Last of the Summer Wine Walkers at Cally Palace

Our Walking weekend at Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet. We all arrived on Friday about lunch time and immediately set out to do a 4 mile walk in the grounds of Cally Estate, while 4 of the gang played a round of Golf. 

The photographer managed to get in this photo as Martin took the photo.

Gaye and Aileen at Threave Gardens on Saturday

Pre Dinner drinks on Friday evening in the Conservatory

Alix and Gaye walking round Threave Gardens

Castle Douglas in the distance on our Saturday morning walk

Tom, John, Niall, David, and Martin on our Saturday 4 mile walk 

There were 10 of us on our Saturday Threave Estate walk of 4 miles. That's the largest number of Last of the Summer Wine Walkers since we all met at Lochmaben pre covid when there were 12 of us and of course that included Peter Bart-Smith who is no longer with us and Elizabeth who was invited but just couldn't face it without Peter. The weekend was dedicated to Peter and he was constantly in our thoughts.

The Cally estate taken very early on a beautiful Sunday morning while on my morning walk

Alix and Gaye enjoying Coffee and Cake at Threave Gardens cafe

The Golfers on Friday afternoon. David and Alix beat Tom and John

The Cally Palace Golf Course. It was a splendid weekend with glorious weather and excellent company. The hotel staff were excellent and really looked after us and the food was superb. 

 

A Weekend at Cally Palace with Last of the Summer Wine Walkers

Our long awaited get together for The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers was at Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet. The golfers Tom, David, John, and Alix met at 1.00pm to play this excellent long and difficult course. It was a win for Alix as she played superb and beat the men.

While the golfers were out on the course Martin and I had a walk at the back of the hotel.

The Golf Course from the front of the Hotel

The view from our bedroom.

 

We had a Champagne reception on Friday evening to celebrate David and Alix's 55th Wedding anniversary. Tom put us all to shame by being so smartly dressed while we were all more casual. 

John and I enjoying a glass of Champagne with Martin & Alix in the background

Alix & David with Tom and Gaye

We were given the Conservatory for our reception and it was perfect.

On Saturday morning 8 of us went to Brighouse Bay near Borgue for a 4.5 mile walk. I once spent a week there in a tent with Langholm Boy's Brigade in July 1966 at our annual Camp. Things have changed since then and there is now a Caravan Site, Log Cabins, and a Golf Course adjoining Brighouse Bay.

The path we were following skirted the golf Course and had a few fairly high cliffs just to keep us on our toes. 

Tom and John enjoying the walk.

Brighouse Bay and an incoming tide.

This was a particular difficult hole on the course with the golfers on the extreme left having to drive across this little inlet. It was a par 3 and two of them made the green but the other two drove into the sea.

Ken, Anne and Sandria watching the golfers.

Laughing at Tom taking the photo

I took this photo and then Tom insisted he would take a photo with me in it. He attempted to get down on his knees and we enjoyed a great laugh at his antics as you can see in the photo above this one. 

While we were walking at Brighouse Bay Eileen, Alix, and Gaye had a walk in the grounds of Cally Palace. This photo taken by Aileen.

Sunday morning after breakfast and a group photo with our face masks, except John who had lost his.

This is the important photo. It has been a great weekend with loads of laughs and good banter. The Hotel and their staff were excellent. We all agreed that this should be the format in the future. It was unfortunate that Peter & Elizabeth and Niall and Elspeth were unable to be with us but hopefully will make it next year. 

A Walk to Sandgreen from Cally Palace for Day 2 of our Walking Holiday

Day 2 of our walking week and we headed out to Gatehouse of Fleet for a walk starting in the grounds of the Cally Palace  Hotel. 

The 8.4 mile circular walk took us to Sandgreen where the tide was in and our game of Beach Volleyball had to be cancelled due to the tide. 

It was however the perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch.

The first half of the walk took us through a lovely wooded area and then we followed the coastal path.

The 3 back markers due to Ken being unable to walk and talk at the same time 

This gentleman was separated from a field of cows and looked a bit unhappy about it.

The mileage signs are much better and cleaner than the old road signs that never seem to be cleaned nowadays 

Back home after the walk Peter took Elizabeth out for a row in the boat provided by the house.