A Selkirk Walk With the Last of the Summer Wine Walkers

It is almost a year since we have all been together on a walk in the Borders so it was great to be back together again. It was a special pleasure to see Ken who has been in hospital recently and now hopefully on the road to recovery. Unfortunately Sandria had to call off at the last minute as she was unwell. Our route was a 6 mile walk at Selkirk with part of the route being on the Border Abbey Way

 

I remember this detour through a field to avoid farm buildings from my Border Abbey way walk almost 14 years ago. We did a December walk from Selkirk to Melrose in December 2007 and the temperature at the start was -8C and at Melrose when we finished it was -3C. A few days later I was in Salt Lake City when it reached -25C and then another week later we were in Hawaii when it was 25C

I love this signpost outside the farm near Lindean

John and Elizabeth having a good chat.

This Border Collie gave us a great welcome. We finished our walk with lunch in The Waterwheel Cafe and the service and food was excellent.

Back Walking With The Last of the Summer Winers

I started my week with a trip up to Westerhall Estate as its my favourite place to go when I feel I need a bit of a boost. We were still waiting for Nicola Sturgeon to allow this area of D & G to travel more than 5 miles for our planned walk in Selkirk on Wednesday. This track is up the hill from the walled garden at Westerhall

The lovely garden at Westerhall

The road through the estate and a great place to go earlier in the year. In February it's full of Snowdrops. March its Daffodils and in April and May its Azaleas. On my journey today I saw 3 Red Squirrels but they were too quick to photograph. 

At the big house this pair of Jack Russells caused me loads of problems. They were so friendly and followed me along the road. I took them back to the house and headed back along the road and looked back to see the youngest one following me again so back I went for a second time. They were very cute and the youngest one was in danger of being dognapped.

I just love this tree sculpture

On Monday evening I went along to the Buccleuch Centre to see it being lit up by Centre Stage Theatre Group as part of a national campaign to show the Government how Theatres are being badly affected as a result of Covid-19 and many may not reopen again. 

This was the first time in 4 months I was out after 9.00pm

The Government have announced some financial backing for Theatres so we may be ok but life will still be tough for the Buccleuch Centre in the next year or so.  

On Tuesday the Scottish Government announced that the 5 mile limit had been lifted so we were good to go for a walk at Selkirk on Wednesday. We all travelled separately and arrived at almost the same time from Langholm and Edinburgh and during the walk we kept at a Social Distance. 

Single file on the uphill sections 

This is Lindean Loch

In this area you always see the Eildons and I think we have seen them from every angle 

A grand view of Selkirk from our start/finish car park

The first time we have been together for 4 months and we had a great morning walk and a lovely picnic at the half way point

Saturday was to be the best day for us since Lockdown started as we were able to have a visit from Fiona and the family from Newcastle. We had not seen them since February. We dined in the garden and Gaye went for a walk with our grandchildren Leo and Hannah in the park and later I took Fiona, Mario, and Hannah to upper Tarras to explain the plans for the Tarras Nature Reserve

Gaye and Leo walking in the park

Father and Daughter in Upper Tarras

On the Swings

In the Langholm Chilli Club Pollytunnel

Gaye had a lovely day

In the Park

The Mengers in Upper Tarras. We had a fabulous day and hope to have the kids back for a week in late August before they go back to school in September

This was the field at Potholm Bridge on 17th April during our long dry spring with not a sign of any Barley growing.

And this was the same field today, 12 weeks later when I walked round the Potholm today.