Yair "Forest Trail" Run 3/11/07
The view looking back down the first part of the run.
Scott texted to ask if I wanted to come along to Yair Forest on Saturday for a bit of a run. Despite the cross country planned for Sunday I immediately called him back to say okay. His plan was to run from near Selkirk, pick up the Southern Upland Way then drop down the Minchmoor Rd to make a circuit of what the online information said was about 9 miles. I had never heard of this route and neither had Amanda who was led to believe it was going to be a forest run which she interpreted as a flattish trail through trees.
Due to in-car banter and a circle on a map in the wrong spot we found ourselves starting out from a different point than planned but a good place to start never the less. We parked beside a bridge over the Tweed at Fairnilee Farm where a slightly rabid gamekeeper was keeping an eye on some canoeists who were "terrifying" the fish by paddling down the river. Presumably this is more scary for the fish than being hauled out the water on a hook through the mouth before being clubbed to death. The S.U.W was clearly marked and regular signs kept us well informed. Soon we were off road and to Amanda's chagrin heading up a hill. To Scott's credit there were trees - a forest even - but it was definitely quite hilly. Recriminations followed. (They had started in the car where Amanda found the route description in Scott's hillwalking book.) We stopped briefly for a photo at the Three Brethren. I think Scott was telling Amanda what they are there for - but I wasn't paying attention, just really enjoying being out in what has turned out to be a spectacular Autumn compared to the dismal summer. I think that's the Eildon hills beside Melrose in the distance...
From here it was fairly flat and very pleasant running on very good surfaces with the weather improving by the minute. Following the Old Drove Road we eventually came to the sign for Minchmoor Road which isn't a road but a grassy trail that descends to Yarrowford and the Youth Hostel at Broadmeadows.
Heather crop circles
Beware feathered friends, the green-welly brigade are out with murder in mind.
At times the sun was breaking through and there were blue skies.
Back over the Tweed to the car.
The route turned out to be just over 13 miles which took about 2hrs 30 at a leisurely pace. The day was so beautiful that everyone was in best spirits and Amanda even forgave Scott for the hills. I really enjoyed the run which was a lot more successful (both in map-reading and runnability) than a previous trip to the Lammermuirs where we had ended up wading through swamps with head-high shrubs and grass. Amanda has a flair for producing pan-european delicacies on such occasions. This weekend we tried out sports marshmallows - a carboloading treat from Germany, which came in cola or wheat-beer flavour. Not as popular as the box of chocolate snacks (despite the name) produced after the Lammermuirs fiasco.....
