Alston Railway and the Pennine Way

We have been thinking about walking the Alston Railway Line for some time as it is 6 years since we were last here. It was an ideal day to pick up Peter from his new home in Aglionby near Carlisle so he could spend the day walking with us. It all went to plan and we were ready to depart from the station at Alston by 10.30am just before a steam train was due to leave on its 6 mile journey to Slaggyford. As it was school holidays there were a good number of visitors to the railway.

The first 3 miles of the walk were along the old railway which is now narrow gauge  

At a bridge over the Gilderdale Burn we crossed from Cumberland into Northumberland 

The Gilderdale Burn just before it joins the South Tyne

The points at a siding just outside Kirkhaugh Station

This is the Station at Kirkhaugh. I was very impressed with the main station at Alston and it seems they have spent a lot of money doing it up. It has a lovely cafe and new toilet facilities.  

For the return journey to Alston we followed the Pennine Way which was a most enjoyable walk with some good views

At the highest point of the walk we stopped to have a snack but the wind had got up admit was bitterly cold

Near Alston we passed this lovely tree in full autumn colours

The train that was running along the line today

This was the map of our walk. The total distance was about 7.5 miles which was just about enough for us auld yins. We finished with a nice lunch in the station cafe, although Peters choice of food was a bit stodgy according to him. 

The Brow Well and Ruthwell Shore Walk

We parked our cars at The Brow Well near Ruthwell and as soon as we got out of the cars the noise of Geese was everywhere with this lot overhead and hundreds of them on the shoreline and in the fields. Just beyond the house in the photograph below there was a field full of them and the noise as they rose from the field was deafening. 

Once we left the shoreline we had this lovely grass track to walk along and it took us to the village of Ruthwell.

There were plenty of Geese on the shoreline but they were just too far away to photograph especially as I only had my I Phone

John and Tom with Criffel in the Background 

The first part of the walk along the shore and on the salt marsh had many little inlets and gullies but there were loads of bridges to assist walkers. This was the first time we had walked here and it was a beautiful area with plenty to see.

Next to the track was this superb field of Winter Barley 

Near to Rothwell we visited the Ruthwell Parish Church but we were unable to get in to see the famous Ruthwell Cross

In the graveyard there was this memorial stone covered in ivy 

Our plan was to visit our friends Margaret and Robert in Clarencefield for morning coffee. Margaret was waiting for us with freshly baked Cheese Scones and Shortbread. They were beautiful and we had soon almost finished the lot. John was raving about the scones for the rest of the walk.

We headed from Clarencefield to walk to Comlongen and then through the woods back to The Brow Well. On the way we found this lot in the field next to the path. They were very cute.

Back on the road to The Brow Well we again came upon loads of Geese in the adjoining fields. Tom was making far too much noise so they were in the air before we were close enough for good photos.

More Geese

The Brow Well. We had walked almost 7 miles and then headed to the Farmers Inn at Clarencefield for a Bar Lunch which was served in double quick time. 

A Wild Eskdale Walk with Kevin Cumming

On what proved to be a fabulously warm autumnal day we were joined by Kevin Cumming the new Project Manager of Langholm Initiative's Project "Wild Eskdale". It was a good opportunity for him to brief David and Tom on his project which will be launched at The Monument on Wednesday 31st October at 10.30am. I had promised to cover for Bob McLure at the Bird Feeders and do the topping up of the feeders so this was an opportunity to enjoy a nice 6 mile walk and  do my wee job at the same time. The weather was just perfect and very warm so it was a most enjoyable morning walk and finished in style with a lovely light lunch at The Buccleuch Centre. 

The view from Broomholmshiels road

Tom enjoying the view from the Laverock Bird Hide but just don't ask him to identify any birds.  

An autumnal view

Another Walk round Castle Loch

We were last round Castle Loch at Lochmaben exactly 2 years ago when there were 12 of us on a Birthday Walk. It was only 3 of us today for this lovely walk but it was dry and we enjoyed the 5 miles walk.

Its been a great year for Fungi and this was growing on the side of a tree next to the Loch.

I reckon these trees blown over were the result of Storm Ali a couple of weeks ago. Here 3 trees were uprooted all at the same time. They look to have a very shallow root system. 

This is the view of them from the other side.

Another very colourful Fungi 

Tom and John enjoying themselves 

We spent 15 minutes in the bird hide and this is the view from it.  

The walk goes past Lochmaben Castle

The route took us through this ploughed field but the farmer had kindly left a clear track for walkers as its a right of way

As we approached Lochmaben we headed through the Golf Course which was quite busy today

We finished our walk with a lunch in the cafe attached to the Bakers shop. a lovely walk in good company with nice mild weather and we managed to beat the rain which came in the afternoon but did not stay for long. 

And my Final Island of the Trip is Kerrera

I had hoped to do a longish walk on Kerrera but the weather was awful so its just a case of getting on this wee Ferry when it arrives and doing the 10 minute crossing and then after 20 minutes on the Island I come back again. 

The Ferry has only room for 1 vehicle and because there are no metalled roads on Kerrera they have to be 4 wheel drive vehicles. This is the Post Quad Bike which stayed on the island for about 4 hours.

The crossing is so rough for a few minutes and the boat rocked about a lot I would not have liked my car to have been on it.  

The Pier at Kerrera

Side view of the Ferry

I was the only passenger on the return journey. I had a long chat with the Skipper of the Ferry and he told me its a great island for walking on as there is little or no traffic so I hope to come back sometime when the weather might be better.  

An Hour on Lismore

Another day and another Island. This is Lismore which has 2 Ferry services but we opted for the small passenger only one which sails from Port Appin north of Oban. Its a tiny Ferry and the crossing is only 10 minutes. Today for 5 of those minutes it was very rough as we crossed the tidal stream. My intention was to do my morning walk on Lismore so Gaye stayed back at Port Appin and did the Times Crossword in the car. It was just as well as it was soon poring with rain and very windy. It is however a lovely Island and hopefully I will get back sometime to see more of it. 

Looking across to Port Appin

Lismore Ferry Terminal

The road south and my morning walk 

Looking over to the mainland 

The road to Port Ramsay. I did not have time to make it to the village as I had to be back for the 11.15am Ferry or I would have had a long time to wait for the next one. By now it was really wet so I was happy to have the wind at my back when I turned round.

Looking towards Port Ramsay

On my way back to the Ferry I met this parked car with a very unusual numberplate. On speaking with the owner I was not surprised to discover he was from Hawick having lived there 30 years ago. He is a fellow Island Hopper and is about 6 islands behind me. We had a 5 minute chat but as I had to get back for the ferry we did not get any longer to chat.  

I had about 1 minute to spare before the Ferry arrived and I headed back to Port Appin and a lovely coffee and cake at the Hotel.

On our way back to the Hotel at North Connell we visited The Isle of Eriska and the lovely very posh Eriska Hotel on this small island.  

The inlet that separates isle of Erika from the mainland. It was now bucketing down so we did not stay or even take photos of the hotel. Despite the weather it was a nice walk on Lismore and nice to see Eriska.