I’ve just plotted the two routes on OSmaps website. I did so because it looked to me that if you “opened out” all the “there and back” sections of the Eweslees route, it wouldn’t be much different to Jimmy’s circular route.
However, I was wrong. The Eweslees route in total is 75 minutes and 5km shorter than the circular route. Eweslees it is - and I will deal with any farmer. I’m sure it will be fine - some report as friendly so I’ll be friendly too.
You are sure about that dad, if you look at this report on Walk Highlands (Walk Report - No sheep, no cattle, no ticks - no farmer • Walkhighlands), these describes the farmer as Eweslees Farm was very aggressive to hikers and the outcome was that these hikers and to turn back and do a different route on a different day to avoid the farmer. These hikers did not even walk through the farm yard at Eweslees, but yet had to get off that farmers land ASAP
The Eweslees route involves walking through Eweslees at least once, more likely twice and therefore we are very likely to get shouted at very aggressively by the farmer. I have read reports as well of this farm yard having guard dogs and “guard turkeys” as well, but sure if this could cause any further problems. I know that in Scotland, you have the right to room, but not 100% on the law when it comes to walking through farm yards in Scotland.
Jimmy M0HGY
I’ll be up near Kyle of Lochalsh that weekend doing SOTA by M/C.
I’m not sure which hills I’ll be doing but hopefully s2s will be on the cards Sunday 22nd and/or Monday 23rd.
I’ll definitely have 2m (FM & SSB) capability and hopefully HF as well. (FT818).
Hopefully talk to you then.
Andy
MM7MOX
This circular route does look a good option dad, does have seem step climbing at the beginning though which may annoy you a bit 
Also, as the start and end of the is circular walk are in view of Eweslees Farm, not sure if this could trigger the farmer if he sees us walking to approach is and angrily tell us to get off his fields.
Jimmy M0HGY
You should research the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and also Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. Remember you will no longer be in Englandshire and many of the petty restrictions down there do not apply up here, different country, different laws. He cannot stop responsible access to the land and as you wont have a dog or dogs with you and lambing is well over, there is little he can do. We all need to act responsibly when accessing the land and also stand up to bullies and people trying to enforce laws that don’t exist.
Weather today isn’t good to do any walking up hills in Scotland (GM). Therefore, me and my dad Tom @M1EYP decided to pay a visit to SOTA president John @G3WGV who lives near Penrith in Cumbria.
Jimmy M0HGY
I got rained off and blown away today, so no sota for me either.
Inspector Rebus by the fire whilst the kit dries off.
Maybe tomorrow on the way south.
Andy
MM7MOX
Today, the weather has been a bit better and my dad Tom @M1EYP activated Ruber’s Law GM/SS-210 and Belling Hill GM/SS-244, both of which are fairly nearby easiest SOTA summits that we have both activated on one of our previous GM/SS SOTA Trips.
Unfortunately, since arriving yesterday at our accommodation which is the Eskdale Hotel in Langholm, I have been feeling under the weather and due to this I had a rest day today at this accommodation while my dad activated the 2 SOTA summits mentioned before. We were meant to be travelling home this Friday (27th June), but due to me feeling under the weather, we will be travelling home tomorrow (24th June) after we have had our breakfast. I have deleted all our upcoming alerts from SOTAwatch already.
Although, this overall hasn’t been a great Scotland (GM) SOTA trip for me, it was nice to meet up with SOTA President John @G3WGV yesterday and I have absolutely enjoyed the evening meals and breakfast at The Eskdale Hotel in Langholm, the food there is absolutely exceptional. I totally recommended The Eskdale Hotel in Langholm for accommodation when activating SOTA summits in this area and one day, me and my dad will return to The Eskdale Hotel in Langholm to activate the GM/SS SOTA summits near to there that we planned to activate this week and to try some more of the exceptional food at this accommodation also.
Jimmy M(M)0HGY
Hi Jimmy,
Sorry to miss you and hope you fell better. I tried your dad today but the skip on 40m was huge - I could hear the south coast but not GM! Shame, i was looking forward to giving GM/NS - GM/SS a bash on 2m !
The weather is not the best in GM/NS either. Huge menacing weather systems rolling over me on the coast and when they hit the mountains…
Tim
As explained above, me and my dad Tom @M1EYP had to cut our recent GM/SS trip short as I was feeling unwell. However, have a postponed GM/SS trip planned to which we are staying at the Eskdale Hotel in Langholm once again as we enjoyed the food there very much (the only good thing of the most recent short lived GM/SS trip). We will be travelling there on Sunday 31st August and travelling back home again on Friday 5th September.
This time I am going to make sure that I reduce any possible chances of catching any viral infection which could make me unwell for this postponed trip by working from home the week before this trip rather than working in the office and I won’t be going out socialising anywhere either between the end of my working week and the upcoming GM/SS trip. The week before the last GM/SS trip which had to be cut short due to be feeling unwell, I was working each day in the office on the week leading up to that that and at the end of that working week, I attended a works summer event where there was loads of beer and socialising involved and I think it was me working in the office and attending this works summer event that resulted in me catching a viral infection that made me feel unwell.
Anyway, enough of the above and onto the SOTA plans for our upcoming GM/SS SOTA trip. I have posted the alerts on SOTAwatch already and I have mentioned the SOTA plans below also which are subject change as weather maybe bad. All times on below plans are in UTC. I plan to activate the SOTA summits on 2m FM and my dad plans to activate the SOTA summits on 20m CW, 20m SSB, 40m CW and 40m SSB, we hope to make plenty of contacts across the bands.
Sunday 31st August - Larriston Fell GM/SS-161 at 1300.
Monday 1st September - Roan Fell GM/SS-132 at 1100.
Tuesday 2nd September - Pikethaw Hill GM/SS-136 at 1200 and Wisp Hill GM/SS-118 at 1500.
Wednesday 3rd September - Ellson Fell GM/SS-146 at 1030.
Thursday 4th September - Greatmoor Hill GM/SS-114 at 1200 and Cauldcleuch Head GM/SS-106 at 1500.
Friday 5th September - Keeping this day clear of the time being just in case any do the above don’t go to plan (bad weather etc).
Jimmy M0HGY
Jimmy, I completely missed this that you’d been unwell but at least you are coming back up.
Tom @M1EYP what where the trees like on Belling Hill? Can you still get to the wall and summit easily? Or is it returning to its pre-harvest days?
It wasn’t a problem. Admittedly I didn’t follow Jimmy’s direct route through the firebreaks from the parking spot. I followed the long and winding access track up to fairly close to the summit, then picked my way, easily, from there.
