Arresgill and Westwater Walk

Another Wednesday and we are back into our regular walks. We started at Westwater and walked back along the farm road to the main Langholm to Lockerbie road and for a mile we had little or no traffic to contend with which is always good on a main road. This is the HaHa in front of the house at Westwater and very attractive it is. 

Back of the main road at Wauchope Schoolhouse we headed up the Arresgill road and the first farm is Cleuchfoot where the farmer has had so much hassle over Buccleuch Estates wanting him off the land. This looks a lovely flock of sheep and will be due to lamb in April. Tom and I enjoyed a good crack with the farmer and his wife and we left wishing him well for the forthcoming lambing season.

This is looking up the valley from just beyond Cleuchfoot up to Arresgill

Yours truly on the bridge at Cleuchfoot. It was a biting cold wind so wrapping up warm was a necessity unlike last week when it was a glorious day up in Stennies Valley

This is a new forestry road up the valley and the surface is excellent, although in wet weather it may be a bit muddy.

As we head back up the hill and back towards Westwater this house is at a place called Shaw. It used to be a shepherds cottage and over the last few years has been subject to renovation by and for Simon Richardson the Forestry Contractor. What a great job they have made of it. The work looks excellent and built to last for many years on a spectacular site with wonderful views. Hopefully it will be lived in soon and it will be a fabulous family home. 

Tom well wrapped up to keep warm against the biting wind.

Our 5 mile route along the 2 valleys.

A Walk up The Stennies Water Valley

This was the first time for weeks that Tom and I have walked together on a Wednesday. During Lockdown this year he has made Golf a priority but came to his senses today and joined me on a walk up Stennies Water. The weather was glorious and this was the first time I have ever walked up this remote valley. It is a real hidden gem and well worth a visit. 

There are large deer fences about and you can see how well the trees have grown within the fences

The old farm building at Under Stenieswater is occupied but must be the remotest house in the area

The river is crystal clear and would be ideal for white water canoeing

This is a bridge about a mile up from Crooks

This is our route from Crooks to Under Stennieswater. It took us just over 2 hours to walk the round trip of 5.5 miles in glorious sunshine with hardly a breath of wind. 

Tommy on the Ski Slopes of Sierra Nevada

This is our Grandson Tommy skiing recently in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. He just loves the outdoor life and has become an expert skier as has Eleanor and our youngest grandson Elliot who has come on leaps and bounds this year. The scenery at this ski resort is just fantastic.  

Lockdown Photographs in February and early March

It has been a month since I last posted photos on my Blog. In that time I have hardly been anywhere and all I have done is a daily 4 mile walk on average. This is upper Tarras Valley which is one of my favourite places to walk locally

It's been a good year for Snowdrops although they were at least a week later in coming out this winter

Crimson Elf Cup taken at Canonbie on my weekly walk with Mike Tinker. I have learnt such a lot walking with him as his knowledge of these is excellent. 

This is the new repaired bridge on Easton's Walk. Thanks to Ross Gemmell the D & G Council Ranger who helps us to look after the Langholm network of walks.

Gaye on our regular Snowdrop walk at Westerhall

Gaye has spent Lockdown doing this Crewel work and this is the result which will be framed soon

One of the Feral Goats on my Tarras valley walk

This was take in upper Tarras on Monday 1st March. A glorious spring day.

I feed this Robin regularly on my walk round the Lodge Walks and he is always waiting for me.

Me and the Tin Man at Rowanburn recently

A Selfie at The Round House

More Snowdrops on The Lodge Walks

My favourite bird The Dipper

I love this tree which is on the track above Rowanburnhead. This was taken on Sunday 7th March.

One of the many Oystercatchers that move to Langholm at this time of the year

Snow at our Daughter Fiona's street in Newcastle

A Snowball Fight in Newcastle

More Snowdrops

 Our American family skiing recently in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. They all love skiing and Tommy in the yellow is becoming a star at just 9 years old. His father Fraser cannot keep up with him now.