A Wet Walk at Talkin Tarn

Despite a poor weather forecast Mike, Charlie and myself decided we would still have our walk at Talkin Tarn and just dress accordingly and take umbrellas. It did rain heavily at times, but it was also dry for 50% of our walk and the chat was excellent. This Gorse is looking good next to the Tarn.

Charlie & Mike inspect a hedge of Blackthorn

This tree was covered the whole length of its trunk by this Ivy

This is Wood Anemone and Mike explained it grows in the shade of trees. 

This pair of lambs were very pleased to see us

On a small pond next to Brampton Station we saw this pair of Swans building a nest.

If you look closely between the trees you will see a Goose on this small pond

Most of the time these pylons are not too intrusive, but this is a massive one and it seems to dominate the field it is in.

One of the three B roads we walked along near Talkin Tarn. The walk was about 4 miles and most enjoyable despite the rain. We decided to have our usual Coffee after the walk at The Buccleuch Centre and despite it being very busy with lunches prior to a film being shown we were soon found a table and served with our Coffee in no time at all.

 

A Longtown Walk

Todays Thursday walk with Mike & Charlie took us down to Longtown on a beautiful spring morning, but after quite a hard frost. This is Arthuret Church which we passed at the end of the walk. I uploaded the photos in the wrong order so the end of the walk is at the beginning of the blog. The last half mile of the walk from the church through a couple of fields was quite muddy and rough walking. We enjoyed a nice coffee at the Buccleuch Centre when we got back to Langholm with Jessica as usual needing no instructions but just produced our regular order within a minute of us walking in the door. 

On the bridge over the old Waverley railway line.

Whenever I walk in Longtown I realise how well off we are in Scotland being able to walk anywhere as long as we act responsibly. This lane is just after we have walked along the river Esk on a proper footpath. We leave the footpath and open a gate into this lane where there is a big sign saying PRIVATE PROPERTY and no access is allowed. We as usual decided to continue our walk and if a farmer approached us plead ignorance. To be honest its a lovely lane and could be classed as a right of way and no possible damage could be done by 3 old men with an average age of 80. We were never approached by a farmer, but did meet his wife and I immediately spoke to her and said what a lovely day before she had a chance to say this is private property.

The Longtown ponds on the first part of the walk beside the Esk

You can just see the nesting Swan in the middle of this photograph

Charlie had never walked this route before so enjoyed the new experience

The first of the 3 ponds we passed on our walk

The start of the walk beside the river Esk. Slightly muddy in places, but not too bad.

Plenty Willow Catkins about to appear

 

Daffodils Beside the Esk

The stretch of riverbank beside the Esk in Elizabeth Street is one of Langholm's loveliest attractions in the springtime with Blossom and Daffodils. Today was a beautiful spring day and it was a sight to behold beside the Esk.

There is a lovely seat just near this spot and its a great place to just sit and enjoy the river.

The Cherry blossom will be another few weeks yet, but that makes this area even more attractive in springtime.

The old Scott-Hay Art Gallery on the other side of the fence is a crumbling ruin and poor Robert Scott-Hay will be turning in his grave if he knew what it was like now. It's so sad to see what was once a beautiful building in such a state.

 

Walking Upper Tarras

On another beautiful spring day I went onto the Tarras valley Nature Reserve in upper Tarras just to top up my daily mileage and to see if their were any Goats about. I had only walked half a mile up the road to Cooms when this Kid appeared and never moved when I stopped to take its photo.

Do you ever get the feeling you are being watched.

I had been up this way on Monday when the river was a raging torrent, but today it was much lower and looking quite lovely. 

An ideal pool for swimming, but not for a few months yet.

The road near Arkleton Cottage and where I had a seat for 20 minutes on Jim Telford's seat just listening to the river and the birds. The only passers by were a couple of cyclists and a motor biker.

Another good pool for bathing.

This is a very popular spot for picnickers in the summer

Two families of Goats

A lovely stretch of river and road

The two families of Goats, not at all bothered by my presence. I had a most enjoyable 90 minutes sitting and walking in the almost warm sunshine. A great way of spending some time in lovely surroundings.

 

Walking Jenny Nobles Gill

 

It was such a beautiful morning I decided to walk round Jenny Nobles Gill which takes you onto The Tarras Valley Nature Reserve and my favourite walk. Normally I would take about 1.5 hours to do this walk of 4 miles but today I stopped 3 times as it was so beautiful and sat and enjoyed the sounds of the birds singing. My first stop and 10 minute seat was at The Round House.

I notice TVNR has cut a lot of the dead bracken, but no doubt it will come again in the spring

The first of the Longwood Oak trees with many of them over 300 years old

Although the path was quite muddy and waterlogged in places it was not too bad at this part of the walk.

A couple of the very old Oak trees

This one is one of my favourites

And this must be one of the oldest

The sign post for Jenny Nobles Gill

The old railway line and the site of my next 10 minute rest. I recorded 5 native birds on my phone app in a 5 minute spell. None of them were visitors. Robin, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit and a Coal Tit. In a few weeks time I will sit in the same place and should get lots more. My record last spring was 22 birds in a 10 minute spell.

The entrance from the road to Jenny Nobles Gill and the new sign identifying it as TVNR and not Buccleuch Estates. I found a Geocache among the trees near here.

Skippers Bridge from as far down the banking as I dared to go

Border Esk which has been a distillery a garage and now private houses. 

Skippers Bridge from the other side. My last stop was at Langholm Old Bowling Club to see the tremendous work being done by the club to improve the clubhouse. All should be ready for the opening of the green at the end of April. The green is in excellent condition, but I forgot to take a photograph of it.

A most enjoyable 2 hour walk.

A Day in Langholm with our Edinburgh Friends

 

Our Edinburgh friends Martin, John and Ken came down to Langholm today for a day out with myself and Tom. After having Coffee or Drinking Chocolate and Biscuits at Ardlui we set out for a short walk round the Lodge Walks. Ten years ago our walks would be at least 8 miles but today was just about 2.5 miles as we had lunch booked at Whitshiels. The conversation was great but the pace was much slower as the average age is just under 80 years.

Tom and Martin bringing up the rear over the Langholm Bridge

Tom and Martin sit on the Langholm Walks seat on the Castleholm

A nice display of Snowdrops near the Duchess Bridge

Martin, John, Tom, and Ken on the Duchess Bridge. A most enjoyable day and a fabulous lunch at Whitshiels. We plan to meet again in April probably in Berwickshire when Gaye and I have a week in a nice cottage at Burnmouth. We have been walking together for all our retirement years and have had many walking holidays together all over the country.