Kirk Yetholm to Jedfoot Bridge
After a great stay at the Border Hotel, I was ready for my first full day in Scotland!
I set off through fields and along the St. Cuthbert’s Way. St. Cuthbert’s Way is a 62 mile route from Melrose to Lindisfarne (also called Holy Island). It links up nicely with the Pennine Way, and I’m following the trail to Melrose. The trail is really well signed (rivalling the Ridgeway). It’s nice to be able to walk along, check my map to see my progress but not be counting every field boundary.
After a little bit of road walking, I turned up a track to start the climb up to Wideopenhill. It was a really beautiful morning, with blue skies. It was lovely looking out over the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders.
The views were most definitely worth it at the top!
At the summit of Wideopenhill, I reached the highest point and halfway mark of the St. Cuthbert’s Way. The views were beautiful and as the name suggests, wide and open!
From this point, I started to meet lots of other walkers, who were walking the St. Cuthbert’s Way. The trail is normally walked towards Lindisfarne. Since I was going against the grain, I met lots of walkers coming in the other direction. This was nice as I could say hello to lots of people. I met a couple who had also stayed at the Border Hotel last night, a couple from Germany, a group of 5 ladies who were all walking the trail together, a group of ramblers and many more! The trail was a lot busier than my previous few days over the Cheviots, but everyone was friendly and smiley.
I then continued down to Morebattle, where I met up with Jo and Quint. Jo and Quint are JOGLErs. Yesterday, we realised that we would cross paths and it was so great to meet them. They are over from Australia, completing their challenge. Since starting my walk, it’s amazing to see how many people travel to walk in our country. It makes me realise how lucky I am.
We compared routes whilst sat on the pub picnic bench. It was lovely!Jo and Quint are heading south along the Pennine Way, then head to Wales to walk the Cambrian Way. The Cambrian Way is known as one of the most challenging trails. I have massive respect for them and am slightly envious at the same time!
I then took some quiet roads out of Morebattle. It had closed over, which made it a nice temperature and not too hot!
Along the way, there was a beautiful patch of bluebells. It’s been so amazing to see so many this year! I feel like the season has been really long, but then taking myself that I’ve walked up the country with the season!
I then passed Cessford Castle, where I stopped for some lunch. I met a couple from Brighton who were also walking the St. Cuthbert’s Way. They have walked an impressive list of national trails, and are very close to completing the English coast path! It was really interesting to hear about all of their adventures.
St. Cuthbert’s Way then took me through a series of fields and woodland. It was really peaceful and quiet.
There were lots of signs of spring, with lots of wild flowers and the bracken was starting to unfurl.
I stopped for a wild wee, to turn around and find that I was being watched by Peter Rabbit! At least I wasn’t caught out by a human this time!
I continued along the woodland and met a deer which ran ahead of me. It was beautiful to watch it galloping amongst the trees.
I then reached a track called Dere Street, which I followed down to Jedfoot Bridge. It was a lovely track to finish on. At the bridge I met a local Guide Leader, Gail. I am staying with Gail for a few nights whilst I’m walking through the borders. It’s so kind of her to have me!
I spent the evening on Gail’s local field, with the Rainbows through to Guides. It was so lovely to talk to them about my challenge and see them having such great fun doing a range of outdoor activities. The Guides stayed a bit longer and we had a fire. We sang campfire songs, toasted marshmallows and I told them don’t more about my walk. I went to bed smelling of wood smoke, which in my book is always a sign of a great evening, and it definitely was!
Leave a Reply