A delightful circuit starting from the stunning Grey Mare's Tail waterfall 15km north-east of Moffat on the quiet A708.
Beginning from the quiet road running alongside the Megget Reservoir, an easy navigating circuit following fence-posts leads to fine views.
White Coomb and Hart Fell from Grey Mare's Tail
Distance : 14km, ascent : 985m
The Grey Mare's Tail, a stunning waterfall 15km north-east of Moffat on the quiet A708, is the starting point for the approach up White Coomb and Hart Fell from the south. Leave a bike at Capplegill for the 6km return along the A708.
White Coomb
Start from the NTS car-park, which costs £2 to park at, and head up the well maintained path on the east side of the burn. As the path levels out above the waterfall, look for the dyke on the other side of the burn. Cross the burn, which should prove easy enough, then follow the wet path on the north side of the wall uphill. The path reaches White Coomb's summit plateau, leaves the wall and aims directly for the cairn.
Hart Fell
Leave the cairn, aim west-north-west, cross the fence-line, then follow the fence-line on its south-side to Firthhope Rig. A faint path forms on the way and this is followed downhill (ignore the fence-line heading off left further down, cross the gate instead) to Rotten Bottom - a sodden bealach. Briefly uphill, then more fence following to the base of Hartfell Rig and 1km further on, the summit trig point on Hart Fell is reached.
Return
To return, head east and start to drop downhill - it's not as steep as the maps would suggest ! Progress is easy over grass covered ground as Cold Grain burn is picked up to follow down to the track that travels out of Black Hope back to the A708 near Capplegill.
Dollar Law and Broad Law from Megget Reservoir
Distance : 19.5km, ascent : 950m
6km north-east from where the main route above starts by the Megget Stone, Cramalt Farm buildings sit by a bridge over the Cramalt Burn. Limited roadside parking is available here.
Follow a fine track up the east side of Cramalt Burn and onto the hill crests just south of Fifescar Knowe (not quite as on the OS Landranger map). Meet up with a line of fence-posts and continue north for 1.5km to the trig point and cairn on Dollar Law's summit.
Return south following the fence. Continue over Cramalt Craig and drop to the bealach before Broad Law. The fence is traced to the masts on Broad Law's crest and eventually the trig point.
South again, loosing height gradually while following the fence. After just under 1km, aim south-east, meet up with the small pile of stones on Porridge Cairn, then drop another 150m to the col before Wylies Hill. Descend heather clad slopes towards Wylies Burn and pick up a track to Meggethead. Follow the road back to the start.