Another Day on Brampton Ridge Walk

I had recently walked this route with Mike Tinker but not on a beautiful day like today with lovely autumnal sunshine all the way and a carpet of leaves everywhere. Tom and I picked up Peter in Aglionby at 9.30am and headed out to Brampton for the climb up to the ridge. It was spectacular and soon warmed up to become a lovely day.

The waterfall on the Quarry Beck

A spectacular pathway next to Quarry Beck

Tom and Peter getting over a stile. As you get older kissing gates are more appreciated.

A lovely carpet of fallen leaves 

The old Lanercost Bridge just before the Priory. We had planned to have Coffee and Scones at Lanercost Cafe but it was closed for redecoration.

Tom and Peter admiring the views over the Eden Valley

At the end of the walk back in Brampton Elizabeth was waiting for us to join us for lunch.

On the Quarry burn section of the walk this Dipper kept us company for a while. 

 

Lockdown Photographs in February and early March

It has been a month since I last posted photos on my Blog. In that time I have hardly been anywhere and all I have done is a daily 4 mile walk on average. This is upper Tarras Valley which is one of my favourite places to walk locally

It's been a good year for Snowdrops although they were at least a week later in coming out this winter

Crimson Elf Cup taken at Canonbie on my weekly walk with Mike Tinker. I have learnt such a lot walking with him as his knowledge of these is excellent. 

This is the new repaired bridge on Easton's Walk. Thanks to Ross Gemmell the D & G Council Ranger who helps us to look after the Langholm network of walks.

Gaye on our regular Snowdrop walk at Westerhall

Gaye has spent Lockdown doing this Crewel work and this is the result which will be framed soon

One of the Feral Goats on my Tarras valley walk

This was take in upper Tarras on Monday 1st March. A glorious spring day.

I feed this Robin regularly on my walk round the Lodge Walks and he is always waiting for me.

Me and the Tin Man at Rowanburn recently

A Selfie at The Round House

More Snowdrops on The Lodge Walks

My favourite bird The Dipper

I love this tree which is on the track above Rowanburnhead. This was taken on Sunday 7th March.

One of the many Oystercatchers that move to Langholm at this time of the year

Snow at our Daughter Fiona's street in Newcastle

A Snowball Fight in Newcastle

More Snowdrops

 Our American family skiing recently in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. They all love skiing and Tommy in the yellow is becoming a star at just 9 years old. His father Fraser cannot keep up with him now.

 

Almost 4 Months of Lockdown and a Heatwave and a Flood

Its been a week of two weather halves with the first half of the week glorious weather and high temperatures and the second half of the week loads of rain culminating in floods on Sunday. This was my very early morning walk on Wednesday and Langholm Parish Kirk without the trees in front.  

Langholm Lodge on Monday morning. It would have made a superb country hotel if they had not knocked down the big middle section after the war. 

The Ha-ha in front of Langholm Lodge

On Wednesday morning I enjoyed a trip up to Springhill to see David and Alix Stevenson for morning coffee in the garden. Alix had just returned from a walk with my two favourite dogs Bowman and Ruger and they always finish a walk with some games on the lawn. Despite his advanced years Bowman is still very enthusiastic in catching a rubber ring. 

Bowman catching a rubber ring 

All set for another go. 

A very happy Bowman

On Thursday I had my first walk as a group of three people in over three months. I joined Mike and Charlie to walk round part of Walk 8 in the Langholm Walks Booklet. It was chosen as it was easy to keep socially isolated on the walk but I have to admit its not easy and you occasionally forget. This is the lane at Bagra and it was full of wild flowers and Mike as always gives us instructions on how to identify them.  

Mike explaining a particular wild flower. It was the warmest day of the year and very humid but a most enjoyable walk in excellent company and finished off with a lovely cup of tea in Mikes garden thanks to Alison.

My Friday walk took me to my regular 3 mile circuit of Canonbie. This is the lane from the high road above Canonbie down to the village.

My favourite bird The Dipper 

The Esk from Byreburn Bridge

My Skippers Bridge walk on Saturday spotted the first fisherman of the year near the Bowling Club at Codgie

Sunday morning after a night of heavy rain and the rivers are high. The Ewes and Wauchope are running much faster than the Esk so maybe it will come down in flood later in the day

The Esk and the Ewes

The Wauchope which mostly is the first to come down in flood.

The Ewes from the Sawmill Bridge

The Esk from the Duchess Bridge

The Esk and the Wauchope

A family of Goosanders sheltering from the flood with Mum standing guard. There was another family just down from this one and in total there was I think 15 young and the two Mums. This family is 8 young.

This is the second family with Mum and 7 young

I photographed them when I set out on my walk and again when I returned and this time some of them had moved into the river but they were soon back on the banking.