A Get Together in Moffat

This was not really a Birthday Walk, although John has recently had a birthday so it was a get together for him and also to say goodbye to Niall & Elspeth as they will be heading back to Australia soon. It seems no time since they arrived in April and what a summer they have had. Moffat was the ideal destination as it is just under an hour's journey for everybody including Peter and Elizabeth who now live near Carlisle. Gaye joined us as well but she did not walk but enjoyed the shops in Moffat.  

Peter and Ken almost always bring up the rear as they are in deep conversation, mostly about politics during the walk and Ken finds it difficult to talk and walk at the same time. Peter has no problem talking and walking at the same time, but being a gentleman he keeps the same pace as Ken.

A large field above Moffat. we crossed to the other side of the valley and climbed higher for a bit but not to the top of the hill on the right. 

Starting to climb to about 1000ft. Tom bringing up the rear. 

Almost there 

This is the Moffat Well on a burn called Birnock Water. This is the reason Moffat became a Spa Town. In 1769 a local Physician Dr. Hunter improved the access road to this well and was then able to charge visitors who came to take the waters. In 1878 a Hydropathic Hotel (Hydro) was built in Moffat. It had 175 bedrooms but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1921. Sorry for the poor photo but it was very dark and its a good job you cannot smell the photo as the stink of sulphur was very strong. 

The view over Moffat on the last leg of our walk. We walked 5.5 miles and then enjoyed a lovely light lunch in Brodie's

This is the map of our route which was slightly longer than shown as my lines on the map were a bit too straight.