Thistle Viaduct and Netherby Estate Walk

This walk commenced from Kirkandrews on Esk Church and it really shows the difference between walking in England and Scotland. In Scotland we have the right to walk anywhere as long as we walk responsibly and adhere to The Country Code. In England there are loads of No Entry signs and No Right of Way signs and this is now the case on Netherby where they really don't want anybody to walk through this lovely estate. We are very lucky in Scotland with no Law of Trespass and we can go anywhere. This is an old Border Keep and I think there are Graham's living in it.  

Kirkandrews Church and it really is a lovely building although its many years since I was inside it and of course the doors are now always locked. 

The first part of the walk took us along the old Waverley railway line and in places it was tough going with loads of Nettles. We were all stung in places but David got the worst of it with his shorts on. 

This is one of the better bits on the line. 

This is Carwinley Mill and it has now been converted into a lovely house. 

The grounds of the old mill have now been turned into a small holiday complex and it has been done very tastefully and looks a lovely place to stay. 

We passed this field of Barley on our walk and it looks as if it is ripening well and wont be too long before its ready to harvest.

After Trespassing on Netherby Estate we expected to be stopped at any time but never saw anybody so managed to steal through unseen. David was thinking of the Newspaper Headlines as we walked through. Retired Deputy Lord Lieutenant of D & G Arrested for trespassing. Our excuse was we were going to Church as that was the only reason you could walk through the Estate but of course that's is only on a Sunday. We walked over the suspension bridge and my goodness it does swing a lot. Ruger was not a happy dog and glad to be over it. 

Tom bringing up the rear.

On the Thistle Viaduct. Tom explained that it used to be a double bridge to take both railway lines and when the line closed in the late 60s they removed one of the bridges.

 

David, Ruger, and myself. At the end of the walk we met the owners of Netherby Estate at Kirkandrews Church and apologised for our trespass. They were very nice about it. One of them was a Graham and her companion was an Elliot so we were among fellow Border Reivers. A very enjoyable walk but it will be the last time I do it as its getting more overgrown on the railway line and I resent not being able to walk through Netherby Estate

A Selkirk Walk With the Last of the Summer Wine Walkers

It is almost a year since we have all been together on a walk in the Borders so it was great to be back together again. It was a special pleasure to see Ken who has been in hospital recently and now hopefully on the road to recovery. Unfortunately Sandria had to call off at the last minute as she was unwell. Our route was a 6 mile walk at Selkirk with part of the route being on the Border Abbey Way

 

I remember this detour through a field to avoid farm buildings from my Border Abbey way walk almost 14 years ago. We did a December walk from Selkirk to Melrose in December 2007 and the temperature at the start was -8C and at Melrose when we finished it was -3C. A few days later I was in Salt Lake City when it reached -25C and then another week later we were in Hawaii when it was 25C

I love this signpost outside the farm near Lindean

John and Elizabeth having a good chat.

This Border Collie gave us a great welcome. We finished our walk with lunch in The Waterwheel Cafe and the service and food was excellent.

A Visit to Beamish and a stay in Newcastle

It is 19 months since we visited Fiona and family in Newcastle so the plan for this visit was to meet them at Beamish on Sunday and then travel to High Heaton to stay a couple of nights with them. It went like clockwork and we all arrived at Beamish within 5 minutes of each other. Its a 4 mile walk right round the place and Gaye managed to do this at her own pace. She is here crossing the railway line. Thanks to Hannah for keeping her company all afternoon.

This was a real treat for me to see them washing down the Shire Horses after they had been ploughing a field. It is what my father would do in the 30s when he worked for the Duchess of Gloucester looking after the Hunter Horses and then eventually Steeplechasers.

These were 2 beautiful Greys

The Town Centre at Beamish where the Girls visited the Bakers and Leo the Sweet Shop

This was Leo's favourite shop

Beamish Railway Station but no trains were working today.

 

After Sundays trip to Beamish I went on Monday for a walk along the Waggonways and then to Paddy Freemans Park where I met this family of Swans in the pond. 

The Waggonways are alive with Hawthorn Blossom at the moment.

Sunday evening and Mario has provided us with a BBQ which was excellent and despite concerns about whether the chicken was fully cooked we have all survived.

A Waterfall in Jesmond Dene

Thes Scooters are regularly hired by students to get about the city.

The Armstrong Bridge

The gentle flowing burn that goes through Jesmond Dean

A spectacular bridge covered in ivy. It really is a lovely place to walk.