Now that the ground has dried out after the summer rains, conditions are superb for hill walking here in Scotland right now. Here I am out the back earlier today ready to tackle a local minor summit, Galalaw.

It was crisp and frosty along the trail.

The tripod must have been a wee bit tispy.

The low winter sun casts long shadows.

Kissin's oot o' season when the gorse is no in bloom.
True to the old saying, even in wintertime a few gorse bushes in flower are to be found by the top of the sunny south facing slope.

A view looking across the Teviot Valley, with in the foreground the old Galalaw farm steading, beyond and below is Burnfoot housing estate and beyond and below that the town of Hawick nestles in the valley floor.