Itchy feet...

This is only my second blog post for May. No blogging means no walking. No walking means I'm not a happy bunny!

Actually May has flown by with a flurry of activity, just not a lot of the walking kind.

There's been a hen weekend in Highland Perthshire, and a trip to Chester, never mind a lot of work, a sprinkling of worry, and not a lot of time to myself!

Dave and I did manage a wee walk that we'd been planning since we moved to the Borders. Well not really planning, as it was very straightforward, but thinking about.

There's a wee road that connects Stow and Lauder that we drive frequently. It's five miles between the two, so we thought we'd walk to Lauder and walk back.

 

 

It had looked like a nice enough day, but once we got onto higher ground we were very exposed and the heavens opened! We got completely soaked, and didn't spend long in Lauder. By the time we got back home we had mostly dried off, and had earned our dinner!

I'm really hoping that tomorrow will bring a walk - so watch this space!

Next week will definitely bring a walk - the Moon Walk! I'm walking with four other ladies including my mum, and our team has a combined age of over 260! I'm looking forward to a fun evening and a challenging and rewarding walk. Our sponsorship page is here: http://wtwalk.org/moonwalkscotland2014/liz-margaret-jean-irene-helen-s-moonwalk-scotland-2014

So here we are, on the cusp of June. I have an unsettled feeling that time is just rushing by, so it's time to stop and take a moment. To get a hold of life again and to get out there and...WALK!

The bonnie Borders

Although I haven't been out on any proper walks since Easter Friday, I've enjoyed a number of shorter walks around Stow and Melrose when time allows at the weekend.

This past Bank Holiday weekend was spent enjoying our proximity to the braw sights of the Borders.

Saturday took Dave, myself and our friend Heather to the Wallace Statue, just south of Scott's View.

From there we walked down the hill towards Dryburgh, and onwards to the Temple of the Muses. I love this wee spot - there's a beautiful view over the Tweed, and it features on the Borders Abbeys Way and the St Cuthbert's Way.

We sat by the river to enjoy our lunch, before continuing on the St Cuthbert's Way path to St Boswells. It didn't feel that long since Dave and I had walked along this way on route to Harestanes.

It's a lovely stroll alongside St Boswells golf course, to the Mertoun Bridge. This time we crossed the bridge and walked near Clintmains, across a field, and back alongside the Tweed.

The path led back to Dryburgh, where we could just glimpse the Abbey. We met a friendly cat before making our way back up the hill to the Wallace Statue.

We'd walked around 6 miles, although I felt like I'd done more - having been choked up with the cold everything felt like an effort!

The recovery took place in Melrose, where tea and cake and the Glasgow Sevens provided welcome relief.

Sunday was spent exploring more of the beauties of the Borders, including Kelso Abbey and Abbotsford House. This was the first time I'd been into the House and it is absolutely fascinating. There's so many interesting historical artefacts to see, including an impressive armoury, and it really feels like you're stepping into how Walter Scott lived. In the study and the library there's nine and a half thousand books!

The gardens are also lovely, although in a few weeks there will be more colour.

You don't have to go far in this part of Scotland to be immersed in history, surrounded by ruined Abbeys, or walking in the footsteps of some of the country's finest historical figures.

A day in the Borders is a day well spent!