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OT (ish): Dens Cleugh Access

(14 posts)

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  1. steveo
    Member

    Does anyone know if access is meant to be available to Dens Cleugh from the Glencourse side of Black Hill, beside the Logan Cottage?

    I've been through there a few times but mostly divert over Black hill, yesterday I decided to carry on through (on foot), I remember it being a bit of a quagmire but also remember there being a gate at Logan burn. All I found was a slightly dilapidated fence which I could step over but anyone shorter would have had to climb and the fence was not likely to take any weight.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  2. Frenchy
    Member

  3. fimm
    Member

    You have a Right of Responsible access. I don't understand what you mean by "access is meant to be available".

    Posted 4 years ago #
  4. steveo
    Member

    Yeah thats the bit Frenchy.

    @fimm yeah I know I've got the right to access, but I don't like climbing (potentially damaging) fences. If there is meant to be access, a right of way or marked path, there should really be a gate or stile. There were a couple of sheep who looked about to drop and I'd have preferred not to disturb them, but if the farmer is using the access to a path as a low paddock for potentially vulnerable livestock then anything that happens to that animal is on the farmer.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  5. chrisfl
    Member

    The mapping of that on OSM looks a bit weird, Dens Cleugh just seems to end at a fence - I can see a GPS trace of a route through on OpenStreetMap, also Strava heatmaps shows 2 routes that it looks like folks use.

    https://www.strava.com/heatmap#16.32/-3.27001/55.85834/hot/ride

    Posted 4 years ago #
  6. steveo
    Member

    Keep forgetting about strava heatmaps.

    Looks like the popular option is up the driveway and veer right. I came down through the paddock, which I'm not alone in by the looks of things.

    Might just start using the driveway then less chance of causing any damage, if the farmer or occupier of the cottages gets upset they can add a gate to the paddock. Much less boggy if nothing else.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  7. steveo
    Member

    Also interesting on OSM/heatmaps, most people use the main track off Black hill I usually use the small path that comes out at the fishery, looks like I might be the only one (on strava)

    Posted 4 years ago #
  8. jonty
    Member

    I have always understood there to be access up Den's Cleugh from Logan Cottage but yes it's via half the driveway which is a bit unusual.

    Heat map is super interesting, have never thought to look at the Pentlands before!

    Posted 4 years ago #
  9. steveo
    Member

    Has anyone got a copy of scotways to hand? Be interesting to see if Dens is in any of their described routes.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  10. ejstubbs
    Member

    It seems fairly clear on the OS Maps aerial view that the track from Dens Cleugh continues past the trees and joins the drive to Logan Cottage about halfway up. (The Google satellite view is less clear, probably because the trees were in heavier leaf when those images were captured!)

    OSM seems to mark a gate at the point where it claims the track meets the field boundary. I think that may be mistake. It also shows a gate at the foot of the drive to Logan Cottage, which does appear to be borne out by the shadow visible in both the OS and Google aerial views, and on the OS 1:2k map (cf the track to Logan House which is not marked as being gated at the road on either OS 1:25k or OSM, and which does indeed appear from the aerial views not to be gated).

    I'll try to remember to dig out Scottish Hill Tracks when I get home tonight.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  11. redmist
    Member

    Its an obvious track, we go through there on the MTBs fairly regularly in the summer. There are 2 or 3 gates but not sure if they can be opened or not.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  12. steveo
    Member

    No mention of Dens in the hill tracks book.

    Next time I'm out that way I'll keep an eye out for the path. I presume it's obvious when you actually see it.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  13. gembo
    Member

    You are quicker walking than cycling on dens cleugh

    Posted 4 years ago #
  14. steveo
    Member

    It is perennially water logged!

    Posted 4 years ago #

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