Get Lost Mountaineering

Dun Law & Lousie Wood Law from Peden on A702

Start/Finish

On the A702 near Peden, a lone cottage by the track to Peden Reservoir, which is about 3 miles south of Elvanfoot which is off junction 14 of the M74. Try to park sensibly even if it means walking a little further.

Distance/Time

10 km.     About 4 – 5 hours.

Peaks

Dun Law, 677 m, NS 916 136.

Lousie Wood Law, 618 m, NS 932 152.

OS Explorer sheet 329: Lowther Hill, Sanquhar & Leadhills.

Introduction

This is a tougher walk than it may look on the map as the ground is quite rough. Under fresh snow, the going can be much tougher and slower adding at least an hour to the walk. There are excellent views to Green Lowther, Ballancleuch Law, Tinto and the Manor and Moffat hills across the M74. Note that locals call Lousie Wood Law as Louise Wood Law which might suggest a spelling mistake on the OS map!

Route

(1) Walk up the obvious track, by the cottage, which soon reaches Peden Reservoir but before getting that far, cross over (no stile) the fence on the right to gain the rough track above the higher fence going NW. Follow this track across a dip then up the SE flank of Kneesend which is the hill directly ahead. There is a fence going up and one walk on whichever side looks the easier. This fence goes all the way to the fence corner on Dun Law with the higher ground being just off to the left which is a small featureless plateau where it is difficult to tell where the highest point is but if one looks around, there is a tiny cairn which could be the summit of Dun Law, 677 m.

(2) Continue following the crest fence NE down to a dip then over White Law after which there is a steep descent into the col known as Little Windgate Hass followed by an equally steep climb out over Black Law then on to a fence junction. From here go NNW for about 150 m to reach the trig point, by a small cairn, which marks the summit of Lousie Wood Law, 618 m.

(3) The easiest descent route is to return to the fence junction then follow the fence/wall going ESE. There is a rough ATV track in places. Follow the wall/fence all the way down to the road. Turn right, S, and walk for 3 km back to the start. The shortest descent route is much rougher and descends almost due S from the fence junction, passing a tall, thin aerial then continuing down Great Hill to cross the Glenochar Burn near the sheepfold. Continue through the gap between Kneesend and Doddin to regain the outward track back to Peden.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 25^th November, 2016.