steep, but the gradient soon eases as you follow the fence to the north-west. The summit has an OS trig pillar. This is the high point of the walk, and counts as both a Donald and a Corbett.
5
NT1134813560 Now go north-east, still following the fence, down Hartfell Rig and into a boggy col. Climb up alongside the fence to the minor summit at Stirk Craig. Here, turn north-west to the summit of Cape Law, your third Donald of the day.
6
NT1310215065 Return to Stirk Craig, and keeping beside the fence and broken wall, continue south, dropping down into the col at 629m. The going here is pathless for a while, but climbing south up the broad ridge will soon bring a path underfoot. Follow this to the summit of your fourth Donald of the day, Under Saddle Yoke.
7
NT1425412625 The little ridge between Under Saddle Yoke and its slightly lower neighbour, Saddle Yoke is delightful. Follow it to the Donald Top, then down the south ridge, eventually to hit the track that leads up the valley from the car park. Turn left down the valley to get back to your car.
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 10.50 miles (16.90 km)
Total ascent: 862m
Time: 6 – 7 hours (Walking)
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Summits
Swatte Fell 729 mFalcon Craig 724 m
Hart Fell 808 m
Cape Law 722 m
Under Saddle Yoke 745 m
Saddle Yoke 735 m
Additional Information
Start/Finish:Park at Blackshope Cottage on the A708. Make sure you don't block access to the track up the valley, or to the cottage and garage itself, NT146098
Nearest town:
Moffat
Terrain:
Mainly grassy walking with occasional boggy ground, especially on Swatte Fell, and on the cols between the tops.
Seasonal variations:
Bracken can be an issue in the summer on the initial climb up alongside Hang Gill.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Southern Uplands
Public transport:
There is no regular public transport to the start of this walk.
Guidebooks:
The Grahams and the Donalds, by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.
Maps:
OS Explorer 330 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 78 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Moffat (01683 220 620)
Further Routes
by GrahamUney
- Wainwright Bagging at the Back o' Skiddaw 8 Mar
- Buachaille Etive Beag and its two Munros 25 Jan
- Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag in Borrowdale 10 Jan
- Mayar and Driesh 21 Dec, 2023
- The Three Beinns Horseshoe, Arran 20 Nov, 2023
- The Carlingill Circuit - the most viewed walk in the UK? 25 Oct, 2023
- Aran Fawddwy - The Highest Mountain in South Snowdonia 11 Oct, 2023
- Murton Pike, Murton Fell, and High Cup Nick 10 May, 2021
- Bampton Fell above the Haweswater Dam 26 Apr, 2021
- The Classic Hartsop Round 13 Apr, 2021
Hart Fell is a Corbett (I hope, having added it to the list) and this is a great little round, particularly in the second half.
It's both - a Donald and a Corbett
I didn't know they could be both. I'm doing my best not to know anything about Donalds. Enough is enough!