Monday 18 May - Mile Hill (NO 31137 57137; 410m)

Start Point: good pull-in on minor road to the west, at NO27845744

Distance and Ascent: 7.8km, 240m

Weather: overcast but almost entirely dry

 

I'd recommend my descent route over my ascent line, with gates at NO3071857634 and NO3083057530

I'd intended to do this hill from Peel Farm, where I could leave Mick sampling the wares in the cafe, but I wasn't sure I could summon the energy for the cycle to the hill from there, particularly after I discovered what I thought was a good parking spot* on StreetView that would save me around 5k of riding. (*the spot I'd identified was a track end a short distance further along the road from where we did park, but it turned out not to be suitable for abandoning Bertie; by backtracking the short distance to the pull-in we'd just passed, Mick was able to come out with me, rather than hanging around in case someone needed him to move.)  

 

I could have done most of this route by bike, but opted to go on foot, so Mick and I set out together and fairly marched our way along the road, then along the track to the ruined buildings at Gairlaw. There Mick turned back and I continued on, believing (from notes I'd taken from other people's ascents of this hill), that my best bet was going a little further along the track before turning up the hill. At the point Mick had turned around, we'd seen that there was a herd of cattle in the field to the left of the track I was to continue walking, but there was a fence between field and track, so we assumed I didn't need to worry about the warning notice on the previous gate about dangerous breeding cattle. Moreover, there were no cow pats on the ground to that point. 

 

Almost immediately that Mick turned back, I came across fresh cow pats, and discovered that whilst the cows were choosing to be in the lush fields, all of the gates were open, so they were free to chase me if they so chose. Happily they chose not to, and at the next gateway I turned right to cross that field. This was not the best choice, as there was a deer fence in the way with no gate within sight.

 

Beyond the fence is a relatively newly planted hillside, with closely placed conifers (as a result of which this hill will become trickier to approach from the north in ten years or so). I picked up an ATV track (that isn't planted), but I fair toiled up there. I swear the final 50m of ascent went up for around 150m, and the final 250m linear was at least a kilometre!

I did, of course, eventually run out of 'up'. 

 

For my descent I opted to aim for a gate in the deer fence, followed by the gate out of the field back onto the track, almost opposite the westernmost of the Gairlaw ruins. Whilst steeper in places, with hindsight, it's the route I should have chosen for the ascent.  

 

Having deprived Mick of his cafe visit whilst I was out on this little hill, we both went there once I was done. I'm glad I didn't miss out. The cheese scone I had took first place in my 'best cheese scone' list (just pipping the old post office cafe at Newborough in Staffordshire - my cheese scone testing has been extensive!), and I got three and bit cups of tea out of my pot. Mick's breakfast was rather good too. 

We've seen an abnormally large number of peafowl in the last week. This one put on a display for us (or for his lady friend, who on my way back was stood in front of him as he wiggled his rump, but studiously ignored him). 

A relatively unexciting summit, but with a good view (if you ignore me being in the way of it!)

Huge, tasty and very fresh cheese scone and a good-sized pot of tea at Peel Farm. Based on our experience today, I recommend popping by.