Logged Visits:

2nd Sep 2023  13:41  by Lynnebe

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

Parked as others on layby on B6496 - 687517. Great grassy track to summit of Dirrington Little Law. Some heather, but mainly Grouse butt paths and good tracks down to Kippet Law Cottage. Good track most of way up Dirrington Great Law, but some deep heather mid way. Shorter higher. Recumbent trig found. Down SE then SW on mainly good tracks. Left track to cut across fieldvto Kettelshiel Bridge, then 1.5km back along quiet road to car. 9.6km, sunny & dry. Lovely views throughout.

22nd Apr 2022  07:25  by G4VFL

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

SOTA activation GM/SS-225

16th Jan 2022  12:59  by TeamZigZag

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

©TeamZigZag

14th Aug 2021  13:30  by Schmuppets

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

From Stobswood, climbed both hills. Super views, I quite liked the horizontal pillar actually and the cross on the Little Law is an interesting bonus. Saw a few little lizards, lots of birds, a big colourful caterpillar - and an adder!

Dirrington Great Law ©Schmuppets

24th Jul 2021  17:36  by NJM

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 8/10

Second visit, same route as previously from Kettleshiel. There is good parking on the B6456 a couple of minutes walk E of Kettleshiel past the plantation on the N side of the road. Spoke with a helpful estate worker on a quad bike as I walked towards the quarry. Although the 'Private, Guard Dogs' notices are off-putting the estate is planning to reinstate the path through the field to link the road to the track. They've no objection to those like us who wish to climb either of the Dirringtons - apparently more climb DLL to visit the cross. A glorious day, views outstanding. With even more wind turbines being erected a short distance to the north I realised as I sat on the top that the Dirringtons mark the boundary between wind turbine overdevelopment to the north and turbine-free Borders countryside to the south...

View West Storm's OS Pillar #277
View North
View South East
View North West

6th Apr 2021  11:16  by Moira293

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

We were initially intending to approach from Kettleshiel however we couldn't find an appropriate parking space plus the track had a Private Access sign so we decided to attack from the east. Dronshiel itself is obviously also private access however we found a suitable roadside parking space adjacent to an open gate just south of Dronshiel. Clear tracks and paths through the heather to the summit and ground dry underfoot. The weather was closing in by the time we reached the summit and when the hail started we decided to start heading back down. One to return to in the summer in order to gain fuller appreciation of the panoramic views.

Moi reclining on the trig ;-)
The trig

30th Oct 2020  00:00  by Llondon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 7/10

18th Oct 2020  13:30  by descarte1

Gridref: NT 69812 54925   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 8/10

Badly damaged pillar. Top + spider removed. Pillar has been toppled. Large chunks out of each corner halfway down probably used to give the towrope something to grip to. Probably used a vehicle to try to drag the pillar off but maybe found it a little harder work than expected! Superb views from the top. Came up the same route as Nick & Rosie. FB now faces north-ish with all visible sightholes open (west-ish sighthole is buried). Bolt visible.

12th Oct 2020  10:34  by Oldhortus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Made more of a walk by taking in Dirrington Little Law first then cutting across to Dirrington Great Law. Lovely walk with great views.

26th Jul 2020  15:33  by Border Peat

Gridref: NT 69807 54921   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 10/10

Good all round views

©Border Peat
©Border Peat

22nd Jan 2020  10:00  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

Route as Nick & Rosie. Nice parking space just past Kettleshiel to the East. Nice day, not a breath of wind.

22nd Dec 2019  14:54  by Nick&Rosie

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 8/10

Parked at Kettelshiel. The track shown running down the W side of the plantation has been 'moved', it is now accessed between a green farm shed and the cottages 100m or so to the E and leads through the plantation before joining the track shown on the maps. Just before the disused quarries on Hallywell Rig another track forks off to the right, and leads NE to the summit of Dronshiel Hill, where it becomes an ATV track that continues to, and then follows, a wall that leads NW up the shoulder of the hill. Crossing the wall at its highest point, another ATV track leads the remaining few metres to the summit where the TP is easily found. A much easier ascent than I had anticipated, about 50 minutes from car to summit. Fabulous views.

View North
View East From the western of the two cairns on the summit
View South With Rosie
View West From the eastern cairn
Panorama

8th Dec 2019  16:02  by Old-hortus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

31st Dec 2018  21:17  by Felthamboy

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

10th Oct 2018  16:50  by greenbell

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 8/10

A late afternoon treat, Twin Law in the distance fading in the afternoon haze, faint aroma of peat fires in the distance, all is aglow - including me. Not marked on OS.

22nd Sep 2018  17:05  by Walker Dan

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Moved  Score: 7/10

The walk up wasn't as steep as the contours indicated which is always a nice surprise. Why anyone would try and move it is a bit strange.

12th May 2018  11:10  by trigrunner

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Run up from off nearby road.

16th Oct 2017  16:39  by jonglew

Gridref: NT 69808 54926   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Roadside parking on minor road to the E. Path tracks due S through felled plantation towards Blacksmill Hill, then WNW to the top. Other than being toppled it's in a sorry state with the spider gone, although the FB is extant. All sight holes open. Cloud down, no views.

Pillar TP2790©jonglew
Top TP2790©jonglew
Flush Bracket TP2790©jonglew

16th Oct 2017  14:29  by mntainman

Gridref: NT 69810 54924   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

5th Sep 2017  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NT 69811 54920   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Gate and track all way to top off drive to Dronshiel to NE, at NT 7075 5559. Also a Marilyn summit 25m to east of trig

12th Aug 2016  11:20  by NormanW

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

11th Mar 2016  11:56  by Fester

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

10th Aug 2015  17:00  by Borderer

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

Followed the overgrown track from Dronshiel to the east. It would be nice to know the story behind this pillar as it appears to be not only toppled but damaged with chunks of concrete missing and deep scratches, no spider plate but flush bracket unscathed. Great views.

©Borderer

2nd May 2015  14:46  by Robert Phillips

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

19th Mar 2015  16:30  by tim747

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 4/10

2nd Sep 2014  08:04  by g4wsb

Gridref: NT 69806 54921   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

©g4wsb
©g4wsb
©g4wsb

11th Oct 2013  14:05  by ocean soul

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Walked up from bridge over Kippetlaw Burn .. Pillar toppled .. Good views ..

10th May 2013  15:00  by ger

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

Marilyn bagging visit.

24th Feb 2013  17:09  by RichTea

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Toppled  Score: 6/10

23rd May 2012  07:45  by KevP

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 8/10

Started from bridge over Kippetlaw Burn avoiding any access issues relating to Dronshiel. Trig seems to be stable in its reclining position. Top of trig seems to have received quite a battering, chunks missing. Gave score of 8 as lovely warm quiet summit area all to myself.

21st Aug 2011  13:00  by fasgadh

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Uprooted since my last visit in 2004. Great views and heather blossom. Ascent from Dronshiel Bridge.

Dirrington Great Law Uprooted©fasgadh
Dirrington Great Law Summit area with leaning pillar.©fasgadh
Dirrington Great Law ©fasgadh

11th Jul 2009  16:00  by dugswell2

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 6/10

3rd Lammermuir top of the day from SE of Dronsheil...dry and clear.

13th Jun 2009  19:01  by Aye Jimmy

Gridref: NT 69808 54923   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 5/10

Done from the ESE. Got caught in thunderstorm on way back, quite scary - very open area with me the highest thing around!

Dirrington Great Law Askew, FB intact. May be optical illusion, but trig looks more upright than in Clochandighter's photo! A bit of thoughtful digging underneath and it might topple back upright...?
Dirrington Great Law Flush bracket.
Dirrington Great Law Location.
Dirrington Great Law Big deg approaching from Eildon...

30th May 2009  15:43  by vegibagger

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Damaged  Score: 5/10

This pillar has the fairly unique flush bracket number S6699 that reads the same upside down!! There aren't many others. Second visit with Jamie 30/5/09 sunshine, trig diappointingly at bout 40degree angle. En route to Annual marilyn baggers gathering in Strontian

©vegibagger
©vegibagger
©vegibagger
©vegibagger

23rd May 2009  09:40  by Sandman

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Damaged  Score: 6/10

22nd Nov 2008  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 7/10

Toppled beside its hole, 25m W of summit cairn, spider gone and sides hacked. FB intact. Nice steep heathery hill, decent view. Straightforward ascent from ENE.

26th Apr 2008  18:35  by coinea

Gridref: NT 69802 54920   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 4/10

S6699 Dirrington Great Law.m

26th Apr 2008  18:19  by clochandighter

Gridref: NT 69807 54921   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Toppled  Score: 4/10

Revisit. Overall approach from east. Parked to NE side of public road at NT702551. Followed mapped path south to high point then turned WNW taking a beeline route to the summit following the boundary fence. Heather clad hill and summit. This pillar has now been uprooted and toppled. At least two serious acts of felony in recent years. This would have required a lot of effort and possibly a large vehicle. Finger of suspicion (without actual proof) points to somebody local, and possibly with mental health issues. This isolated hill in the Lammermuirs is too rural for such damage to be the handywork of urban vandals. Detailed report now on Trigonomy mailings. Distinctive hill on grouse moor with rewarding views.

S6699 - Dirrington Great Law fallen pillar & FB
S6699 spider gone
S6699 not chuffed - me
S6699 looking northeast

6th May 2007  12:47  by andyc

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Damaged  Score: 7/10

Excellent views across the Lammermuirs. Interested to note that OS have deleted this from the latest online mapping although its still on my 4 year old explorer. Spider gone but FB still there. I wonder what is OS Policy on how damaged a trig has to be to be removed from maps?

4th Dec 2006  21:21  by stonestreaker

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Damaged  Score: 8/10

love this hill- the mini area feels like a volcanic landscape like a bit of tenerife in a fridge. no trig marked on my map- i just brought the camera for the sunset!

18th Jan 2004  09:30  by fasgadh

Gridref: NT 69811 54918   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Damaged  Score: 8/10

Somebody has had a good go at this one. Got the spider, but the fb is still there. The concrete is tough, so a fair bit of the pillar remains, sat between two tumuli. Very grousy hill, somewhat isolated from the rest of the Lammermuirs and a very fine view. Got down just as the rain was starting.

Dirrington Great Law The pillar©fasgadh
Dirrington Great Law Close up of some of the damage.©fasgadh
Dirrington Great Law The hill from the north.©fasgadh

8th Mar 2003  00:00  by agentmancuso

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Damaged  Score: 5/10

2nd Oct 2002  12:00  by iainmac

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 7/10

S6699

2nd Sep 2000  15:23  by arranc

Gridref: NT 69800 54900   FB Number: S6699  Condition: Damaged  Score: 5/10

18th Feb 2000  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 6/10

No details noted - average mounded hill, simple climb, pleasant stony summit

1st Jan 2000  08:00  by Chalky

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 7/10

Choose this hill to witness the sun rising in the new millennium due to it's clear aspect in that direction, a good choice.

6th Jan 1996  10:50  by vegibagger

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Damaged  Score: 3/10

day dawns grey and dreich. I am going to be in the doghouse with girlfriend Michelle for staying in Penicuik an extra day just so I can check state of this trig for answering an Angry Corrie Xmas quiz question, after going to Meikle Says law and Spartleton yesterday, also in cloud. DGL stretches like a Kilimanjaro into the mist. Crikey it is only 398m but cloud is down at 280m. finally get to the proof that this is the very dilapidated trig pillar answer for the quiz. Fantasize about silly plans of coming back with friends and shuttering ,sand and cement and create a new original shaped replacement top for it as an Art Project. Second visit 30/5/2009 sunshine, trig now disappointingly has been pushed over and now at about 40degree angle, with top facing approx west and flush bracket north.

26th Jun 1993  15:00  by clochandighter

FB Number: S6699  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

First visit. To record FB number. HISTORY Pillar completed 7th December 1951 costing £20.18s.0d. Computed as secondary triangulation station NT86/4 within the Berwick secondary block during 1953. This station was also used for the reconnaissance of secondary block NT72 (Jedburgh) during 1957, and levelled to second class precision in 1958. This pillar station was last maintained by the Ordnance Survey in August 1971, and is recorded in the archives as having been destroyed in June 2002. SITE VISIT Still in good condition 23rd June 1993. Cannot find my original paper record from site visit, but I am certain that the pillar was still in good nick and the that spider was still in situ 26/06/1993. Passed over this top on a continuous walk from Kelso to Dunbar. Recorded destroyed June 2002.

30th Jun 1983  19:00  by Bridgeman

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Evening walk with wife from the road to the east.

Dirrington Great Law Trig point ©Bridgeman