"I parked beside the B6356 road near the start of the road/track and parallel path to Cowdenknowes Mains. Along the path and then a lane towards Black Hill. The OS 1:25,000 map shows a footpath going up the steepish NW slopes of Black Hill. I followed a narrow path to the summit that more or less followed the line shown on the map. There are quite a few other narrow paths or animal tracks. It was a bright sunny day, dry but cold, with extensive views from the summit. I found a broad grassy path/track going down the easy gradients to the NE, not shown on the OS map, so followed it. I took a left fork to join the path/track from Whitefield and so back to the vicinity of Cowdenknowes. NB this track from Whitefield does not go through the forest. The track going through the forest, which is shown on the OS map, is now choked with vegetation. I later found in a booklet of walks round Earlston that taking the right fork also provides an easy route to Cowdenknowes round the SE side of the hill." — peter43 • Nov 18, 2019