Piper has a rule: if she can see the summit, we are not allowed to stop for snacks until we reach it. This rule is enforced with considerable enthusiasm.
We set off from the car park just after six, mist still sitting in the valley and the path empty except for a pair of curlews. The first mile is gentle woodland — good for warming up and letting Piper work through her morning zoomies before the climb proper begins.
The climb
Once you leave the trees the path steepens and the views open up fast. It’s a steady pull rather than anything technical, but you’ll want decent boots and a wind layer even on a mild day. Piper handled the rocky sections without fuss; border collies seem to treat uneven ground as a personal challenge.
Worth knowing
- Car park fills early on sunny weekends — arrive before nine if you can
- One stile near the halfway mark; dogs can go under the fence on the left
- No bins on the route; pack everything out
- Allow three to four hours with breaks and summit time
We ate cheese rolls at the top, watched the cloud shadow move across the next ridge, and let Piper chase nothing in particular for ten happy minutes. A good hill day. We’ll be back in autumn when the bracken turns copper.
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