Clothing and Equipment
Five simple words ease the vexed question of what to wear and what to take on a walk: conditions determine clothing and equipment. Whether that walk is a leisurely stroll on a balmy summer evening, or a mountain hike on a particularly tempestuous day in February, the answer is always the same. Conditions underfoot and overhead will determine the clothing and footwear needed, and what extra equipment, if any, to take in the sack.
Conditions Underfoot
What to Expect on the Border Hills and the Southern Uplands
The Cheviot Hills, Tweeddale, Ettrick Forest and the Tweedsmuir Hills, at levels below 1500ft (457m), are traversed either by farm tracks or grass-covered paths and invariably provide good dry walking. Above 1500ft (457m) conditions vary a great deal, from narrow dry traces over short and springy grass (as found on Hedgehope and Broad Law), to trenches of glutinous peat (the summit plateau of Cheviot).
Areas of wet peat do give the observant walker warning signals. Should a summit or ridge exhibit ‘legs’ of heather running down from the top (similar to a rich brandy sauce flowing over a Christmas pudding), beware, there are peat hags and wet conditions on the apex. Avoid patches of bright-green moss such as sphagnum or featherbed, as they invariably grow over wet-holes. Cotton grass and rushes also signal water underfoot and should be given a wide berth if possible. Bilberry, bents and molinia grass on the other hand signal dry paths, so choose your footwear accordingly.
Lightweight boots or well-soled walking shoes for the lower levels, middleweight leather boots for the higher levels, and leather, rigid-soled boots for scrambling and rock traverses are recommended. Footwear chosen wisely will shorten the journey – take the wrong option and the walk could be a disaster. The question of how many socks to wear is a matter of personal choice, the guideline – be comfortable.
Conditions Overhead
What to expect on the Border Hills and the Southern Uplands
The area, being situated in the eastern half of the country, is not prone to the excess precipitation experienced around Fort William or in the English Lakes. Nor does it suffer from severe cold due to high altitude, as the hills rarely exceed 2500ft (762m), although occasionally, when the air stream is from the northeast, the winds are known locally as ‘thin’. Hours of sunshine are also above the national average, but because of the latitude temperatures never become unbearable. You need clothes to keep you warm and dry in winter, and in summer choose loose-fitting garments made of natural fibres that breathe freely. Also take a hat to protect against the sun’s rays, and carry a large, filled waterbottle.
Two physical factors are of prime importance to the hill walker: temperature and moisture. If both are in balance and agreeable to the pedestrian then the walk will be a pleasure. Should that not be so, and the hiker is ill prepared and ill equipped, he or she is unwisely exposing him or herself to the twin risks of hypothermia and dehydration/heat exhaustion. Hypothermia can strike if the temperature of the body core drops below 37°C in continuous cold and wet conditions. Dehydration or heat exhaustion can be induced by exposing the body, and in particular the head, to excess heat, coupled with an inadequate liquid intake.
Wind is a major factor in deciding what to wear and can have a marked effect in both winter and summer on the Border hills. In winter there is always the threat of a chilling northeaster, so the wind chill factor must always be considered. An increase of 10mph in wind speed can reduce the temperature from 18°C to 7°C, or in colder conditions from 10°C to -13°C. Also bear in mind the lapse rate. The higher the climb, the lower the temperature – for every 1000ft (305m) there is a reduction of about 3°C.
Experienced and committed walkers are sure to carry their favourite talismans to protect them from the evil eye of the elements. For those not yet into the mystique of what’s in the walker’s sack (which should be lined with a binliner), let me list the essentials that are needed for high- and low-level walks in the Borders.
High Level
A windproof and waterproof anorak or cagoule, waterproof overtrousers or gaiters, a woolly hat (cotton in the summer), woollen gloves or mitts, and a survival bag. High-energy food (the average high-level walk in this guide will burn up 1500 calories above the normal metabolic rate), with a hot drink in winter and large filled waterbottle in summer. Emergency rations such as dried fruit, chocolate, glucose