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. 

Demainholm Forest Walk

For todays Wednesday Walk with Tom and Niall we headed to Newcastleton for a walk through a Buccleuch Estates forest just south of the village. It's a 3.5 mile walk along first of all a forestry road and then along the fire breaks down to The Tinnis Burn and the old part of the forest. Tom was being very brave and decided to wear shorts, but there was a cold east wind blowing and he certainly felt it. 

Looking down onto the Tinnis Burn

It was a lovely walk but Niall was suffering from a sore neck and back which spoilt it a bit for him.

Lots of storm damage from Storm Arwen almost 17 months ago. Because many of the trees were not mature the cost of clearing them will not be reflected in the money the Estate will get for the timber so they may just be left, but time will tell.

A line of uprooted trees

Next to the Tinnis Burn is the deciduous part of the old forest and this is a lovely area to walk.

There were 2 Deer in this part of the forest but by the time I got my Phone Camera out and focussed they had gone. 

 

Mothers Day in Newcastle

We were invited to Newcastle by Fiona at the weekend to spend Mothers Day with the family. On Sunday morning we headed to St. Mary's Isle near Whitley Bay at 8.30am to see the colony of Grey Seals on the island. We had to be off the island by 10.30am as the Causeway would be covered by the tide. It involved a 3 mile round trip walk from the car park to the Causeway on a beautiful morning. 

There were about 80 Grey Seals sunning themselves on the rocks before the tide came right in.

Hannah is an expert when it comes to looking for Hermit Crabs and in no time at all she found one in one of the pools beside the Causeway.

Hannah searching for Hermit Crabs

Daughter and Mother being silly.

St. Mary's Isle Causeway. It was featured not so long ago on an episode of Vera 

Wind Turbines out at sea but they won't last as long as the old Lighthouse

The path back to the car park and if you look carefully you will see a large flock of Geese flying over and making a lot of noise.

Loads of Grey Seals

Hannah and her Mum Fiona looking much more sensible.

The flock of Geese. It was a lovely walk and we were back home by 11.00am for a lovely lunch prepared by Fiona and Mario followed by Cream Scones made by Hannah. Leo was happy to stay at home but he did enjoy the lunch and was good company during it. 

 

A Walk on the New Road

For our first Wednesday walk in a while due to Tom's trip to Barbados we went on the new road from Hallpath towards Broomholmshiels. Tom has never walked this road so it was a new experience for him. It gives great views over the town and despite being a little bit muddy in a couple of places its a great walk.

Tom admiring the view or stopping for a rest

Warbla across the valley looking to have much more snow than our side of the valley.

 

Dry Stane Dyking with my Grandchildren

Last Thursday I along with our grandchildren Hannah & Leo who were spending a few days of the mid term holiday in Langholm volunteered to help Tarras Valley Nature Reserve (TVNR). The plan was to repair a section of Dry Stane Dyke at Cooms Farm ready for Lambing time. There were a couple of gaps in the Dyke and thankfully we had volunteer Mike White with us to show how it should be done. There was 7 volunteers including Kat who is in charge of this. The youngsters worked extremely hard and cleared away the stones as directed by Mike and then begun rebuilding the wall. 

Leo directing operations

The largest section of the Dyke to be repaired

Mike White working very hard at the job. We only did a couple of hours so it will need at least another set of volunteers to work on it next week or even the next 2 weeks. I could hardly get out of bed the following day as my joints ached from lifting heavy stones and I doubt if I will do it again as it is so tough for an old man like me. I was very proud of Hannah & Leo and the other young girl who volunteered.  

Hannah & Leo on their way up to the work site on a truly beautiful morning

Mike telling Hannah what to do. Mike used to work for me at UPS/Atlasair over 30 years ago and was a tremendous worker then and still is today. We could not have managed without him. We did enjoy doing this but I really suffered for a few days afterwards.

 

Afternoon Tea in Canonbie

Our plan today was to start later so we could have afternoon tea at Canonbie Kirk. On the second half of the walk we came across this huge puddle in the road so 5 minutes working with our sticks ensured a little stream was created and the water drained away. Reminded me of doing that when I was a boy and it was just as much fun today.

The Fairly Loup. In full flow today but 2 years ago it disappeared into a hole in the ground a few yards above this and then came out 300 yards further down.

We sat in the new seat just across from the waterfall.

The seat was placed by the family of Stella Geddes who was a good friend of both Tom and myself.

This seat is next to the bridge that goes over the old railway and I found out this afternoon on Facebook it was built and placed there by Tony Mattinson. It's in a very appropriate place as it overlooks where the old Coal Mine used to be at Rowanburn and brings back thoughts of my father working there when he left school at 14 and spent 6 months in his first job working underground. He hated it and left to become a Groom with The Buccleuch Family at Langholm Lodge. He worked with horses for the next 20 years until the 2nd World War.

The offending puddle now getting smaller and if we had stayed another 5 minutes it would have gone completely. We completed our walk by returning to my car at Canonbie Kirk just as they opened up for Afternoon Tea. It was excellent and only cost £6.40 for both of us. Great value and excellent home baking.