Cowans Knowe, Whitehope Rig, Mountbenger Law and S

Aren't place names wonderful! Went with my walking friends to do another stretch on the Southern Upland Way today, the first of the year. A short leg of 12 miles / 15km along St Mary's Loch and then up by Dryhope Tower and over the hills to Traquair.

It is hard to explain to people from other parts of the world what the attraction is of these grey-brown Border hills, but I love them. They are all light and air and - today especially - the sound of curlews.

We go south-west again for the next stretch, with a weekend walk from New Luce to Bargrennan.