The Bluebells on the Lodge Walks

There are many places round about Langholm where the spring Bluebells are profuse but the Lodge Walks are the best I think. My annual selfie among the Bluebells

They actually look much better in real life than in a photo

A path through the wood

The best carpet of them

Another Selfie

An Azalea just to give a bit of fresh colour. Not as nice as the Azaleas at Westerhall though.

These are a couple of days later than the best ones from previous years.

 

Two Walks and Two Dogs

I have had two excellent walks this week accompanied by friends and their dogs. The first on Wednesday with David and Tom and David's dog Ruger. Here he is befriended by a large lamb that followed us along the old Waverley railway line near Newcastleton.

This is Mangerton Tower next to the old railway line and was the Seat of the Chiefs of the Armstrong Clan. The last known Armstrong Chief was Archibald who was executed in 1610.

Ruger being followed by his admirer 

David and Tom with Ruger at the bridge in Newcastleton at the start of our 4.7 mile walk on a beautiful spring morning. 

A new born Foal in a field at the start of our walk.

 

My second walk was today with Mike Tinker and Mark Hallam with his beautiful Golden Retriever Henry. Mark is new to Langholm and is keen to learn as much as possible about the area so where better to start than Westerhall Estate and especially at Bluebell time. 

This is Henry the Golden Retriever.

We had hoped to see the Azaleas that Westerhall is famous for but they are late this year but the Bluebells are also late and are now at their very best.

I make a point of visiting Westerhall several times a year. February for the Snowdrops, March for Daffodils, April or May for Bluebells and Azaleas.

They are probably as nice this year as I have ever seen them.

This makes a change from the blue of the Bluebells

Mike and Mark enjoying the spectacle of Bluebells. We had an excellent 5 mile walk and the rain managed to stay away for most of it but near the end it came and looks like it will stay for the rest of the day. 

Week 9 and Back Walking Again

At last after over 2 weeks of rest I am back walking again. In the first 6 weeks of the Lockdown I had been walking 6 miles a day and that had caused me to have a sore knee. The 2 weeks of rest have helped but I realise I have to reduce my miles or my arthritic knee will come back again. I now only do 4 miles every second day and walk at a slightly slower pace that more reflects my ageing years. The Bluebell season is at its peak and the area is awash with blue. 

These are both near the North Lodge

The 9 weeks of Lockdown have been unusual in that during this time we have hardly had any rain. The couple of days or nights when it did rain was hardly enough to dampen the dust. The rivers are very low. This is the Ewes from the Sawmill Bridge.

And the Esk and the Ewes at The Meeting of the Waters 

A beautiful Azalea on the Lodge Walks but it would be decimated on Thursday morning when we had a frost of -4C 

The Wild Garlic on Easton's Walk and the smell from them is very strong

This is the Hungry Burn on Easton's Walk and it is dry for the first time I can ever remember

A tree in the garden of the Bungalow at Border Esk being pruned and shown from both sides of the river

More Bluebells or Cratties as we call them in Scotland and these are also on Easton's Walk

The Peonies in our garden which have had to be tied up by Gaye as they were damaged by the strong winds last weekend 

On my Friday walk round Jenny Nobles I was delighted to meet Alix and my 2 favourite dogs Ruger and Bowman. 

At Langholm Old Bowling Green President Karl is working hard to rebuild the wall which was in a dangerous state

And finally after 9 weeks in Lockdown Gaye has finished these two Tapestries given to her by her friend Collette from Newmachar in Aberdeenshire.