A Snowdrop Walk in Westerhall Estate

One of the trees blown down by the recent storm

One of the nicest panoramic views in the area

Snowdrops not quite at their best yet

I was told by Mike what these are called but I have forgotten

Most just walk on the road through Westerhall but there is a lovely walk beside the river for part of the return walk.

The best displays of Snowdrops are beside the river

More Snowdrops

Mt walking companions Mike & Charlie. This walk was on 6th February but I forgot to complete this post until a week later.

The perfect tree and about 40 years old

Back on the road and the lovely display of Snowdrops near the big house

I will have to return in mid March for the Daffodils and then in May for the Azaleas

Mist on the hill at Bentpath

This was a beautiful day and perfect for walking. We finished up with Coffee at The Buccleuch Centre.

 

Grandson Tommy wins Soccer Trophy

Our American grandson Tommy was playing for his Saratoga under 15s Soccer team in a big tournament in San Diego CA at the weekend and his team played 4 matches in two days and won the tournament. A great achievement for their team and he is looking very pleased with himself. They won a tournament in the autumn last year to qualify for this one.

A Walk From Stow Railway Station

A lovely walk today from Stow railway station up the Gala Water valley. This was the view looking south from the highest point. When we left Langholm it was misty and 3C but a slow journey with 8 sets of roadwork traffic lights eventually got us to Stow Railway station to meet our friend John of the Edinburgh train. In Stow the mist had cleared and it was now -3C and the mist had frozen leaving everything white. A beautiful sky but taken looking into the sun so not a great photo.

One of the many country tracks as we contoured round the hill.

John and Tom as we are about to leave the road and climb the hill. Notice Tom's nice new hat from a friend who decided the Tea Cosy hat had served its time and a change was due. 

We gained height and then contoured round the hill. It was a beautiful morning and the railway and river were down below us in the valley.

This is the remains of a farm called Old Cragend.

A deeply rutted track and a lovely small wood of Pine trees ahead.

Now back down in the valley and after a short stretch on the A7 we crossed Gala Water and the railway line to follow the very quiet B road on the other side of the valley to head back to Stow station.

Over the new footbridge and under the railway bridge.

Heading back into Stow

The train from Tweedbank heading back to Edinburgh

The ruins of Old Craigend from the other side of the valley.

Looking across the valley and the first part of the route we had come.

It took us 2 hours to walk the 4 miles, but we were in no hurry and the conversation was excellent. We had hoped to have lunch at a Cafe in Stow, but it was closed as the heating had broken down so we headed back to Galashiels and had a nice lunch in a Cafe there. We dropped John at Gala Railway Station and Tom and I were back in Langholm by 3.00pm and john back in Edinburgh about the same time. A grand walk in good company and in cold but lovely weather.  

 

 

Graham Family Christmas 2024

The American Graham family spent Christmas in Utah. They drove 750 miles from Saratoga in California to Mendon in Utah, where Leslies's father Carlo lives. They spent a day at Beaver Mountain near Mendon and the kids enjoyed a days Snowboarding while Mum and Dad skied.

Plenty of snow

Tommy on Beaver Mountain and below the base of the Mountain resort


A nice walk to Weetsdale on Christmas eve

The top of the hill at Weetsdale where we watched the Red Arrows from a few years ago

St Mary's Lighthouse and a lovely coastal walk on Boxing Day

Blyth in the distance

Granny is now much smaller than our grandchildren

Leo is taller than me and Hannah is the same height

In Mendon Utah Carlo with his 3 daughters, Leslie, Sandra, & Nancy

 

Meeting John at Lockerbie

On Wednesday Tom and I met up with John at Lockerbie Station for a last minute organised walk on Eskrigg Nature Reserve. It had been planned as an exchange of Langholm calendars for John. We used to walk every Wednesday and John would visit Langholm to see his mum when she was alive, but now it’s much less frequent although still most enjoyable. 

Posing for photos on a nice seat half way round Eskrigg.  

The view towards the creamery. A lovely walk in great company. We had a nice lunch in Cafe 91 and then John got the train back to Edinburgh and we headed home.

Back Walking Again

This was my first Wednesday walk for over a month as a bout of Achilles Tendonitis has had me confined to just very short walks for over a month. Today with Tom I walked a 4 mile route down the Esk at Longtown via Arthuret Church. This looks to be a new seat in the form of a war memorial.

Arthuret Church which is always worth a look round 

The old Waverley Railway Line which we passed over on our walk

A nice long lane taking us away from the river Esk.

Walking in England nearly always brings Private notices. It always makes us realise how well off we are in Scotland being able to walk anywhere as long as we adhere to the Country Code and respect property. We ignored this sign as it was on a country lane that was surely a right of way and of course we never do anything to cause a problem. 

One of the many ponds next to the river Eskdale.

We argued at length about this raised path, which initially I thought was part of the old railway line, but in the end Tom was right and it looks as if it has been for flood prevention.

The raised banking that we decided was for flood prevention.

A well pruned tree in Longtown. The walk was about 4 miles and despite to poor visibility it was great for me to get back walking again.