Annan-Nith Hartfell

Looking across the fields of the upper Annan Valley at lightly snow covered hills.

Hartfell runs from the centre towards the left of this photo, Swatte Fell starts slightly lower at the centre
and runs to the right; Newton Farm nestles down to the left Church tower rising from trees by road, some with blossom, hill in background.

Church tower rising from trees by road, some with blossom, hill in background.

Swatte Fell is the hill that dominates the town of Moffat, seen here with spring blossom by St. Andrew's Church This page has photographs from the hills by the source of the River Annan, the highest of this circle of hills is Hartfell which is yoked to its higher easterly neighbour (from here out of sight) White Coomb. Below the photographs start with views of the hills from around Moffat and work up the valley. The final set of pictures are taken on the way up the hill and from its summit. Photographs from a height looking down are never as interesting as those from below, and scenes at the top of Hartfell are no exception. However, hopefully the photos, and the video showing a 360 degree view from the top, do give you an idea of the beautiful, open, unspoilt country that this part of Dumfriesshire is blessed with. A dark drown townscape with snow covered hills beyond.

A dark drown townscape with snow covered hills beyond.

Here a view taken in the colourless depth of winter, with the town laid out in the
foreground, and Swatte Fell's distinctive outline enhanced by snow Group of buildings with trees in front and beyond. Snow covered hill as background.

Group of buildings with trees in front and beyond. Snow covered hill as background.

A longer shot of the fell with the red sandstone building of Moffat Academy (as then was) in the town Leafless tree beside which the same hill appears.

Leafless tree beside which the same hill appears.

Here an autumnal Swatte Fell peeps from behind a tree, the same view from Gallowhill can be seen in
the Gallowhill Collection Green fields and hills with foxgloves in foreground.

Green fields and hills with foxgloves in foreground.

Blaebeck Farm is in the foreground of this shot taken in high summer with foxgloves to prove it The bulk of the hill emphasised by a longer lens with farmhouse in foreground.

The bulk of the hill emphasised by a longer lens with farmhouse in foreground.

Swatte Fell straight on - with Blaebeck Farm in the foreground Wide panarama of the same hills.

Greygill Head is to the left with Swatte Fell at the centre, and... Close shot of the central part of hill in light snow with red of setting sun.

...with a light touch of snow catching the setting sun The hills with clouds interrupting the skyline.

Commonly the top is not visible, emphasising the treed dome of Pirnie Rig A closer green shot of the hill.

Full summer offers the least interesting view, when all is soft green. The quarry, at the left of the picture, supplied much of Moffat The west side of Hartfell covered in snow with dark clumps of trees on the slopes.

The west side of Hartfell covered in snow with dark clumps of trees on the slopes.

And so to Hartfell in winter. The top is wide and flat and the sides do not offer the sculptured interest of its conjoined lower neighbour Swatte Fell. But it is an excellent example of the friendly rounded hills of the Southern Uplands, making a steady assent possible for less ambitious walkers. Here it is seen from the Edinburgh Road A view from a more northerly angle of a snow covered hill range.

A view from a more northerly angle of a snow covered hill range.

Moving on up the road, and looking back from the top of the Beeftub, the greater mass of Hartfell can be seen with Swatte Fell dropping down to the right of the photo Hills behind hills in sunset with snow on tops.

Hills behind hills in sunset with snow on tops.

This photo goes down the valley and looks back up with Hartfell's shoulder just appearing on the right and Whitehope and Middlefield centre left Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in autumn.

Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in autumn.

The above, and the two photographs below, were taken from the same spot on the Edinburgh Road four miles north of Moffat, looking across the
valley, at the lower slopes of Hartfell. Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in winter.

Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in winter.

These autumn, winter, and spring views were taken in different years: 1995, 2003, and 1993 respectively. The defile is formed by the Auchencat Burn. Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in spring.

Deep cleft between dyked fields leading up into folds of bracken covered slopes in spring.

Sasme deep cleft but showing how it sits under the main hill in sunset with snow on top.

Taken from the same place as the above three views, but showing how the Auchencat Burn, (which has absorbed the Spa Well Burn as it descends) relates to... The cleft tamed by the soft green of summer.

The cleft tamed by the soft green of summer.

...the hill beside it. The Spa Well Burn comes from the springs, the waters of which made Moffat famous as a Spa Town at the end of the eighteenth century A sign board with hills beyond saying 'Footpath to Hartfell Spa'.

A sign board with hills beyond saying 'Footpath to Hartfell Spa'.

On the road up the valley, a helpful sign shows the... A burn curving between stones with hills beyond.

...start of the walk up Hartfell, which begins by following the burn Area planted with trees, valley beyond.

Ascending the hill: at first the surroundings are domestic... Distant volcano shaped hill rising out of gloom.

...but soon they open out; here featuring Queensberry Hill Hills along side of valley with red line running from valley to hilltop.

The walk up Hartfell, from the Ericstane road, runs steadily up the crests of its lower slopes, such that if you were holding a powerful enough pair of binoculars and standing on the Edinburgh Road you would be able to see a person anywhere along the route. It is a bit of a plod, never steep, but without much relief Looking out across hills, in foreground very small patches of snow.

Looking out across hills, in foreground very small patches of snow.

In late April, a little snow adds interest to the un-photogenic top. Here the view is to the west Looking across grass to dark cliff faces.

Looking east, the upper part of the 1,000 foot drop of Saddle Craigs can be seen

A 360 degree video, taken on the top of Hartffell from the Trig Point, rather emphasises the way that the views from the tops of many hills are a bit monotonous! Misty view from hills over plain with slight signs of houses.

Misty view from hills over plain with slight signs of houses.

Looking south, the roofs of Moffat's houses can be distinguished through the slight haze Behatted me standing with top of Saddle Craigs in background.

Behatted me standing with top of Saddle Craigs in background.

Trig Points, which have been discontinued, have their uses for lone walkers who need
a place to rest their cameras for a selfie

Trailers... Fence with loch in low sunlight.

The next Picture Posting page is to take you west from Annandale towards Nithsdale, and features Loch Ettrick. Stone wall plaque of serpant eating its tail.

Stone wall plaque of serpant eating its tail.

The next page of the Mosaic Section is headed 'Feedback Loops'.
Or go to the of the Mosaic Section.

line

Hartfell and Swatte Fell The fourth in the Annandale - Nithsdale Collection

Hartfell and Swatte Fell
The fourth in the Annandale - Nithsdale Collection