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The
Grey Mare’s Tail is a spectacular waterfall with the tail burn
dropping 61m (200 ft) into a gorge forming the fifth highest cascade
in Britain. The area around these falls belongs to the National
Trust for Scotland.
The
waterfall is located on the A708,
Selkirk to Moffat road leading from the Scottish Borders into
Dumfries and Galloway. Grey Mares Tail is a striking example of a
hanging valley created by glaciers thousands of years ago. The 200ft
waterfall is named after the grey mare in Tam O’Shanter, the
famous poem by Robert Burns.
Sir Walter Scott
wrote in Marmion:
Where deep deep down, and
far within, toils
with the rocks the roaring linn;
Then
issuing forth one foamy wave, and
wheeling round the giant's grave
White
as the snowy charger's tail, drives
down the pass of Moffatdale
Grey
Mare's Tail Nature Reserve
There
is a car park at the visitor centre where you can begin your walk.
Select the short ten minute walk up the left side of the valley to
view the waterfall in its entirety or pick the route on the right
taking you all the way to the top where Loch Skene presents itself
nestled surprisingly in the hills. This walk will take you about an
hour to reach the base of Loch Skene. Sturdy footwear is advised and
the weather can change dramatically even in the summer so its worth
taking waterproof clothing with you.
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| The view from the
starting point on the route to the right of the falls. Its a
steep climb but the footpaths are well defined. |
Further up the path,
the main part of the waterfall comes into view. The footpaths
were upgraded thanks to contributions from Scottish Natural
Heritage and the European Union. |
These
photographs were taken on the 25th of April 2005 and although a very
sunny day, the wind was a touch on the cold side as we gained
height. Most of the featured photographs were taken with a small
digital compact, a Canon Ixus which I take with me most everywhere.
Careful viewpoint and consideration for composition are often more
important than clutching a handful of expensive equipment.
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| This is above the
highest part of the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall but there are
many photogenic scenes on route to Loch Skene. The resulting
photograph is on the right. |
The path closely
follows most of the falls and the burn above and you are never
too far from the sound of rushing water. |
Feral goats have been
roaming the steeper slopes for at least two hundred years.
They are quite at home with walkers passing by. These two were
reluctant to move from the other side of the burn as I edged
closer for a photograph. |
Loch
Skene is the only large natural upland loch in the Southern
Uplands outwith Galloway. Since the Ice-Age a huge moraine1 has
held water in the rock basin. It's over 500m above sea level and
Loch Craig and Water Craig rise a further 300m to reach 780 m.
Moraine.
When a glacier moves down a drainage or a valley, it pushes ahead of
itself a large burden of debris, known as glacial till. This debris
is completely unsorted by the long term geological processes that
usually separate materials and is composed of gravels, dirt and
clay, and large and small boulders call glacial erratics.
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| The view from the foot of Loch
Skene where the burn descends to make the Grey Mare's Tail. The loch is
unpolluted and relatively undisturbed and I know a couple of anglers who
fish here for wild brown trout. |
Crouching down to select the rock
as foreground interest helps give depth to the image on the left. The
small island provides a suitable midway point with Loch Craig (780m)
high above in the background. |
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One of my walking poles has a tripod screw
which is quite handy in high winds or when the light is low. I much
prefer to travel light if possible. Another waterfall can be located
east of Loch Skene - Dob's Lin named after Halbert Dobson, a covenanter
who sought refuge there from religious persecution in the 17th century.
This gorge is now quite famous for its rich fossil beds.
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| Its always worth walking
round Loch Skene the low route or the high route over Water Craig
and Loch Craig |
Descending from Loch Skene
late afternoon and the low sun picks out the form of the land. The
car park is a small speck below. Careful footwork is advised. |
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