Berwickshire Coastal Path from Eyemouth to St Abbs and back

Wednesday 17 May, from Eyemouth Harbour along the Coastal path, with a couple of detours round the fort headland and another smaller one, past Coldingham Bay with its beautiful beach and into St Abbs. Almost five miles there, and four back. Nine miles in all. Fine and dry, warm at times, with a chill wind on the clifftops.  Around 500 feet of ascent and descent.

There are wildflowers in abundance - thrift, campion, bluebells, gorse, cowslips, primroses, plantain, vetch . . .

Another 'laidly worm'?  We sat on its back for coffee.

Spot the heron.

Coldingham Bay

Looking down on St Abbs.

Pensively waiting for Cullen Skink, closely observe by a thieving seagull. 

We took a slightly different rack back to Coldingham Bay, via the Creel Path.

Onwards and upwards . . .

Then back along the coastal path to Eyemouth and a bit more bloody history.

Chirnside, Ninewells, Chirnside Bridge

Sunday 14 May 2017, 2.12 pm.  A walk around Chirnside, then the path not far from North Lodge, signed as the David Hume Way, and back again through the village.

The village of Chirnside, is in Scotland, about 9 miles from Berwick-on-Tweed. It boasts connections with racing driver Jim Clark (1936 a 1968), and the philosopher David Hume (1711 a 1776), who spent his childhood at Ninewells.

I took this meandering walk after reading about it on an information board. I could have extended it, or improved it by looking it up online beforehand . . .

The lovliest section is through the Ninewells area, through the woods and along the Whiteadder River.

I haven't seen so much wild garlic in one spot for a long time.

When I reached the road, with the bridge and the paper mill, I turned back along the path towards Ninewells.

Anroach Farm to the Roaches and Hen Cloud

A circular walk of around 8 miles with around 1000 feet of ascent. I walked with Harry, on a fine sunny day, with a strong wind. It was warm enough to cast a few clouts in sheltered spots warmed by the sun.  The recent dry weather has left the sometimes boggy ground dry and springy, and very pleasant to walk on.
We followed the same route as on Saturday 19 November 2016, with one difference. Half way through instead of going down to the road we climbed Hen Cloud instead. 

Anroach Farm 

Gib Tor

Water Avens

On the way we saw and heard a stonechat, a chiffchaff, lapwings, and several green hairstreak butterflies.  A cuckoo or two were vocal all day. 

Higher up on the ridge

Pano from the ridge

Hen Cloud

Looking back over Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek

A wander from Oundle to Stoke Doyle

With Marta, about 6.5 miles and one extra 0.5 mile to go for lunch. There is one section which is not a proper right of way, as the sign when we emerged from the bridleway, told us there was no way through. 

After a pause-café in Waitrose cafe we parked nar the old Drill Hall on the A427, and walked out past the Golf Club House, and soon turned left through the golf course, following the public footpath.

 The path turns right, crosses a field and then follows the edge of some woodland.

Too early for another coffee!

 Plenty of bluebells.

Acres of rapeseed

A gall on an oak tree

Monarch of all she surveys?

and another monarch?

A small herd of deer paused to watch us

before heading for the horizon

Coffee in comfort

Selfie time

Alpacas at Stoke Doyle

Guinea fowl

Cattle opposite Stoke Doyle chirch

This monument and one next to it bear witness to the extent of infant mortality, and deaths in childbirth.

In the visitors' book visitors from Austria have written the Lord's Prayer in old German of some kind.

St Rombald's church

Wych elm again?

We returned to Oundle along the minor road, which was quite busy. Luckily after half a mile or so there is a footpath alongside the road.

 And for something different, the upstairs room of the café in Oundle displays photographs of film stars from the 1950s. We identified several, with help from a couple of customers, but it seems that the café's definitive list has been mislaid.

Jean Gabin and Brigitte Bardot in "En Cas de Malheur"

Marta in the café