A Gentle Walk in Eskdalemuir

This was another short walk to help Tom get back to fitness after his operation. He is progressing well and we will soon up the mileage to about 5 miles but fairly easy ones. This weeks walk started at The Hub in Eskdalemuir and we took the cycle track from there to Samye Ling and back which is a round trip of about 3.5 miles. 

Tom reckons it is lucky to be photographed under this archway as a few years ago we took a photo here and later that afternoon he shot his lowest score round the Langholm Golf Course.

The Monastery was very busy today with loads of visitors about and on a nice day it is a lovely peaceful place to visit. 

They have recently repainted most of the statues and the place is looking very nice

This Indian Motor Bike was parked there and Peter was itching to have a go. It was in immaculate condition and probably quite old, as is Peter (Old not Immaculate). We finished of with a nice lunch in the hub. 

A Late Birthday Break in the Lake District

I had been given a Hotel voucher for my 70th Birthday in May from our friends Niall & Elspeth so we finally decided on a short break of 2 nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast in the Briery Wood Country Hotel on Windermere. It was a great hotel to choose as it was so friendly and the food was excellent. Our journey there took us over Kirkstone Pass. 

The Kirkstone Hotel at the top of the Kirkstone Pass which must be a cold place to live in the middle of winter. 

The view down towards Windermere

The Briery Wood Country House Hotel

The Marina at the Low Wood Hotel just along from our hotel and this is the largest hotel in the Lake District with new bedrooms being added to it this winter ready for next year. 

The Low Wood Hotel in the background

After we arrived on Thursday afternoon I walked along the Windermere shore line just as this steamer passed by.

On Friday we headed into Ambleside where this famous bridge is. 

The afternoon on Friday was very wet but I decided to find the geocache located in the base of this old tree stump.  

I was watched by this Lamb while I was searching for the geocache. It was a lovely break and we will certainly head back to this hotel sometime in the future.

Heading East to Wilton Park Hawick

When planning a nice easy walk to suite Tom we originally thought Eskdalemuir from the Hub to Samye Ling and back but the weather forecast was terrible so we headed east to Hawick and a walk round Wilton Park. It stayed dry although it was very dull and when we got back to Langholm it was still raining so we made a good choice. The park has benefitted recently from a massive injection of money and it really is a nice place to spend an afternoon and have a walk. It will be much better when the new cafe is open.

The new bandstand is a great place to enjoy music during the summer months if the weather is decent

Wilton Museum and some great exhibitions on Hawick's two famous motor cyclists Guthrie and Hislop

The river Teviot with autumn colours beginning to show

The new bridge to the park with the Cafe still empty but hopefully will be open soon. 

70s Reunion

Everybody on this photo was born in 1947 and went to Langholm Academy. This was our first ever school reunion which was held in The Buccleuch Centre on Thursday 7th September 2017. It was organised by myself and Jane and Joyce who were over here on holiday from Australia and Canada. It was a great occasion and we all soon remember faces from over 50 years ago.

Eric Beattie, Robin Wilson, Ron Tait, Jane Paisley

Eileen Hawthorn, Anne Barnfather, Elizabeth Handley, Jean Corrie.

Sheila Thorburn, Ethel Warwick, Joyce Patterson, Marion Devlin, Margaret Barbour, Shirley Hotson

Arthur Campbell, Dan Davidson, Chick Earsman, Jackie Middlemas, Ian Borthwick, Barbara Mitchell, Judith Earsman, Joyce Davidson, Maria Campbell.

Sporty, Barbara Mitchell, Judith Earsman, Joyce Davidson, Maria Campbell, Arthur Campbell, Dan Davidson, Chick Earsman, Jackie Middlemas 

Eric Beattie, Robin Wilson, Ron Tait

Billy Steele and Alan Stevenson 

Joyce Patterson, Marion Devlin, Anne Barnfather

Barbara Mitchell, Judith Earsman, Joyce Davidson

Sheila Carson, Sheila Thorburn, Ethel Warwick

Joyce Patterson, Gavin Graham, Jane Paisley

A Walk Across Edinburgh for John's 70th Birthday Walk

This was quite a logistical exercise to get everybody to the start at John's house near The Merchants Golf Course in Edinburgh but it worked perfectly. The plan was to walk approx. 8.5 miles across Edinburgh to Sandria's house in Portobello. The only missing Last of the Summer Wine Walker was Tom who is still recuperating from his operation. He was sorely missed. The weather was perfect and John was a smashing guide with occasional help from Martin. 

The walk was mainly downhill after an initial climb to the summit of Easter Craiglockhart Hill which gave us superb views over Edinburgh. 

The view of Edinburgh from the top of the hill. 

We soon reached the Union canal and walked along it for over a mile to where it ended and this is the Leamington Lift Bridge. 

The next stage after a Coffee stop in Bruntfield where purely by chance we ran into Gaye and Aileen out shopping instead of walking with us, was Bruntsfield Links. 

After passing the Royal Commonwealth Pool we headed past this building which is where Martin used to work for Scottish Widows and it is now owned by Lloyds Bank.  

This is a small loch in Figgate Park with Arthurs Seat in the background seen from the opposite side from the more popular photos of Arthurs Seat.

One of the boats that takes tourists on the Union Canal. 

A Victorian Post Box we passed by but unfortunately I cannot remember exactly where we saw it. 

This is the entrance to The Innocent Railway Tunnel on the Innocent Railway Line. It goes under Holyrood Park and it was the first railway tunnel in the UK built in 1845. The railway line was 9 miles long and it was used originally to move coal from the mines of Lothian to Edinburgh. It was named The Innocent Railway due to its safety record. It carried 300 thousand to 400 thousand passengers a year without fatalities. It closed in 1968.

The 517 metre long tunnel 

This is the house where Prince Charles Edward Stuart held his Council of War before the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

In Figgate Park there is this attractive Mural under a bridge on the small burn that flows through the park. The light was not good for the photo but it is very good. 

Martin shows us how strong he is by lifting this sculptured wheelset commissioned by Virgin Trains. It has been a superb walk and at the end we were treated to a lovely buffet provided by Sandria.

Walking The Queensferry Crossing

We have been very lucky first of all winning a place in the 50,000 people selected to walk The Queensferry Crossing this weekend out of 250,000 applications and secondly in being allocated today with such glorious weather. It has been an excellent day brilliantly organised with a special mention to the Crossing Ambassadors who helped make the day so special. 

Gaye soon had her coat off as it was so warm 

The coat is now off 

This is a brilliant bridge and because of the special side panels the wind will not affect the traffic therefore is should never have to close in high winds. 

You can see the side panels there to deflect the wind

A view of the new bridge from the bus taking us back over the old one on our journey back to the transport hub. We are delighted to advise that we have raised almost £200 for The Buccleuch Centre.