My friend Bruce Latimer arrived in Langholm for the Common Riding today and I spent the morning with him. We drove from The Cross keys where he is staying to Newcastleton and then over the Langholm Moor to the upper Tarras Valley which hopefully will be owned by the community by Friday. We had a paddle at the Ford at Arkleton cottage.
The bridge at Newcastleton
Bruce enjoying his paddle in the Tarras
It's 3 years since Bruce was last in Langholm. He lives near Hastings in Kent.
In Newcastleton they are building new flood defences. The village has been badly flooded twice in the last few years so hopefully this will prevent that from happening again. These bags of granite chips and sand form the basis for the barrier.
It's not a huge barrier and there are only 2 workers doing the whole job but it should raise the embankment by about 3 feet at least so hopefully it will work.
It's over a year since Gaskell's Walk closed as a result of a dangerous bridge having to be removed due to the erosion of the gully. At last and after only 3 days work the new route bypassing the bridge opened today. It has been a difficult process getting it sorted and especially organising the financial side of it.
The slope down to the old path is fairly steep but that should not be a problem.
The Contractor even put a new seat in overlooking Latimers warehouse. I had earmarked a Recycled Plastic seat for there but I think I have found another place for it so its a win/win situation.
It's a nice seat but like all wooden seats they have a limited lifespan.
The winding path along the top of the wood.
2 comments:
Well done for helping to get the walk reopened.
Thank you for the lovely photos. I'm from Rowanburn and my nana used to work at The Cross Keys. Have been desperate to get home but stuck stateside after and auto accident and no one to help navigate once I get off the plane. I've followed your blog. Again, thanks for the stories and sights. Lesley
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