The Wondrous Ways of Nature in Geo-Glacial Time

From the summit of Hartshorn Pike, where there`s a ninety degree turn in the Watershed, is baffling. Surely it must run, well north, because that`s where the top of Scotland is? But the route as marked on the map says, `go west young man`, and `don`t take any serious northwards turn until you reach Clyde Law in another 100 Km or so`. Such is the way of the Watershed, and by the way, never doubt your compass bearing either.

So said, I headed west, down an old, long redundant fence-line towards Wauchope Forest, where my slowly decaying markers, led me into what became a forest ride, and then onto a real land rover track. That erred slightly from the true line, but took me past Mag and the Bairns clump of boulders, having crossed the Wheel Causeway. This had been in medieval times, a pilgrim route to Whithorn, but the pious would have a hard time of it now. Next landmark, as the going gets so much easier for man and bike on a well made, and used, forest road, is the oddly named Note o` the Gate.

Here, on what is now the B6357, legend has it, that Mary Queen of Scots was advised to watch where she was putting her feet, lest she stumble. Be that as it may, a right turn, and just as quickly, a left onto a forest road. This twists and meanders round Wigg Knowe and by a very circuitous route, never far from the Watershed, passes the old limestone workings and comes out onto the B6399 almost on target. Cycling forest roads, with a heavily laden bike, is a joy, and it has to be said, a whole lot easier, than that earlier challenging experience. Following the exact Watershed, the R.Route, from here however, would require an ATV that can climb over fences - if such a vehicle exists?

So as a practical alternative for pensioner and bike is a fine freewheeling cruise south towards Hermitage. There, an unclassified road takes the V.Route west again, past the impregnable looking Castle, and on into the Armstrong lands of  Gorrenberry, to Fiddleton on the A7. Those last few miles are through some fine remaining rolling sheep country, that escaped the sitka regime of not so yore. A camp somewhere near Fiddleton does fine, with the only overnight, and irregular disturbance, being the packs of timber lorries drumming past.

A fine day yes, and a promising start to the V.Route, where every turn of Pete`s pedals, seeks to coax donations for Maasai Girls Education, and a fond respect for Joseph Thomson and his humanitarian legacy that grows ever stronger.