πŸ“Œ Moorfoot Hills, Scottish Borders
β˜…β˜…β˜…

Dundreich marks the northwestern edge of the rolling Moorfoot Hills, straddling the boundary between Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Its slopes on this side are steep, allowing for a direct ascent, but overlook Portmore Reservoir with views across the water body backed by a side profile of the Pentland Hills. The return leg detours to see the heathery earthworks of Northshield Rings: a prehistoric hillfort with impressive double rampart.

πŸ“· Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

πŸ“Œ Start / finish on minor road at track junction to Portmore Reservoir, near Westloch, 3 mi north of Eddleston

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 256515

πŸ›°οΈ GPS coordinates: 55.750800,-3.187629

🚌 Bus stops on A703 at start point turnoff (1 mi)

πŸš— Verge parking

πŸ“ Key info

β–Ά 10 km / 6 mi | β–² 390 m | ⌚ 3-3.5 hr

Features: πŸ’§ Portmore Reservoir; β–³ Dundreich (623 m, Donald); 🏰 Northshield Rings fort

⬀ Tough | Faint, grassy path for initial ascent & also later around Loch Wood, where navigation skills needed. Rest of circuit mostly on tracks (mix of gravel / grass). Steep gradients in places, one fence must be climbed on ascent.

➑️ Clockwise circuit: start – east side of Portmore Reservoir – ascend hollow between Loch Hill & Fala Steel – Dundreich – pass just west of Brown Dod – descent to west of Brown Dod – Loch Wood – Northshield Rings fort – northwest end of Portmore Reservoir – start

Download file for GPS

πŸ₯Ύ On our last visit

Wildlife: Mute swans, a cormorant, butterflies. Distant cows & sheep.

Weather: Sunny with wispy clouds, 22Β°C at start but with a strong wind.

September 2023
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