Culter Fell

A post-Christmas 2016 amble through the hills around Coulter reservoir near Biggar. The Clyde Wind Farm is encroaching towards Culter itself, but some views are still turbine free.

Rough track by Culter reservoir

This track to the SW of the reservoir soon peters out. We struck a line up towards Dod Hill.

Turbine tower on Dod Hill

The track meanders through the low ground with occasional glimpses of the tops around us.

Wasteland

Looking SW from near Dod Hill, wind turbines extend across Camps towards the Lowthers.

All along the 30 metre wide tracks are newly erected turbine towers with Siemens site offices and hired plant. In time, the tracks and the turbines will become less obtrusive as the heavy plant is removed and the vegetation returns.

Generators

These generators are ready to be lifted in place. The sound of a diesel generator, perhaps temporariy powering tower-top lights for civil aviation requirements seemed somewhat out of place in the context of an electrical grid connected network.

Hillshaw Head

Seen from 'The Bank' towards Hillshaw Head, and Gathersnow rising to the left. Some previously open and wild parts of the Southern Uplands are being industrialised at a rapid pace.

Culter Reservoir from above

On Gathersnow, Tinto rising beond.

Gathersnow Hill

I quite like the shadows and converging lines here.

Sunlight on Culter Fell

Descending Glenwhappen Rig towards Holm Nick, a few granite extrusions push out of the steep, wet ground.

East facing corrie on Culter Fell

The town of Biggar in the background. The steep ground held onto some snow. The winter so far has been dry with few storms and mostly mild air. This snow is a legacy from 'Storm Conor'.