28A Allermuir Hill, Black Hill and Scald Law

These three hills can be done as a round from the Castlelaw carpark at NT230938. Follow the track N to Allermuir Hill where there are stupendous views. From here head SW over the flanks of Capelaw Hill and Phantom's Cleugh to drop down to Kirk Bridge. The road alongside the reservoirs is drivable but there is a sign saying only fishermen & disabled cars are allowed. From the forest edge at NT201628 ascend Gask Hill making use of animal tracks through the heather where possible, continuing to Black Hill. Drop down to the footbridge at The Howe (bracken on the lower slopes) from where a path ascends Scald Law. I returned to The Howe and followed the road all the way back to NT226633 where a footpath heads NNE back to the car park. A better return but with quite a lot of additional ascent would have been to return over Carnethy Hill, White Craig Heads and Turnhouse Hill (for which a better start would be the Ranger Centre carpark).

(5 hours 15 mins, 11.6 miles, 3450’ of ascent)