Friday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

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October 2011
Walk Dogs on walk

A duo of Pentland Hills Cyrano, Dylan, Finlay, Maggie, Tim

Length

6 miles

We completed the week with yet another Pentland Hill walk. This time climbing over Caerketton Hill at the far end of the northern ridge, which we have been concentrating on for the last few days. Again bathed in the autumn sunshine, the sun hanging low and orange in the sky like a Halloween lantern, long ghoulish shadows creeping across the ground. The hills rising upwards, dark in the shade of the sun, vampire teeth ready to bite. We were one short today, not due to Halloween sacredness, but sadly because Otis was locked in. I had the key but unfortunately there was also a key that had been left in the other side of the lock. In my best burglar pose I crouched down and pushed and fiddled and prodded but could not shift the key on the other side. I could hear Otis waiting patiently on the other side, with just the occasional scratch at the door to encourage my endeavours. But it was no good after about twenty minutes is was clear the key was there to stay. Fortunately when I spoke to his owner her sister was due to visit the house who would be able to let Otis out. Crisis averted although he did miss the fun of the ramble. Just the five of us set off from Swanston. Almost having to join the queue of groups of

walkers heading for the hills. Walking poles everywhere and woolly hats abounding. We got ahead and had some pace to ourselves. Until on the lower slopes of Caerketton the resident group of Highland cows had set up home for the day. Maggies fascination with cows continued and she sneaked off for a closer look when my attention was caught on planning our best route around them. Because as usual a few of them were right by the rising path. Getting Maggie to come back we skirted around them and continued unheeded to the top of Caerketton Hill. Cyrano, Dylan and Tim loving the wide open space of heather and moorland grass across which to chase. Yes Dylan. Finding his friendlier side today he was keen to encourage the fun, leaping around until they began to chase him. Stopping for a rest it was clear that Cyrano has a soft spot for him as he licked at Dylans mouth. With Dylan preoccupied Finlay had the front to himself and he powered his away along the high ridge pulling us behind him. Maggie having laboured up was now ready to expend her energy in getting up to speed and getting in the occasional chase much the Tims delight. We clambered up to the highest point of this long northern ridge, high above the toy town look of Edinburgh, pale and hazy in the low light of the sun. Held firm by the sturdy deep blue of the sky, appearing to go on forever drawing your eyes deeper into the vast space behind it. Our main climbing over the dogs raced down the far side of Allermuir and after a short jinking detour we crossed the shoulder of Capelaw Hill reaching a grassy track taking us done toward Dreghorn. Here some slow grazing sheep stocking up for winter all but ignored our progress. The dogs could not resist a look but knew that was all they would get. A dip in the stream at the bottom of the path did little to clean the dogs up before we carried on along the flat ground back toward Swanston. Finlay hoping for a stick or a stone to be thrown instead had to digs around in the bottom of the water. Then Maggie and Tim stopped to say hello to a horse, which studiously ignored them, finding a patch of grass that it pretended held much more interest. By now Cyrano as up front with his best pal Dylan. Both of the coming back to heel for the last fifty yards along the golf course road back to the car park.

Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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