Tom's Birthday Walk in Copshaw

After last weeks cancelled joint Birthday Walk for Tom & David we managed to fit in a Birthday walk for Tom on his actual 72nd Birthday today. We did a 7 mile walk at Copshaw Holm and were lucky for most of the walk with the exception of one heavy shower of rain during the last mile. 

The walk took us through part of the 7 Stanes Trail area and this is a bridge across the Whithaugh Burn. There are lots of walking and cycling trails in the area and during the summer months it is very popular especially with Mountain Bikers

After the Forest section of the walk we came out near Old Castleton and Tom insisted we visit the local cemetery. Whenever we visit a cemetery I always look for the predominant name and in this instance it is Elliot. This has become quite relevant to our family as our new Grandson has been named Elliot.

Although it was a lot milder today there was still a bit of snow on the north facing side of the hills

On the way back along the road to Newcastleton Tom insisted on walking over this disused bridge over the Liddel. Only Peter followed him with the rest of us using the new bridge. There was a barbed wire fence at the end of the bridge and Peter managed to get through the gap between the fence and the bridge.

But Tom got well and truly stuck

So assistance was required to get him over the barbed wire fence

So with much grunting and groaning he made it although there may be a problem with his trousers.

On the outskirts of Newcastleton (Copshaw Holm) there is an old church being converted into a house and next to the church is the manse. At the door of the manse is this set of stone steps for the minister to mount his horse from.

I just love Beech hedges and this is one of the nicest in the area surrounding the grounds of the old church. We completed our Birthday Walk with an excellent lunch in the Grapes Hotel.