River Esk Walk the Nicest Walk in the Valley

After the excitement of 10 of us walking at Gala last week it was back to a local walk and my favourite but only Niall, Tom, and myself available. Peter and Elizabeth are enjoying glorious weather in the Inner Hebrides and John and Sandria are in Crete. It could be that Peter and Elizabeth are having the better weather. The walk along the river Esk from Canonbie to Langholm is glorious and on a lovely day like yesterday it must be one of the nicest walks in Scotland with loads of wild life to be seen.  

I just love these logs stored in a perfect way 

We hope to re apply to Buccleuch Estates for this walk to be included in our Langholm Walks portfolio after we were turned down by them a good few years ago and hopefully they will change their mind this time. If we get the go ahead I have been promised a seat will be placed here at Hollows overlooking this superb view.

The views of the Esk are spectacular and most of the walk is along the fishers footpaths. This is the new Archimedes Screw powering Hollows Mill.

Lovely Cherry blossom at Hollows Mill

The Mill stream at Hollows Mill for the new power turbine.

I hope nobody was on this ladder when the banking slipped into the river

The following few photographs are of the stretch up to Gilnockie Tower

And the actual tower which is hardly ever visited and wasted as an Armstrong Clan visitor attraction as much more could be done with it if the 2 branches of the Armstrong Clan worked together instead of always being at loggerheads.

We were back onto the old road for a short stretch of the walk and this is the old Hagg on Esk School which has been a private house for as long as I can remember.

The next stretch of the river Esk walk to Irvine House is spectacular and should not be walked if the river is in flood.

The rapids just before Irvine House

The river Tarras joins the Esk and it looks such an inconspicuous river but in fact it is one of the nicest river valleys in Scotland and a hidden gem for wild life 

Irvine House which has been empty for many years but has just been sold by Buccleuch Estates. Let's hope it is soon occupied and maybe will become a small hotel or Sporting Lodge which would be a great asset to the area.