White Coomb & a Circuit of Loch Skeen - Saturday 27 October 2018
Route
Tailburn Bridge - Grey Mare's Tail - Upper Tarnberry - Rough Craigs - White Coomb - Firthhope Rig - Donald's Cleuch Head - Firthybrig Head - Talla Nick - Lochcraig Head - The Causey - Grey Mare's Tail - Tailburn Bridge
Parking
Parking Area (Charge but Free for NT Members) at the Tailburn Bridge - Grid Ref NT 1860 1451. The Car Park is located on the A708 approximately 10 miles north east of Moffat. The nearest post code is DG10 9LQ.
Mileage
8.5 miles
Terrain
Moorland & mountain paths with some vague or off path sections. The area can be boggy after a lot of rain. The descent back down the Grey Mare's Tail is steep but on a good path.
Weather
Sunny yet bitingly cold with stiff breezes. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
2368ft (722m)
Map
OS Explorer 330 - Moffat & St Mary’s Loch
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Deborah, Colin, Alan & Sharon
Tailburn Bridge - Grey Mare's Tail - Upper Tarnberry - Rough Craigs - White Coomb - Firthhope Rig - Donald's Cleuch Head - Firthybrig Head - Talla Nick - Lochcraig Head - The Causey - Grey Mare's Tail - Tailburn Bridge
Parking
Parking Area (Charge but Free for NT Members) at the Tailburn Bridge - Grid Ref NT 1860 1451. The Car Park is located on the A708 approximately 10 miles north east of Moffat. The nearest post code is DG10 9LQ.
Mileage
8.5 miles
Terrain
Moorland & mountain paths with some vague or off path sections. The area can be boggy after a lot of rain. The descent back down the Grey Mare's Tail is steep but on a good path.
Weather
Sunny yet bitingly cold with stiff breezes. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
2368ft (722m)
Map
OS Explorer 330 - Moffat & St Mary’s Loch
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Deborah, Colin, Alan & Sharon
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GPX File
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Route Map
We were staying in the vibrant town of Moffat in Dumfries & Galloway where I led a two day walking weekend for Lakeland Meet Ups. I wasn't supposed to be leading this weekend and was looking forward to just bimbling about in these beautiful hills but when the original organiser couldn't make it I was asked to co-ordinate the weekend which I was only happy to do.
We planned on two walks this weekend - a longer walk on the Saturday followed by a shorter Sunday walk although both would be strenuous with lots of climbing. We were also promised excellent weather which fortunately for us was to last all weekend. Therefore in the company of Angie & Fudge plus Deborah, Colin, Sharon & Alan we set off on the first of our two walks - an ascent of White Coomb followed by a circular ridge walk around the beautiful Loch Skeen.
We planned on two walks this weekend - a longer walk on the Saturday followed by a shorter Sunday walk although both would be strenuous with lots of climbing. We were also promised excellent weather which fortunately for us was to last all weekend. Therefore in the company of Angie & Fudge plus Deborah, Colin, Sharon & Alan we set off on the first of our two walks - an ascent of White Coomb followed by a circular ridge walk around the beautiful Loch Skeen.
The large Car Park near the Giant's Grave at Tailburn Bridge - the starting point for today's walk.
At this point I was of the opinion we were in for a beautiful day
At this point I was of the opinion we were in for a beautiful day
The Grey Mare's Tail - most of which was in the shade unfortunately
The Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the most spectacular landmarks in southern Scotland. Situated on the north side of Moffatdale's deep U-shaped valley, the falls are the product of different rates of glacial erosion during the last major glaciation around 15,000 years ago. The deep trench of the Moffat Water Valley was carved out by a huge glacier, while in the side valley a smaller glacier with far less erosive power created a much shallower valley. Once the ice melted the side valley was left elevated, or 'hanging', above the main valley. Perched high above the Moffat Water, the Tail Burn flows through the hanging valley and then tumbles abruptly over a series of cascades and plunge pools into the valley below. With a main fall of around 60m, The Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the highest waterfalls in Scotland, and the fifth highest cascade in Britain. From the 19th century The Grey Mare’s Tail became a notable tourist attraction, and was visited by a number of famous sightseers including Sir Walter Scott, who described it in his poem Marmion as the ‘roaring linn’.
The Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the most spectacular landmarks in southern Scotland. Situated on the north side of Moffatdale's deep U-shaped valley, the falls are the product of different rates of glacial erosion during the last major glaciation around 15,000 years ago. The deep trench of the Moffat Water Valley was carved out by a huge glacier, while in the side valley a smaller glacier with far less erosive power created a much shallower valley. Once the ice melted the side valley was left elevated, or 'hanging', above the main valley. Perched high above the Moffat Water, the Tail Burn flows through the hanging valley and then tumbles abruptly over a series of cascades and plunge pools into the valley below. With a main fall of around 60m, The Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the highest waterfalls in Scotland, and the fifth highest cascade in Britain. From the 19th century The Grey Mare’s Tail became a notable tourist attraction, and was visited by a number of famous sightseers including Sir Walter Scott, who described it in his poem Marmion as the ‘roaring linn’.
The top section of The Grey Mare's Tail backed by Upper Tarnberry
The group approaching the top of The Grey Mare's Tail along the flank of Deacon Snout
Fudge at the top of The Grey Mare's Tail
Fudge & I at the top of The Grey Mare's Tail with l-r Sharon, Alan, Colin & Deborah
Our first view of White Coomb from the top of The Grey Mare's Tail
The path of ascent can be seen snaking its way up to the right hand side of the wall - but first we had to find a good enough spot to cross the Tail Burn
The path of ascent can be seen snaking its way up to the right hand side of the wall - but first we had to find a good enough spot to cross the Tail Burn
Looking back to the crossing point of the Tail Burn from the wall - we found a suitable spot about 50 yards on from the wall corner
Firthybrig Head & Lochcraig Head from the ascent of White Coomb - we would visit both these tops later on in the walk
We continue to handrail the wall - White Coomb is ahead with Carrifran Gans to the left.
Our route of ascent would be via Rough Craigs, picking our way through the crags from right to left
Our route of ascent would be via Rough Craigs, picking our way through the crags from right to left
Rough Craigs - just a question of picking our way through from the right, over to the left and then right again
Looking back down Rough Craigs - I just picked a route up and went for it rather than fanny about. Loch Skeen is now in view and also our return route
Above Rough Craigs looking back down our route of ascent via the wall. The Ettrick Hills provide a stunning backdrop
The group on the summit of White Coomb
The views over our onward route from White Coomb were stunning
Hart Fell & Saddle Yoke from White Coomb - we would be over there tomorrow
From White Coomb a decent path led away in the direction of Firthhope Rig
The summit fence on Firthhope Rig
A short walk south from the fence leads to the massive cairn on Firthhope Rig - as can be seen, Fudge is underwhelmed
Heading to Firthybrig Head via Donald's Cleuch Head - Talla Nick & Lochcraig Head are to the left
Descending Firthybrig Head into Talla Nick with the steep climb out to Lochcraig Head
Looking back to Firthybrig Head
It is certainly worth heading off the obvious path to Lochcraig Head to Loch Craig itself to get this superb view over Loch Skeen.
The ridge of Mid Craig is to the right
The ridge of Mid Craig is to the right
Loch Skene & Mid Craig - our return route is to the left
Fudge has spotted the water but unfortunately for him he can't get to it
The summit plateau of Lochcraig Head - the actual summit lies a few yards further north
Whilst the better views from Lochcraig Head lie to the south at Loch Craig there are still great vistas from here
The small cairn adorning the summit off Lochcraig Head
With my walking companions on the summit of Lochcraig Head
Descending Lochcraig Head to The Causey
Looking back to Lochcraig Head from The Causey
Following the Tail Burn back to the top of The Grey Mare's Tail
The Grey Mare's Tail - this time out of the shade
Back to the start - the Car Park is a bit fuller than this morning
Fudge having a quick decoke in the Tail Burn
After a superb walk where better to go and have a beer & meal than The Star in Moffat - and the Deuchars was £2 a pint!!