Every morning, from my new home in Innerleithen, a single hill stares me down. Lee Pen. A long, rising ridge that looms above the Tweed Valley like a gentle yet persistent dare.
I’m not the type who feels the need to conquer mountains just for the badge—but this hill was different. Every time I drove past it, it called to me.
So I answered. Not with a leisurely afternoon walk. But with a climb in pitch darkness, to catch the sunrise from the summit.
🎥 Watch the full adventure on YouTube
🌌 A Nighttime Start
It’s 5 AM. The stars are out—Venus bright, Orion overhead, Mars a glowing red dot. The night is alive.
With only my phone and a headlamp, I set off through the woodland. No path, no plan—just instinct. Within minutes, I was lost in the trees, startled by rustling creatures and thrown off course by shadowy swings and unknown forest shapes.
Eventually, I stumbled onto a tarmac path. A gift. Mist was rising off the River Tweed and the world slowly started to shift from night to blue-tinged pre-dawn.
🧭 False Summits and Real Resolve
Climbing a hill for the first time in darkness is disorienting. You’re not sure how far you’ve come—or how far there is to go. But as the light rose, so did my spirits.
I passed Kelly Hill, a lovely perch with views already worth the effort. But Lee Pen wasn’t done. A false summit tricked me, then revealed a daunting final ascent—steep, sweeping, and stunning.
🌄 First Light Over the Borders
Finally, the summit.
From here, the rolling ridges of the Southern Uplands stretch as far as the eye can see. The clouds teased the rising sun, but eventually the light broke through, scattering gold and pink across the landscape.
The view was astonishing. Mist still clung to the Tweed, and a sense of absolute peace and wildness took over.
And yes—one of my favourite shots of the morning? Venus, glowing proudly in the early twilight, captured using just my mobile.
✨ A Personal Climb
This wasn’t about ticking off peaks or setting records. It was about answering a call from the land, from this hill that had become part of my daily life.
“You don’t always need a reason to climb a hill—sometimes, the hill is reason enough.”
🥾 Tips for Early Hill Climbs
Scout the route first (unlike me!)
Bring a headtorch and fully charged phone.
Layers, layers, layers.
Leave early—but watch that sunrise time!
And maybe… don’t go alone if it’s your first climb.
Whether you’re in the Scottish Borders or just dreaming of it, I urge you to find your own Lee Pen. Climb it, greet the sunrise, and feel that ancient pulse of the land beneath your feet.
This place… it rewards those who rise early.
