last of the lammermuirs?

 

25th Oct.

We arranged to meet Graeme and Nick at Hopes Reservoir to go a Lammermuirs run. We didn't decide the distance until we were underway, reserving the right to choose from the 12~23mile options. 

Gifford

We opted to coffee up before setting off and so did without the usual coffee-and-cake combo at the Lanterne Rouge in Gifford. I think we were a little late and only just managed to get a parking place at Hopes. It was the busiest we'd seen it. Possibly due to weather being fine, and covid making everyone turn up without car-sharing. 

It was probably the car park situation that led to a discouraging message from whatever powers-that-be a few days later saying the car park would be closed for developing work or some other reason and basically f-off to anyone thinking about parking here for the foreseeable. Since we have already been discouraged from parking at our old entry point at Blinkbonny Woods this leaves us with no easy access to the Lammermuirs. 

However we were blissfully unaware of that at the time and set off with cheerful hearts, the boys going round the reservoir on the singletrack to the North, the lady going round the reservoir on the main trail to avoid re-twisting an injured ankle. 

bumped into James & family at the dam.

sunny singletrack

streams were high and required care to keep feet dry

Callum passed by swiftly!

A great run. A bit of a shame that it may be the last run there for quite some while, unless we manage to put bikes in car and cycle in from Gifford.

14.5 miles

muddy feet!