From Dumfries to Glencaple

Today's walk took us to Glencaple on the River Nith where we caught a bus into Dumfries for the 6 mile walk back.

The tide was fully in so it made the harbour at Kingholm Quay look much more presentable.

The river Nith at high tide with Criffel in the background. We were very lucky with the weather. It had rained most of the way over to Glencaple but cleared up when we arrived and we did the walk without any rain. On our way home it poured down between Annan and Langholm.

Tom bringing up the rear. He has had a very busy Common Riding and was quite tired.

As we got close to Glencaple we discovered this bridge was broken and with it being high tide there was no way we could get over this stream running into the Nith. We back tracked a bit and rolled under a barbed wire fence and eventually we jumped the stream. It's a good job we are young and fit as I don't know what we would have done if we had been 3 old men. It added about half a mile to the walk and our JUMP was quite tricky. When we arrived back at Glencaple we had lunch in the Boathouse Cafe. It was nice but it's very noisy with poor acoustics.

Castle Craig’s on Common Riding Day

This year my friend John and I had decided to visit the Castle Craig’s on Common Riding day to hear the Fair Crying there. We watched Cornet Jeffrey go round the Pump at Buccleuch Square and then walked up to Whitshiels where John had parked his car. Our Fiona had joined us for the experience. We were soon at MacDiarmid memorial and then walked to Castle Craig’s. 

David Stevenson with Jock Corrie proving it’s not just for the younger rider.

Cornet Henry Jeffrey arrives at The Castle Craig’s.

It was a new experience for me in Common Riding day and I will certainly do it again but next time include The Monument as well.

A Grand Walk in The Lake District and St John's in the Vale

It has been at least 2 months since we last walked with Peter so he organised a walk in the Lake District for us today. We started by picking up John from the Edinburgh train at Carlisle station and then going on to Peter and Elizabeth's at Aglionby. We headed to the village of Legburthwaite where our walk started from. It was a 6 mile walk over High Rigg and Low Rigg and finished with the return part through St. John's in the Vale. We ended our day out back at Aglionby where Elizabeth provided us with a superb buffet. A very tiring day but most enjoyable in good company with loads of laughs.

Nial and Peter catching up on all the news as we walked between High and Low Rigg.

St. John's in the Vale Church built in 1845

A view of Thirlmere in the distance. This provides water to Manchester.

A small Tarn just before we descended into St John's in the Vale.

A Grand Wedding

We were invited to the evening dance for Caroline and Roberts wedding near Rockcliffe in Cumbria. It was a most unusual setting in a small wood. Thankfully the weather was glorious which made it a superb setting. Just as we arrived Langholm Pipe Band were entertaining the guests.

Gaye with her good friends Wilma and Mary and their husbands.

Violet Cavers joined them for this photo. Violet was my mother’s next door neighbour for many years and was extremely good to my mum.

The wedding marquee in the background

Everybody enjoying the evening sunshine in the wood

Lennie and Nina Bell with Gaye and the bride Caroline. We left early to take Lennie home as he was not very well.

My blog at the moment is being posted from my phone as I am having a few problems uploading photos to my Mac but will consult my Apple expert to get it sorted when we visit California soon.

Another Newcastleton Walk

We had a limited time available for this weeks walk so we headed off in the rain to Copshaw to do a 6 mile walk and be back in plenty of time for Niall to attend a meeting about Langholm Moor with Buccleuch Estates. The weather gradually improved and by the end of the walk it was warm and sunny.

This was the highest point of the walk. We completed the 6 miles in just over 2 hours and we’re back in Langholm by noon. Tom and I lunches at Whitshiels while Niall had a quick break and then headed to his important meeting.

A Visit from Doreen and Norman

This is Findlay. All their dogs in recent years have been named after Scottish rugby internationalists. He has had major

Surgery in the last few weeks but is recovering well.

A group photo. It will be 2 years since we were last all together. Hopefully we will meet up again in Wales next year.

Gaye and Doreen have been friends for about 50 years.

We visited Samye Ling and in the small loch there we saw 3 families of Ducks.

The Monastery at Samye Ling and when Doreen and Norman last visited it was only built on one side instead of the 4 now.

Bowling and a Pizza Evening at Arkleton

This was our annual Last of the Summer Wine Bowling afternoon and it was a perfect day with glorious weather.

After the Bowling we headed to Arkleton Walled Garden for a Pizza Evening and it was a most enjoyable evening in a superb setting with wonderful food.

The ladies all looking very smart and enjoying the garden.

We were all seated under an awning and it was the perfect setting for our meal.

We were shown round the garden by Alex and he explained what was being done to restore the very old greenhouse.