Braw, brilliant Borders...

Ye surely ken by now that I am a bit of a fan of the Scottish Borders...and if ye dinnae ken this then where have you been?

I've had some great wee trips recently around the Borders, and a couple of lovely walks too.

Dave and I took a trip to Kelso and after a wander around this historic Borders town, we caught a lovely sunset over the 'Cobby', by the Tweed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last weekend I took myself off for a wee bit of a stroll, with the combined benefit of a wee bit of head space too. Sometimes I need to force myself out, but once I get walking I am instantly so much happier. I still think and worry a lot whilst I'm walking, but the freedom of being out in nature calms me. I feel that *anything* is possible, and that's a great feeling!! Addictive too.

I planned a loop starting and ending in Melrose, although I actually parked my car in Gattonside so extended my walk ever so slightly by way of the chain bridge.

Leaving the town of Melrose behind me, I walked up the old railway station and along what was once the track. It felt quite poignant actually - given that the Borders Railway will be up and running in the not-so-distant future, but not here.

 

 

The path took me under the main road, and past Borders General Hospital. Thankfully I was about to leave civilisation behind and enter the peaceful Rhymer's Glen, an area of picturesque woodland much loved by Sir Walter Scott.

Now I do sometimes get a bit feart walking through woods on my own, because my imagination runs away with me and I'm scared of every noise (lions? tigers? bears? oh my!). The same happened here, although I was mostly preoccupied by keeping an eye out for faeries, and also picking my way through this: 

There's obviously been some recent damage to these woods, but thankfully I found my way round.

The following wee snippet of poetry seems suitable here, from 'Rhymer's Glen' by Kenneth Erik Moffatt:

Tangled trees greet me
as I pick a path through Rhymers Glen
they let fall their down
wanting me as them
lichen bearded
moss-scented.

Soon I emerged from the woods into this open landscape:

(looking back to the direction I'd come from)

The boardwalks were great because it was fairly boggy and icy on this stretch. I was a wee bit nervous that I was in an open field, and could only imagine that there was a herd of cows awaiting me over the next hill.

Thankfully though, all that awaited me was this view:

 Cauldshiels Loch. I just loved the wee stroll by its edge.

 

I met a couple of dog walkers here, who were the first people I'd seen since leaving Melrose.

I was so busy thinking that Cauldshiels Loch would be a great wee place for wild swimming later this year, that it look me a while to realise that I'd been here before. When I walked from Selkirk to Melrose on the Border Abbeys Way in June 2012, the path came past this loch. It was great to be back.

Apparently the loch is home to a water horse (kelpie), but thankfully I wasn't lured to a watery grave. I did spot a couple of real horses in the field nearby, but no kelpies today.

I then continued on the Border Abbeys Way from Cauldshiels Loch all the way back to Melrose, which was lovely really, as I didn't have to worry about missing a turn or going the wrong way at all.

The Eildons were looking spectacular on this bright, sunny Borders day.

 

I did face my fears when I had to walk right past a herd of cows....thankfully they were a bit preoccupied, but I still got some stares as I ran - I mean, strolled - past.

The walk then descended to Abbotsford House (barely visible through the trees). When I walked this route in June 2012 the visitor centre was still under construction, and it hadn't been easy to navigate through the muddy building site. Now, it was straight past...

And I was alongside the Tweed once more, past Galashiels and onwards back to Gattonside.

Dave and I often walk along here, and this is one of our favourite wee spots:

I crossed the chain bridge once more, almost exactly 3 hours since I'd gone the other way. My 9 mile stroll on a stunning, crisp, cool day in the Borders was complete.

I was chuffed - and tired!


On Thursday of this week I decided to walk to Lauder and back. I was itching to get some miles done, and although this walk is entirely on the road (or on the grassy verges), it's a good training walk. It was 2pm when I set out, so I knew I'd have to go reasonably quickly to get back before darkness descended.

It was beautiful - cold, snowy, bitter, but stunning.

Looking back towards Stow

On the road again...

Lauder Moor

Beautiful skies on the return leg

 

 

 

 

 

 

My outbound foot and my inbound foot!

The walk took me just over 3 hours to complete. I felt great when I finished - revitalised, rejuvenated, refreshed. Dave had spotted me coming down the hill towards home, and got the kettle on - magic! About five minutes after my cup of tea, I crashed. I felt exhausted! 

But positive.

I've been keeping a note of my mileage throughout January (and will continue to do so throughout the year) just out of interest. Obviously I have time at the moment to walk, which has been so beneficial both to my fitness and my wellbeing (physical and mental!). I'm around the 90 mile mark at the moment, generally through short 3 mile walks as often as possible, and a couple of longer walks thrown in for good measure.

This January has been far more positive than previous years. February, can you keep the pace going?

Completing the loop...

Over the past few years I've enjoyed a number of 'wee strolls' around parts of Loch Leven, and a number of boat trips out to the Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was famously imprisoned. I'd been really looking forward to 'completing the loop' when the full 13-mile path - the Heritage Trail - round the loch was finished.

I love the different sections of the walk - from open views to secluded woodland, the Loch Leven Heritage Trail really offers a variety of scenery. It is so accessible and the path is in great condition. 

I got my chance on Friday. I wanted to challenge myself to see whether the walking - and other keeping fit type things like running (albeit slowly) and going to zumba - have paid off. I wanted to test my fitness and see what I could do. I wanted to get out there in the fresh air and push myself.

Fortuitously it was a beautiful day, but I knew I'd have to get moving if I was to get round the loch in daylight - I didn't start until 1.20pm. Dave dropped me off at Kirkgate Park, and I made a slow start - I was too busy taking photos of the glorious weather!

I startled two deer just outside Kinross House, and it's a real shame I didn't get my camera ready in time to get the shot of them looking at me. Thankfully, they wouldn't be my last deer of the day!

Once I got into my stride I was setting quite a quick pace for myself. Although it was a beautiful day the paths were quiet - I had to remind myself that it was Friday and not yet the weekend. I felt very lucky to have the chance to be here on a day such as this. Life is about moments like this, surely.

 

 

 

 

I stopped occasionally to take photos, but on the whole I kept my steady pace going for 13 miles and I was really chuffed that I felt a lot fitter than I did at the end of the last year.

 

 

I saw my third deer of the day at Findatie. I was tipped off by a fellow walker who'd spotted the deer as he walked the opposite way. I'm glad he mentioned it as I would probably not have noticed otherwise! I loved that the deer was framed perfectly in the gap in the trees.

 

After passing Vane Farm Nature Reserve, I was out onto the most exposed part of the path. By this time the sun had dipped down behind the hills, and although it was still light, it was very cold. I employed the 'gloves AND mitts' tactic to keep my hands warm, and got my head down.

 

It was great to walk along the new section of the path (interesting zig-zags just after the shelter/viewpoint!), but it was soon to get a lot more tough.

 

It had been so sunny earlier in the day, but now it started to snow. The path was extremely icy under foot - there was a lot of water and puddles from earlier rainfall that had frozen over. Now there was snow over these icy puddles, and I had to really watch my step. I learnt this the hard way (the only way to learn) after slipping on ice and going down reasonably hard on my right hand and knee. At this point I decided to put my camera - which had been round my neck - back in my bag!

 

Where I fell!

It was really quite difficult to get round the ice sometimes, as the grass was very waterlogged and icy too. I also found this out the hard way; as I stepped from one clump of grass to the next, I got my footing wrong and was plunged shin-deep into the icy depths. Brrrr!

 

I knew I wasn't far from Kinross. It was getting dark and I was looking forward to reaching Kirkgate Park. I managed to get a shot of the pier - somewhat submerged!

Dave picked me up from Kirkgate Park around 5.10pm, so I was really chuffed to have finished 13 miles in less than 4 hours. I was really encouraged by the pace and it was just one of those days when I was feeling really good!

I wasn't too sore afterwards, although the hot shower was simply amazing!

The next day I had quite a pain at the top of my left leg, which I think was probably from the fall (I didn't feel it at the time!). Thankfully by Sunday I was pretty much feeling back to normal, although wabbit I have to say!

However, I wanted a challenge and I felt a million times better having completed the trail. The fresh air, the miles, the feeling of achievement, and the boost to my spirits cannot be underestimated.