Celebrating Martin's 80th Birthday on the Diamond Jubilee Path

Martin always researches his Birthday Walk well and this one was his best ever. A lovely 5.5 mile walk from Earlston to Melrose following the Leader river on the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Path. One of the features of the path is the many lovely seats situated on it. This is the best of them and a real pleasure to take a seat on it. There were originally 9 of us planned to do the walk but illness and a sad funeral reduced it down to just 5. It was so enjoyable we may have to do it again. 

The river Leader.

One of the 3 bridges that cross the Tweed at Leaderfoot

There are loads of fences on the walk to protect walkers from the steep drop into the Leader river.

We thought it would be all downhill from Earlston following the river but in actual fact we had to climb on numerous occasions and the height gained on the walk was 750ft.

On the road from Leaderfoot to Melrose there are many displays of the Roman Fort of Trimontium but when you look over the fields where it used to be there seems to be no sign of it. Perhaps viewed from the air the outline might be seen in the ploughed fields.

Birthday boy Martin on the lovely Fox and Squirrel seat. He certainly doesn't look 80.

Anne and Ken on the lovely seat.

Martin and Ken crossing one of the many bridges on the route.

The field where the Roman fort used to be.

The Eildon Hills seen from an unusual angle

Tom the other Octogenarian in the party

Had to have my photo taken on this lovely seat

One of the several viewing points for the Roman Fort

The lower end of the walk down the Leader river

Setting off at the start of the walk

The Leaderfoot Viaduct with the modern road bridge in the background

 The spectacular Leaderfoot Viaduct over the river Tweed. A lovely walk with us finishing up in a Melrose Bistro for a lovely meal. We used the service bus from Melrose to Lauder to reach the start of this linear walk. It was 5.5 miles with a height gain of 750ft. 

Martin's Birthday Walk in Dalkeith Country Park

Martin choose Dalkeith Country Park for his Birthday Walk and what an excellent place it is. There were loads of paths and plenty to see. The weather was perfect for walking and the company excellent. Everybody arrived within minutes of each other and Martin was the perfect guide and had done his homework about the place so we were all well informed. 

There were horses everywhere and this one was particularly friendly with Peter and Ken

Like Langholm the river is the Esk and there are two of them the North and South Esk with plenty of bridges to cross.

This is the Meeting of the waters where the North and South Esk meet. Not as spectacular as where the Black and White Esk meet up in Eskdalemuir but it was rather nice. 

Time for a lunch break and a seat on an old Oak tree.

This is Dalkeith House owned by the Duke of Buccleuch and rented out to the University of Wisconsin 

The South Esk 

The Park is famous for its forest of ancient Oaks with some of them over 700 years old so these are a few photos of these famous trees.

We think this is the oldest Oak tree in the park

The trees were heavily coppiced many years ago so the bases of the trees are much older than the trunk.

There are many hollow trees

This one looks very delicate but still in reasonable health hopefully.  

This is Montagu Bridge and was given by the Montagu family to the Queensberry family in 1792 to celebrate a marriage. It was designed by William Adam.

This is a new shopping area with cafe and restaurant. The shop according to Aileen is one of the best in Edinburgh and very expensive. Our meal was excellent in a lovely dining area.