Gretna Walk to Redkirk and the Shore

Today's walk took us to Gretna and along an old B road to the village of Redkirk where we walked along a country lane down to the Solway shore. We were fortunate to meet Dougie Norden an old school friend of John and myself and he kindly took this photo of the four of us. Peter is putting a brave face on but he has a problem with his knee and was in a lot of pain during the walk but soldiered on like the brave trooper he is. 

Tom goes to great lengths to tell us about this area behind the fence which used to be where the Council recycled rubbish when he worked for them. As usual his commentary was listened to by the 3 of us but not taken in.  

The river Kirtle

A lovely country lane leading to the seashore 

A flock of Geese passing overhead.

Normally at this time of year this lane would be very muddy but the ground was dry and it was a pleasure to walk along it. 

Peter & Tom bringing up the rear

It was difficult walking along the shore and got considerably worse for a short section of the shore when we had to scramble along a very rocky foreshore. 

It looks easy walking but you had to watch where you put your feet as there were many holes and ditches you could fall into. 

Tom scrambling under a barbed wire fence. Once upon a time we would just jump over them but not now. It was a most enjoyable walk and after we finished we headed to Whitsheils Cafe in Langholm for a late lunch. 

A Walk Round The Black Esk Reservoir

It's not very often David manages to find time to walk with us so it was a real pleasure to have him and the dogs with us today up Eskdalemuir. We chose a walk round The Black Esk Reservoir as it was easier to keep an eye on Ruger who tends to wander off if a Pheasant is disturbed. It was his first time at Black Esk so that was a bonus. It is a nice 5.5 mile walk on forestry road without much climbing so as we get older its becomes very acceptable.  

Did somebody say BISCUIT

Its not a huge reservoir but very remote and we never saw another person the whole walk 

The Dam 

Tom and David with Bowman and Ruger walking along the Dam. We finished up at Edkdalemuir Hub for lunch. We had Tom back in Langholm in time for him to go to Flanders & Swan at the Buccleuch Centre. Just as we got home the rain started so we were very lucky with the weather.

A Walk from Talkin Tarn to Brampton

A combined age of 280+ years but still managing to do our Wednesday walk. Both Tom and Peter had mobility problems today so we decided on a fairly easy walk from Talkin Tarn to Brampton and back. I am delighted to say that the two invalids are much better and will be walking longer walks soon. We also found a Geocache at the north end of Talkin Tarn which John greeted with much enthusiasm. Tom was the finder of the small cache hanging from a Holly Tree.

Three vandals probably about to throw stones at a passing train.

Brampton Station which is almost a mile from the town.

From Brampton Station into the town we took the route of an old disused railway track. It was flanked on both sides by huge numbers of trees laden with fruit of all kinds and will be of great value to any visiting birds this coming winter. 

A Crab Apple Tree with a lot of lovely looking fruit on it.

Tom admiring the Hawthorn berries 

On our way back to Talkin Tarn we passed this lovely collection of trees on the top of a small hill. After our 2 hour 5 mile walk we had lunch in the nice cafe at Talkin Tarn. A lovely walk with plenty good crack as we had not all been together for a few weeks. Our friends Niall & Elspeth are now en route back to Australia so they will be missing form our Wednesday walks until next April.

A Glorious Week in Jersey

We have just returned from a lovely week in Jersey where the weather for 6 out of the 7 days was glorious and the only rain was a short spell on the morning of our last full day there. We flew out on EasyJet and the only reason for this photo is that our case can just be seen travelling on the belt into the hold of the aircraft. This is the only time in my many hundreds of flights over years that I have seen my case being loaded onto the aircraft. 

This was the view from our hotel in there St. Clements area of Jersey and only about 1.5 miles from St. Helier. We arrived at the best time for the tides with High Tide on the first day at about 10.00am and then approx. an hour later each day with it being at 4.00pm on our last full day. The weather was just perfect and I spent most of the time in a pair of shorts and sandals while Gaye was a bit more sensibly dressed.

The small village of Rozel still on the east coast 

We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the Bon Nuit Cafe overlooking this small harbour. 

The Bonn Nuit Cafe from the harbour wall. Our terms at the Samares Hotel was just Bed & Breakfast so we were able to eat at a different place each day and were spoiled by the many excellent cafes and pubs on the Island with Sea Food that was just superb.  

Gaye enjoying a seat in the sun. We have been very fortunate in our last two September holidays as last year we had superb weather on our weeks holiday in the East Neuk of Fife.  

Another day and another beach but this time on the west coast and St Ouen's Bay

This was our favourite place called La Greve de Lecq and we even managed to have a paddle in the sea. It was the warmest day of our holiday and not even a breeze to bother us. 

Six months ago we were paddling in the Pacific in California but the sea was much warmer in Jersey

An afternoon spent in the hotel garden and using the lovely leisure facilities

This is La Corbiere Lighthouse in the south west of the Island in the district of St. Brelade. When we arrived there the siren had just sounded which warned everybody that they had just 15 minutes before the causeway would be covered by the fast incoming tide. We quickly walked over and back and within minutes of our return the sea started to cover the causeway. 

This is just after we finished our walk across 

And this is 5 minutes later 

Our favourite Greve de Lecq on our last day when the weather was not so good. 

Near the hotel was a small island called Green Island that you can only cross to at low tide. This had not been possible for most of our week during the day except for Tuesday before we flew back home. I took advantage after breakfast to scramble over the rocks and walk onto the island as it was 6 hours before high tide. 

The view from Green Island

Loads of Red Squirrels at Eskrigg

There was just 3 of us today and the original intention was to do a walk at Eskdalemuir but the weather forecast for there was not good (Mist) so we decided to go to Eskrigg near Lockerbie and combine a walk with a visit to the Red Squirrels

Within seconds of us arriving at the hide there were several Red Squirrels darting about plus loads of birds on the feeders including a Nuthatch and various Tits. 

This was the closest we got to the Red Squirrel

On the way back to Lockerbie we walked along Sherwood Crescent where in 1988 Pan Am 103 crashed. 

From Bentpath to Langholm

After the challenges of last Wednesday in Edinburgh it was a much quieter walk today with Niall and I walking 7 miles  from Bentpath to Langholm and Tom joining us at Burnfoot for the remaining 5 miles. The weather was very damp and humid but the rain stopped after half an hour and we arrived home dry but very sweaty. This is taken overlooking The Gates of Eden with Craigcleuch House in the background which Tom has advocated for many years should be turned into an Open Prison. No doubt he has his reasons.  

Niall and myself with James Ewart's Horse Racing circuit in the background. We finished up at the Buccleuch Centre for Coffee and Cake.

The Pentland Ridge for John's Birthday Walk

We headed to Edinburgh for John's Birthday Walk which started at Hillend Ski Slope on the Pentlands. Unfortunately there was one or two last minute absentees due to illness and accidents. Elizabeth has broken her wrist while out walking at the weekend and was due to get a new plaster on it today and Sandria has a bad cold. Hopefully Sandria will be fully fit for her Baltic Cruise this weekend and Elizabeth will take a wee bit longer to recover so we wish her a speedy recovery. We were joined by Elspeth's brother Ron who took this photo.

Edinburgh from lower down on the Pentlands.

The road ahead and some dark clouds forming. We had to cut short the walk and therefore missed one loop but we would have been heading into the wind and rain so decided it was better to have them at our backs instead.

Climbing up to the ridge. Our guest walker Ron is wearing the dark glasses probably to prevent him being dazzled by Martins Jumper. 

Edinburgh and the new Forth Road Bridge in the distance. 

This was our highest point at about 1600ft and it was blowing a gale.  

We had a coffee at the Ski Centre cafe on our return where Tom is trying to work out how to take a photo on his new cheap phone but discovered it does not have a camera.

The Ski Slope and despite the lift working all the time we were there nobody was there to Ski.