Boy's Day out at Melrose

A few weeks ago John and I planned a day out at Melrose and a walk on the river Tweed. That day arrived and what a glorious day it was. Tom and I met Martin, John, and Ken at Tweedbank Station on the train from Edinburgh and we headed to Melrose to start our 4 miles walk.

This is just past the Greenyards Rugby ground the home of Melrose

 This is the Greenyards and in my opinion the most beautiful sighted rugby ground in the country. 

The main square in Melrose. It was a very busy day in the town with loads of visitors.

We soon headed up river and this is the footbridge we will cross at the end of our walk when we return down the other side of the river.

It was a perfect day. Cold at first and no wind but in the sun it became quite warm

There were a few fishermen about but none using the boats

The fastest flowing bit of the river

One of the fishermen just above the footbridge

Heading up river

The footbridge from the other bank near the end of our walk

Time for a rest and a posed photo. Tom, Gavin, Martin, Ken, and John. Good friends for many years and in the case of John and myself for 66 years when I moved to Langholm from Rowanburn and we ended up in the same class at school.

Tom and Ken bringing up the rear. Ken used to love bringing up the rear with Peter Bart-Smith who sadly died in April and they talked mostly politics so Tom is taking over Peter's roll.

These sheep were enjoying the shade

Ken and John, both retired pharmacists.

A lovely stretch of calm water

After the walk we visited a walled garden and orchard next to Melrose Abbey

Martin wanted to see the Apple trees

Still plenty of Apples on them. We enjoyed a lovely lunch after our walk and then took the Edinburgh contingent back to Tweedbank railway station for their 3.20pm train back home. A perfect day out in good company.

 

A Long Awaited Visit to Kippford and Rockcliffe

A long time ago I promised I would take our friends Mark & Leila Hallam to my favourite walk in Dumfries & Galloway along the shore from Kippford to Rockcliffe so today I managed to keep my promise. We left Langholm at 9.00am on a beautiful autumn morning and with high tide set for noon at Kippford we couldn't have picked a better day. Only disappointment was not being able to walk the causway to Rough Island, but that can be an excuse for another visit in the future. 

This is about 10.30am and 90 minutes before high tide

This old Scots Pine is near the car park just as you enter Kippford

This old boat is very photogenic on a high tide.

Some lovely Lillies in one of the local gardens.

The Urr estuary from the high road above the houses

The path from Rockcliffe to Kippford

Rockcliffe beach and the tide coming in, but it was not a very high tide today

A slipway near Rockcliffe

Mark and myself photographed in front of the Tree of the Year in the UK voted by a national newspaper in December 2021. I am disappointed that there is no sign up giving the story of how it was the winner of this award in 2021. 

The Tree of the Year in 2021 and 7th in Europe at the same time.

Mark, Leila, and their lovely dog Henry in front of the famous shell beach in Kippford

Henry has never seen a beach quite like this

Almost high tide

A garden Thistle. We finished our visit after a 4 mile walk with a lovely lunch in the Anchor Hotel

 

A Day at The Benty Show

On Saturday we had a day out at Benty Show. Gaye had 6 entries in the Handicrafts and Plant sections.

This was her best entry and it got a First in a class if 9 entries.

Another First for this Tapestry.

Her Crown of Thorns got a Second.

This Crewel work got 3rd prize.

In the morning we had coffee with Gaye’s friend Wilma and her husband George who live in Bentpath. Wilma was invited by the show committee to present the trophies at the end of the day.

The first trophy she had to present was to herself as she won a cup with these flower's

Some of the large crowd gathered for the presentations at the end of the show.

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A Visit to Footdee know as Fittie in Aberdeen

 

This village was mentioned as long ago as the 14th century but most of the houses were built in 1808-09. It is sandwiched between the busy harbour and the beach on a spit of land. I walked to it from Union Square Bus Station which is about 1.5 miles away. It’s like going back in time and an absolutely fabulous place. No cars on the streets and loads of lovely gardens and decorated sheds.

The houses nearly all have benches outside and they compete against each other for the best garden and 

Garden shed.

A lovely place to sit outside the cottages.

No weeds and well kept pavements.

A fancy garden and maybe even a guest bedroom

A garden and shed

For the Fittie King or Queen

More garden sheds

I walked every street in the village and met a few visitors doing the same. Most people don’t know of its existence 

And it’s not really on the tourist trail.

One of the nicest sheds

The sea is only a few yards away from the village and this is the pier giving shelter to the entrance

To Aberdeen Harbour. There were lots of ships coming and going while I was there as it was high tide.

Lovely tubs of flowers.

Not really a cottage but more like a separate guest bedroom and a conservatory.

A tiny cottage. I loved my visit there.