A Wet Walk at Talkin Tarn

Despite a poor weather forecast Mike, Charlie and myself decided we would still have our walk at Talkin Tarn and just dress accordingly and take umbrellas. It did rain heavily at times, but it was also dry for 50% of our walk and the chat was excellent. This Gorse is looking good next to the Tarn.

Charlie & Mike inspect a hedge of Blackthorn

This tree was covered the whole length of its trunk by this Ivy

This is Wood Anemone and Mike explained it grows in the shade of trees. 

This pair of lambs were very pleased to see us

On a small pond next to Brampton Station we saw this pair of Swans building a nest.

If you look closely between the trees you will see a Goose on this small pond

Most of the time these pylons are not too intrusive, but this is a massive one and it seems to dominate the field it is in.

One of the three B roads we walked along near Talkin Tarn. The walk was about 4 miles and most enjoyable despite the rain. We decided to have our usual Coffee after the walk at The Buccleuch Centre and despite it being very busy with lunches prior to a film being shown we were soon found a table and served with our Coffee in no time at all.

 

Walking from Tweedbank Station to Abbotsford

Today Tom and I headed to Tweedbank Railway Station to meet up with John, Martin and Ken who travelled down from Edinburgh on the train. The plan was to walk from the station to Abbotsford along the Tweed and then back to Tweedbank. This photo is a pond in the park in Tweedbank. It has plenty Waterfowl, Ducks, and Swans and we were told by a lady passing by that a family of Otters also live there. We did not see the Otters, but we saw all the birds.

This looks like a complete family of Swans. 

Enjoying a seat in the park

At the entrance to Abbotsford. We did not go into Abbotsford as we had limited time available.

Starting our walk at Tweedbank Station. Our walk was only 4 miles which is due to our age. John advised that the average age of the 5 of us was almost 79. In 2008 John, Tom, Martin, and myself walked the Border Abbey's Way in about 6 stages finishing on a very cold day in December. The average walk then was about 11 miles a day. Our walks then lasted all day compared with half a day nowadays.

The Tweed was running quite high and fast but not a dirty brown like the Esk when it is in flood.

The railway bridge over the Tweed. I have often travelled over it but this was just the second time I walked down to the river at it. The first time was before the Borders railway was built when we walked the Border Abbeys Way. We were lucky with the weather today and had almost no rain. We ended the walk by having lunch in Marmions Brasserie in Melrose.

 

A Walk at Talkin Tarn and Brampton

For the first time in many months we crossed the border into England for our Wednesday walk. No David today as he is away to St. Andrews on business and he has missed his first walk for 8 weeks so it was just me and Tom. The destination was Talkin Tarn and Brampton along the old mineral railway built in 1798 built to bring coal from workings on Tindale Fell. First of all a walk round the Tarn and this lovely Duck was diving every few seconds but I managed to get it in-between dives. I think it is a Tufted Duck but I am sure my friend Harry will keep me right there.

Talkin Tarn which is a kettle hole lake formed 10,000 years ago by mass glacial action. The Tarn is fed by underground streams and it covers 65 acres and there is a 1.3 mile path round it.  

From the Tarn we headed over a field to Brampton Station on the Carlisle to Newcastle railway line. The branch line to Brampton joined it here but it closed in 1923. We enjoyed a 15 minute coffee break in the covered section on the left hand platform.

On the outskirts of Brampton is this lovely Beech hedge

This used to be the Tarn End House Hotel but it was derelict for many years until a local property developer demolished it and turned it into very desirable flats. 

Next to Brampton station is this small pond where this family of Swans are resident.

This is one of the lovely lanes we walked along on our walk.

The old Brampton railway line.

Its lovely walking along the edge of a field of Barley

This is called Wood's Hill and it has always impressed me as I walked past it. 

This was the route we took for our 6.7 mile walk which we ended with a Cappuccino at the Cafe beside the Tarn.