Countryside Walks – Page 2

A Mist Descends over The Cheviots

January 20, 2017ricketyramblerLeave a comment

20th January 2017

Hello people…

We ventured out to The Cheviots today intending to walk about 7 miles exploring some of the hills, on what our instruction book (The Scottish Borders – 40 Favourite Walks by Robbie Porteous) tells us, is a ‘rolling ridge walk’. Probably we could have chosen a better day to take to the hills. It was one of those grey days when you don’t quite know what’s going to happen to the weather and, because we’ve never walked in these hills before we don’t know them at all. Continue reading →

The River Tweed and Tweedbank

January 15, 2017ricketyrambler2 Comments

15th January 2017

Hello again!

Just returned from a ramble from Abbotsford House – home of Sir Walter Scott you’ll remember – along the River Tweed which was grey and murky today. It was a grey and murky day……no sunshine, and the tracks were back to mostly mud rather than mostly snow and ice – shame really – mud’s not so pretty! Continue reading →

I’m not doing that again!

January 8, 2017ricketyrambler2 Comments

8th January 2017

Hello

I’m not sure this was the best walk so early in the #walk 1000 mile year – especially uphill, especially 300 metres (that’s 984 feet in case you were wondering) uphill and most definitely not 984 muddy, claggy, slippy sloppy feet back down again – some of it in a very undignified position. My knees are sore, my hips are sore, my feet are sore (we won’t talk about other sore parts of me!). It’s ok though….I’ve had a hot bath……and wine! I can smile about it now….. Continue reading →

Waterloo Monument on Peniel Heugh

January 5, 2017ricketyrambler3 Comments

5th January 2017

Hello!

It’s been a good first week of the year for walking – a bit on the chilly side but very little wind and clear skies. I’ve managed several local walks since I last wrote and today Mr RR and I took ourselves off to see the Waterloo Monument which is at the top of Peniel Heugh, and at 48 metres high can be seen from quite a distance. We’ve often driven past commenting that we must go and see what it is one day – and now we have! Continue reading →

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2017January 6, 2017ricketyrambler4 Comments

1st January 2017

Happy New Year Everyone!

It’s the first walk of the year and the first walk of the 2017 #walk1000miles challenge organised by Country Walking magazine. It’s all gone a bit mad this year with badges and Facebook groups (there’s even a special one for us ramblers living in Scotland) and progress spreadsheets to download and questions about the right trackers and boots and all sorts of other kit. Personally, I shall be aiming to walk 1000 miles over the year, using my trusty pedometer to measure the miles and wearing my usual walking gear plus waterproofs when I remember to bring them! Oh….and I’ll be writing about some of the walks on here. So……lets get on with it! Continue reading →

Leaderfoot Viaduct and The Trimontium

November 26, 2016ricketyrambler2 Comments

Hello!

Two blog posts in a week – you’re getting spoilt!

Today, in the spirit of my training for that #1000 miles, we had a ramble around the Newtown St Boswells area. We followed directions from a leaflet called ‘Walks Around Newtown St Boswells’ compiled by Roger French. We didn’t quite manage to follow his instructions but still managed to complete the walk, despite the cold and the frost which is still lying on the ground.

Continue reading →

Snow on The Cheviots

November 24, 2016ricketyrambler1 Comment

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Thursday, 24th November 2016

Hello

I thought I’d better just check in and let you know I’m still here! We’ve done almost no walking since our return from Arran, which is shocking I know. Anyway – plans are afoot to go for the #1000 miles challenge again next year, so I’ve decided some training is needed! Continue reading →

Last day on Arran!

October 16, 2016ricketyramblerLeave a comment

We were almost defeated by the torrential rain today, almost but not quite! Having taken a whisky distillery tour at Lochranza Distillery during the worst of the weather, we decided to go for it between showers. And we were lucky……we stayed dry. As we were in Lochranza anyway we took a walk along the coast and then up over the hills, looking for the elusive ‘Fairy Dell’ before descending again into Lochranza. About 4 miles I think – although the pedometer has packed up so its just guesswork (I judge distances by the pain in my feet and knees these days!!).

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More from Arran!

October 15, 2016ricketyramblerLeave a comment

We’re still here!

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Today we visited Lochranza (Loch = lake; ranza = norse for Rowan Tree) where there is not only amazing scenery, but a whisky distillery which has a particularly lovely restaurant. We had delicious Split Pea and Courgette Soup followed by their famous Warm Brownie and Arran Gold Ice Cream…….scrumptious! Though not particularly conducive to being followed by rambling! However, we managed a couple of miles along Catacol Burn towards Gleann Diomhan before the rain came down and the lateness of the hour sent us back again the way we came (I’m not mentioning the fact that someone forgot the map and walk book….). We were very lucky and tracked down the source of the bellowing which followed us along the way to the local stag population.

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St Abb’s Head and Mire Loch

September 28, 2016ricketyrambler1 Comment

Date: 28th September 2016

Route: From St Abbs National Trust Car Park, along coast path to St Abb’s Headland and then inland alongside Mire Loch.

Distance: 4.5 miles/7 km

What a stunning walk! Despite the rain and fog, this may be one of the best walks yet since we’ve been in Scotland.

Following on from last week’s ramble to Coldingham Sands, we decided to explore the coastline further. This National Nature Reserve managed by the National Trust for Scotland is just along the road. At some point we’ll put them together to make one longer day out – with soup and sandwiches in our back packs I think!

I hope you enjoy reading about it:

Continue reading →