Calaburn and Drinkstone Hill at the Second Attempt

In January 2016 we attempted this walk but after many discussions on the route we managed to go in the wrong direction. Peter was most annoyed over this and a week after he and Elizabeth explored the walk again to see where we went wrong. We therefore decided today to have another go at it and Peter was confident we would be fine. The walk is shown as 6.5 miles but we measured it today and it was about 9 miles. The above photo is at the Museum in Wilton Park at the start of our walk.

A scarecrow in a field of Barley

There are loads of wild flowers on the road sides

The Eildons at Melrose often show up in our Border walks and today was no exception

This was a very boggy part of the walk

A bleak landscape but plenty of wildlife about including several Deer and the constant song of the Skylark

The highest point on the walk at Drinkstone Hill

A great view of a field of Barley

It was at this signpost at the mid part of the walk where we went wrong 18 months ago

About 6 miles into the walk Niall had problems with his boot but Tom came to the rescue with a ball of tangled string in his rucksack

On the last stretch of the walk we met this Border Collie and Peter threw its ball for it and from then on he continually brought the ball back to throw it again

Niall's repaired boot.

Lost en route to Drinkstone Hill near Hawick

I had to leave early this morning to take Niall and Elspeth to Tweedbank for the Edinburgh train and then on to the airport for their flight back to Australia. This will be the 3rd time they have flown back to their Australian home since September. I met the lads in Hawick for our walk to Drinkstone Hill following a Borders Council walking map and instructions. Either the instructions were wrong or we took a wrong turning somewhere early in the walk because we had a continual argument about where we actually were most of the time. Tom and Peter were following the instructions which seemed at times to be very contradictory but eventually after many discussions and the advise of a horsewoman who complicated matters even more we made it to the top of Drinkstone Hill. The weather kept reasonably dry although there was a slight damp mist most of the time when we were on the higher ground. There was water everywhere and the fields were saturated and the roads running with water.We stopped to have a word with Bill McLaren on our way through Wilton park. 

The river Teviot at Wilton Park

Tom and Peter in deep discussion while John and I head up the hill knowing we were on the right route. 

Crossing the burn proved to be quite difficult 

The end of the road and a difficult burn to cross. Peter has decided to wear Tom's hat which proves that anybody can look silly wearing it. 

Wilton Burn on our way back after a very enjoyable 7 mile walk. We finished up back at the Buccleuch Centre for a a nice lunch.