Drumburgh and the Roman Frontier

Today's walk again took us to the shores of the Solway on the English side and the village of Drumburgh where we first of all followed the coast road and then followed the line of an old railway which ran between Drumburgh and Silloth. This area of West Cumbria has many old lanes and at times it looked as if we were walking through a tunnel.

We has a guest walker with us today. Sadly Ken Weatherstone had to come to Langholm due to the death of his Mum Jean so took the opportunity to join us for a relaxing walk in countryside much different from where he lives in Argyll. The seat the lads are on outside the Highland Laddie Pub in Glasson is 50 years old. 

This is the first of the 3 lanes we walked along and the best of them with a broad track and hedges you can just see through or over. 

Gradually they got narrower, higher, and thicker and rougher ground to walk on. 

Until they became very difficult but at the same time very interesting. I have never seen such large Brambles and in huge quantities mainly because so few people walk along these very old lanes. 

After these lanes we came out onto Drumburgh Moss national Nature Reserve which contains rare plants thriving in the special conditions this habitat provides. Insect eating plants such as the Sundew and Butterwort can be found here lying in wait for unsuspecting flies and bugs.

After a very welcome pint in the Highland Laddie we headed the short lane down to Raven Bank on the Solway to find it was almost high tide. We think this was an old look out post from the 2nd World War which may come in handy again if the YES voters win the referendum next week and Scotland becomes an Independent country. 

Ken being the youngest and fittest headed down the bank to the Solway and climbed this old structure. We have no idea what it was or what it was used for so if anyone has an idea please let us know.