Thistle Viaduct and Netherby Estate Walk

This walk commenced from Kirkandrews on Esk Church and it really shows the difference between walking in England and Scotland. In Scotland we have the right to walk anywhere as long as we walk responsibly and adhere to The Country Code. In England there are loads of No Entry signs and No Right of Way signs and this is now the case on Netherby where they really don't want anybody to walk through this lovely estate. We are very lucky in Scotland with no Law of Trespass and we can go anywhere. This is an old Border Keep and I think there are Graham's living in it.  

Kirkandrews Church and it really is a lovely building although its many years since I was inside it and of course the doors are now always locked. 

The first part of the walk took us along the old Waverley railway line and in places it was tough going with loads of Nettles. We were all stung in places but David got the worst of it with his shorts on. 

This is one of the better bits on the line. 

This is Carwinley Mill and it has now been converted into a lovely house. 

The grounds of the old mill have now been turned into a small holiday complex and it has been done very tastefully and looks a lovely place to stay. 

We passed this field of Barley on our walk and it looks as if it is ripening well and wont be too long before its ready to harvest.

After Trespassing on Netherby Estate we expected to be stopped at any time but never saw anybody so managed to steal through unseen. David was thinking of the Newspaper Headlines as we walked through. Retired Deputy Lord Lieutenant of D & G Arrested for trespassing. Our excuse was we were going to Church as that was the only reason you could walk through the Estate but of course that's is only on a Sunday. We walked over the suspension bridge and my goodness it does swing a lot. Ruger was not a happy dog and glad to be over it. 

Tom bringing up the rear.

On the Thistle Viaduct. Tom explained that it used to be a double bridge to take both railway lines and when the line closed in the late 60s they removed one of the bridges.

 

David, Ruger, and myself. At the end of the walk we met the owners of Netherby Estate at Kirkandrews Church and apologised for our trespass. They were very nice about it. One of them was a Graham and her companion was an Elliot so we were among fellow Border Reivers. A very enjoyable walk but it will be the last time I do it as its getting more overgrown on the railway line and I resent not being able to walk through Netherby Estate