Thistle Viaduct and Netherby Walk

It had to be a short early walk today as Tom had to go to Dumfries for a funeral at 12.30pm so I took Tom to Kirkandrews where I had reconnoitred on Sunday to do a 3.5 mile walk over the Thistle Viaduct and through Netherby Estate. It was an area we had never walked before and it was a most enjoyable 90 minute walk. This is the Thistle Viaduct which was on the old Waverley line from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Its amazing to think its only a few miles south of Langholm and neither Tom or myself had ever walked over it until this week but of course regularly crossed it when the train to Carlisle operated 60 years ago. 

Once over the Thistle Viaduct we followed the railway line for a few hundred yards and then turned onto this farm lane which was extremely muddy.

We joined a narrow road which then took us to the main road between Penton and Longtown. This signpost is to Moat where my father was born and where to be honest I don't think I have ever been. I must explore it sometime soon just to see where my father was brought up as a boy before he moved to Rowanburn.

This is Carwinley Mill now converted to a lovely house on the Carwinley Burn

Just above the Mill is this pond which must have been used to provide water to the mill. There now looks to be some holiday homes round it and it is a lovely place to visit. 

A bit of the old mill machinery

Only about half a mile of the walk was on the main Penton to Longtown road and we soon headed down in to Netherby estate once we reached the North Lodge. This is Netherby Hall which is fast becoming a very popular place for holidays and they are at present converting old stables into holiday flats. 

The Suspension Bridge at Kirkandrews and it can swing about a bit when 2 large guys walk over it at the same time. 

Kirkandrews Church

Kirkandrews Tower. Long after the Roman withdrawal the parish lay at the heart of the "Debatable Land" between England and Scotland with neither country willing to take control. This legal and political vacuum allowed the notorious and lawless Graham Reiving Clan to terrorise the area. Even the establishment of the border line in 1552 did nothing to bring peace to the region. Eventually after the Union of the English and Scottish Crowns in 1603, King James intervened to rid Kirkandrews of the Graham Clan threat, by exiling some of them to distant areas including Ireland. Obviously he did not get rid of them all. 

This is the route of our short but very enjoyable and interesting walk.

The Snowdrops of Westerhall

I never tire of visiting Westerhall and the best times to visit are February for the Snowdrops, March for the Daffodils and May for the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. This was a beautiful morning so I drove up to Burnfoot and walked through the Estate to Benpath and back a distance of 5 miles in total. It was an absolute pleasure with so much to see. This is an old Douglas Fir that must be one of the largest in Scotland 

Loads of Snowdrops and soon there will be Daffodils as well

The big house in such beautiful grounds 

The village of Bentpath in the distance

These Snowdrops will be at their best in another week or so.

The entrance gate at the southern end of the Estate

A Walk Over The Thistle Viaduct

For many years I have wanted to walk over the Thistle Viaduct that crosses the River Esk just north of Kirkandrews on Esk Church. Despite the bad weather I decided this would be my Sunday morning walk. It was well worth the effort in all the mud and rain. The last time I crossed this bridge would be in the early 1960s when I was on the train to Carlisle.

I think it would be a double rail track over the bridge as this was the old Waverley Line which at Ridings junction just a mile further north would split into the single track Langholm Branch Line.

This is a Tree House on Netherby Estate. It costs about £200 per night to rent and it looks very nice from the outside.

Kirkandrews Church

The suspension bridge at Kirkandrews Church. It has been renovated in recent years and is now in excellent condition 

Tom's Back From Barbados

After 10 days in Barbados staying with David and Alix Tom arrived back yesterday and just felt like a shorter local walk today. On looking at the weather forecast for Canonbie last night we reckoned we would have a 2 hour window of decent weather between 10.00am and noon. The forecast was spot on and the rain came on heavily just as we got back into the car after shopping at The Phone Box in Rowanburn at noon. We managed 5 miles with no rain.

I wanted a nice clean road walk as I had just purchased a new pair of walking boots yesterday so we kept on B roads and then down through the old road past The Fairy Loup. It was a bitterly cold wind and in our face for the first couple of miles but we soon got shelter when we went through the wood. We only met one other walker so the weather looked to be putting most people off.  

Tom Looking well wrapped up but also quite tanned after his holiday

As usual after our local walks we head for Whitshiels Cafe where we are made most welcome. They are just finalising the third Log Cabin and it should be ready for Easter. Its a superb place to stay for a short break. 

Another Walk in Gelt Valley

In the absence of Tom, who is in Barbados for 10 days and has e mailed me twice to say it is raining we headed to Aglionby to walk with Peter. I collected John and Sandria at Carlisle station of the Edinburgh train which arrived bang on time and we had morning coffee and hot scones at Peter and Elizabeth's. 

We left the ladies to go for a short walk to Talkin Tarn and we travelled the short distance to The Gelt Woods near Brampton for a walk along the river Gelt. It is very spectacular with fast flowing water through solid rock riverbed worn smooth in places. 

Very fast flowing channels of water through the rock

 

With several deep pools

This section has a walkway beside the river, but one slip and you could be in the fast flowing deep water

After our 4 mile walk we met the girls at The Royal Oak at Scotby for an excellent lunch. It was a perfect day in great company and with excellent hospitality from Peter and Elizabeth. We did miss Tom and look forward to having him back with us on our walks soon.

Another Potholm Walk

Tom decided he had only time today to do a short local walk as he is getting ready to fly off to Barbados on Friday morning. I take him to Carlisle Station at 5.15am for the 6.22am train to Manchester Airport. Its just over a year since we did this walk on New Year's Day 2019 so we thought we should do it again. The wind was on our backs for the first half of the walk but in our face for the second half and it was fierce and cold. 

A selfie on the seat near Potholm farm. 

A good view of the outward section of the walk to Potholm

Tom wanted to do a Tarzan and swing on a vine but it broke. 

At the meeting of the waters in Langholm. His next walk beside water will be on a beach in Barbados. I can look forward to peace and quiet for 10 days and our walk next Wednesday at The Gelt Woods near Brampton will be argument free and nobody will get lost.

There was a Raptor on this tree but it flew away just as I was about to take the photograph.
We enjoyed the walk and finished up at The Buccleuch Centre for a lovely lunch.

Hogmanay Dinner and New Years Day Walk

The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers meet up again for dinner on Hogmanay in The Douglas Hotel. We had drinks at Ardlui prior to this with Champagne kindly provided by David and then finished up at Birkwood to see in the New Year. It was a most enjoyable evening in excellent company. 

New Years Day and instead of an early start to walk round Potholm and finish along with the runners on the New Years Day Whisky run we started as they finished. As Bowman is getting too old for a long walk Alix started later than us and met us near Jenny Nobles to walk back with us. It was timed perfectly and Bowman was delighted to be back with his walking pals and lead the way. 

At the Round House and notice how Bowman has had a real clipping.

Ready for a treat from Alix

At Broomholmshiels and half way 

John and Elspeth