Last Sunday was the ‘Goats Gallop’ , a local informal jaunt hosted by HELP, taking us from Longyester up to the top of Lammer Law, across the moor, steep decline then around Hopes Reservoir and back; The year before, the Law treated us to snow, but this year was not too bad – a steady south easterly and some fog, about 50yds visibility or so, though it cleared as we got over the hill and down the eastern flank.
Groups set of in packs for this event, roughly according to general speed and also to allocate a runner who knew the route. I was charged with guiding Susan, Rhona and Megan so we all set off together. Susan went over on her ankle at the top of Lammer Law, but insisted that we press ahead as she would ok. At this stage, the fog was a wee bit disorientating, and we kind of veered too far left in the mist. The route takes you to the edge of a pretty steep heather-covered precipice, but this was nowhere to be seen, instead I led my intrepid charges lemming-like down a steep, scree-filled cleugh, taking us down to a burn. Now having in my possession various bushman skills that would put Ray Mears to shame, I confidently cut a trail knowing that the burn could only lead to Hopes Reservoir. And so it did. Maybe just a third of a mile the wrong end of the reservoir, but the reservoir nevertheless. Anyway, we re-connected onto the proper route to the south of the reservoir and made our way back. Megan tore off ahead, and Rhona and I ambled in, and we were surprised to see Susan come into Longyester just a minute ot two behind us. How did she do that?
It transpired that various runners (including a couple of HELPers) also took the scenic route.
GG2011
GG2010
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