Meeting John at Lockerbie

On Wednesday Tom and I met up with John at Lockerbie Station for a last minute organised walk on Eskrigg Nature Reserve. It had been planned as an exchange of Langholm calendars for John. We used to walk every Wednesday and John would visit Langholm to see his mum when she was alive, but now it’s much less frequent although still most enjoyable. 

Posing for photos on a nice seat half way round Eskrigg.  

The view towards the creamery. A lovely walk in great company. We had a nice lunch in Cafe 91 and then John got the train back to Edinburgh and we headed home.

Back Walking Again

This was my first Wednesday walk for over a month as a bout of Achilles Tendonitis has had me confined to just very short walks for over a month. Today with Tom I walked a 4 mile route down the Esk at Longtown via Arthuret Church. This looks to be a new seat in the form of a war memorial.

Arthuret Church which is always worth a look round 

The old Waverley Railway Line which we passed over on our walk

A nice long lane taking us away from the river Esk.

Walking in England nearly always brings Private notices. It always makes us realise how well off we are in Scotland being able to walk anywhere as long as we adhere to the Country Code and respect property. We ignored this sign as it was on a country lane that was surely a right of way and of course we never do anything to cause a problem. 

One of the many ponds next to the river Eskdale.

We argued at length about this raised path, which initially I thought was part of the old railway line, but in the end Tom was right and it looks as if it has been for flood prevention.

The raised banking that we decided was for flood prevention.

A well pruned tree in Longtown. The walk was about 4 miles and despite to poor visibility it was great for me to get back walking again. 

 

Boy's Day out at Melrose

A few weeks ago John and I planned a day out at Melrose and a walk on the river Tweed. That day arrived and what a glorious day it was. Tom and I met Martin, John, and Ken at Tweedbank Station on the train from Edinburgh and we headed to Melrose to start our 4 miles walk.

This is just past the Greenyards Rugby ground the home of Melrose

 This is the Greenyards and in my opinion the most beautiful sighted rugby ground in the country. 

The main square in Melrose. It was a very busy day in the town with loads of visitors.

We soon headed up river and this is the footbridge we will cross at the end of our walk when we return down the other side of the river.

It was a perfect day. Cold at first and no wind but in the sun it became quite warm

There were a few fishermen about but none using the boats

The fastest flowing bit of the river

One of the fishermen just above the footbridge

Heading up river

The footbridge from the other bank near the end of our walk

Time for a rest and a posed photo. Tom, Gavin, Martin, Ken, and John. Good friends for many years and in the case of John and myself for 66 years when I moved to Langholm from Rowanburn and we ended up in the same class at school.

Tom and Ken bringing up the rear. Ken used to love bringing up the rear with Peter Bart-Smith who sadly died in April and they talked mostly politics so Tom is taking over Peter's roll.

These sheep were enjoying the shade

Ken and John, both retired pharmacists.

A lovely stretch of calm water

After the walk we visited a walled garden and orchard next to Melrose Abbey

Martin wanted to see the Apple trees

Still plenty of Apples on them. We enjoyed a lovely lunch after our walk and then took the Edinburgh contingent back to Tweedbank railway station for their 3.20pm train back home. A perfect day out in good company.

 

A Long Awaited Visit to Kippford and Rockcliffe

A long time ago I promised I would take our friends Mark & Leila Hallam to my favourite walk in Dumfries & Galloway along the shore from Kippford to Rockcliffe so today I managed to keep my promise. We left Langholm at 9.00am on a beautiful autumn morning and with high tide set for noon at Kippford we couldn't have picked a better day. Only disappointment was not being able to walk the causway to Rough Island, but that can be an excuse for another visit in the future. 

This is about 10.30am and 90 minutes before high tide

This old Scots Pine is near the car park just as you enter Kippford

This old boat is very photogenic on a high tide.

Some lovely Lillies in one of the local gardens.

The Urr estuary from the high road above the houses

The path from Rockcliffe to Kippford

Rockcliffe beach and the tide coming in, but it was not a very high tide today

A slipway near Rockcliffe

Mark and myself photographed in front of the Tree of the Year in the UK voted by a national newspaper in December 2021. I am disappointed that there is no sign up giving the story of how it was the winner of this award in 2021. 

The Tree of the Year in 2021 and 7th in Europe at the same time.

Mark, Leila, and their lovely dog Henry in front of the famous shell beach in Kippford

Henry has never seen a beach quite like this

Almost high tide

A garden Thistle. We finished our visit after a 4 mile walk with a lovely lunch in the Anchor Hotel

 

A Day at The Benty Show

On Saturday we had a day out at Benty Show. Gaye had 6 entries in the Handicrafts and Plant sections.

This was her best entry and it got a First in a class if 9 entries.

Another First for this Tapestry.

Her Crown of Thorns got a Second.

This Crewel work got 3rd prize.

In the morning we had coffee with Gaye’s friend Wilma and her husband George who live in Bentpath. Wilma was invited by the show committee to present the trophies at the end of the day.

The first trophy she had to present was to herself as she won a cup with these flower's

Some of the large crowd gathered for the presentations at the end of the show.

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