A Walk Through Gelt Woods and then to Castle Carrock

Tom and I headed to Carlisle to pick up Peter at Aglionby and then go on a walk through the Gelt woods. After two days of heavy rain the Gelt was running quite high and in places it was a little tricky underfoot, but its a lovely walk and the Gelt is a spectacular river.

There are several waterfalls on the route through the woods

What makes the Gelt so interesting is that it flows over rock rather than gravel. At the side of the river there is an area where the stone was quarried that they say was used in building Hadrians Wall.

This is the most spectacular section and probably yesterday would have been inaccessible.

 

Once we left the Gelt woods we crossed the Carlisle to Newcastle railway line and then headed to Castle Carrock via quiet roads and country lanes.

St. Peter's Church in Castle Carrock is very small but very attractive

The stained glass windows are very nice and Peter is enjoying looking at a Church with the same name as him.

A side view of St Peter's Church

Our route to Castle Carrock was along country lanes with many Hawthorn berries displayed so the birds should be ok this winter.

More Hawthorns and a field of Maze but its used for fodder rather than Corn.

The Duke of Cumberland Pub where we enjoyed a lovely lunch.

We again crossed the Carlisle to Newcastle railway line and this time just in time to catch a train

This was an old barn but covered in an Ivy

Near the end of our 8 mile walk and the weather has been glorious and a lovely Rowan Tree in the background.

A Sand Quarry near Low Gelt at the end of our walk

A Walk Along the Brampton Ridge

Normally on a Wednesday I walk with Tom and The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers but none of them were available today so with the weather for tomorrow looking very wet Mike Tinker and I brought forward our regular Thursday walk and headed to Brampton. This is the Brampton Ridge heading out to Lanercost and the views over the Eden valley are spectacular. 

After the Brampton Ridge we walked through the woods following the Quarry Beck. This is a spectacular walk and it can be a bit muddy in places but was not too bad today.

There are loads of fallen trees along the Beck

This is the spectacular Waterfall on the Quarry Beck

This was one of the muddy areas and I would not like to walk it when the Beck is in flood

Another fallen tree across the Beck. I am pleased to report neither Mike and I ventured to cross it. 

On the outskirts of Lanercost there are 2 bridges crossing the river Irthing. This is the old bridge now closed to traffic. It was built in 1724 at cost of £493.

The very deep pool on the north side of the bridge

The new bridge built in 1962

This is the very unusual sign on the road just before the old bridge. 

Lanercost Priory and the half way point of our walk. We came back a slightly different way and our total distance covered was 6 miles on a very lovely and sunny day. Tomorrow the forecast is so bad I may just stay in bed. 

 

A Weekend at Cally Palace with Last of the Summer Wine Walkers

Our long awaited get together for The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers was at Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet. The golfers Tom, David, John, and Alix met at 1.00pm to play this excellent long and difficult course. It was a win for Alix as she played superb and beat the men.

While the golfers were out on the course Martin and I had a walk at the back of the hotel.

The Golf Course from the front of the Hotel

The view from our bedroom.

 

We had a Champagne reception on Friday evening to celebrate David and Alix's 55th Wedding anniversary. Tom put us all to shame by being so smartly dressed while we were all more casual. 

John and I enjoying a glass of Champagne with Martin & Alix in the background

Alix & David with Tom and Gaye

We were given the Conservatory for our reception and it was perfect.

On Saturday morning 8 of us went to Brighouse Bay near Borgue for a 4.5 mile walk. I once spent a week there in a tent with Langholm Boy's Brigade in July 1966 at our annual Camp. Things have changed since then and there is now a Caravan Site, Log Cabins, and a Golf Course adjoining Brighouse Bay.

The path we were following skirted the golf Course and had a few fairly high cliffs just to keep us on our toes. 

Tom and John enjoying the walk.

Brighouse Bay and an incoming tide.

This was a particular difficult hole on the course with the golfers on the extreme left having to drive across this little inlet. It was a par 3 and two of them made the green but the other two drove into the sea.

Ken, Anne and Sandria watching the golfers.

Laughing at Tom taking the photo

I took this photo and then Tom insisted he would take a photo with me in it. He attempted to get down on his knees and we enjoyed a great laugh at his antics as you can see in the photo above this one. 

While we were walking at Brighouse Bay Eileen, Alix, and Gaye had a walk in the grounds of Cally Palace. This photo taken by Aileen.

Sunday morning after breakfast and a group photo with our face masks, except John who had lost his.

This is the important photo. It has been a great weekend with loads of laughs and good banter. The Hotel and their staff were excellent. We all agreed that this should be the format in the future. It was unfortunate that Peter & Elizabeth and Niall and Elspeth were unable to be with us but hopefully will make it next year. 

Walking With the Glovers at Threave Castle

Tom and I had our Wednesday walk at Threave Castle and we met John and Marion Glover at Threave Gardens so they could take us round this lovely walk. This is the River Dee that surrounds Threave Island. We arrived at the Gardens early so we could have a quick lunch before meeting John and Marion. It was quickly served and excellent quality.  

Threave Castle which normally would only be reached by a boat ferry so as its closed just now due to Covid-19 we couldn't get any closer. 

The small Ferry

I just love Galloway Cattle and this wee fellow was very cute.

A very imposing Castle

Tom with John and Marion Glover and Charlie their lovely Spaniel.

A group photo.

 The Galloway cattle in a perfect line. After our walk we headed to Kippford where John and Marion have a Caravan and we enjoyed a coffee on their balcony overlooking the Galloway Hills. A perfect end to a perfect day.