This walk had been planned by Alison, who unfortunately was unable to lead it on the day. The route follows the Annandale Way which was established in 2006 and follows the River Annan down to the Solway Firth. The first section of the Way is a striking panhandle north of Moffat, which takes in the spectacular natural hollow known as the Devil's Beef Tub. The walk followed the circular route formed by the northern part of the panhandle.
A group of 14, including two new members to the group, set off from the parking area at the side of the A701, southwest of Annanhead Hill.
The cloud base was sitting well above the tops of the hills we would be crossing, but lower than the summit of the nearby Hart Fell. The first hill we climbed was Annanhead Hill, the ascent providing fine views across the Devil’s Beef Tub. The Beef Tub is so named because in the past it was used by the 14th to 17th century Borders reivers, who were cattle theives or rustlers, to hide cattle. The local Johnston clan were notorious reivers, and the hollow was considered to be the work of the Devil, possibly an allusion to the reputation of the Johnstone. The River Annan rises in the Beef Tub, hence the name Annanhead.
The present landforms in the area are the result of erosional impact of the glaciations that have occurred over the past two million years. The Beef Tub is one such feature where ice moving south has scoured out the magnificent hollow. The ice also formed the low, elongate hills, known as drumlins, that lie further down the River Annan valley.
From Annanhead the route took us over Peat Knowe, Great Hill and Chalk Ridge Edge to the monument commemorating the opening of the Annandale at the head of the Tweedhope valley. Peat Knowe is aptly named as the path over the hilltops is boggy, more so after the rain which had fallen recently. The valley has been reforested with mainly deciduous trees over the past 20 years. As the group headed down the valley, and it was apparent that once the trees reach maturity the planting will form a beautiful woodland. At the end of the valley there is a National Trust hut where a stop was made for lunch. The next section followed a track, then a tarmacadam road to Howslack where we turned onto a track that heads northwards up across the western slope of the Annandale Water valley and back to the start of the walk at the Beef Tub. The section of the track between Meikleholmside and Barrhead provided particularly fine views across the valley.
Although the cloud never cleared Hart Fell and there were several light rain showers we had a thoroughly enjoyable walk.
TerryC
Photos by Terry C & AnneS
