Month: September 2019

Our second day of walking on St Cuthbert’s Way began at Mount Hooley where we met Camilla our walk companion. It was an overcast day but not actually raining. However the overnight rain had made the ground wetter and filled the streams. This made for one or two moments of mild adventure peril: a muddy bit of uphill path and some boggy bits around the field edges. The most perilous moment was crossing a small streamlet which had steep muddy banks using two sticks.
We followed a farmer up a track as he herded his prize bull ahead of him. We kept well back. The path wound its way through small patches of woodland once again, well provided with various fungi. We had our lunch stop in one of these woods amongst golden leaves and fallen acorns.
In the second part of the walk we had Bob’s company which helped when we came to the road closed sign near Cessford Castle, as he’d already walked down the road earlier. The castle shell is still quite impressive and had defended the Borders for many years. The road was being dug up for broadband.

After that it was road all the way to Morebattle, which is a quiet small village. We ended the day at Cuthbert’s Café housed in an old church at the end of the village. There we said goodbye to Camilla as we return home tomorrow and she goes onto Lindisfarne at the weekend.

From Psalm 100

Go through God’s gates with thanksgiving, and into God’s courts with praise: be thankful.

A small church that has been used as a bus garage is now a café. Hospitality is offered here again; the roof is fixed and the kettle is on. Inside there’s still much to do but worship is offered here again and the door is open.

God of small overlooked places,
We give thanks for open doors:
Hear our prayers as we share tea and cake.

God grant a quiet night

JAL 25.09.2019

This week there’s was chance to catch up with a friend on St Cuthbert’s Way. Camilla is on her sabbatical and wanted someone to walk with for the two days she’d been unable to find someone else so we said yes and here we are.
It meant an early start to get to the route at Maxton by 11am but we made it. We did walk the St Cuthbert’s Way in 2014 and sat on the same bench at Maxton church.

We were soon pounding out the miles along Dere Street, another local example of what the Romans did for us. There were a lot of quite large fungi, it being that time of year, as well as acorns and such like.
We stopped for cake at the Woodside garden centre, and the cake was every bit as good as the one we tasted 5 years ago. Unfortunately at this point it started raining. Then it was onto Harestanes visitors centre where you can get your route card stamped if you are mindful of these things. We then had to take a small detour at Monteviot House due to a wasps nest (and angry wasps) on the path.
The suspension bridge over the River Teviot was a slightly wobbly experience. 

The rain was not too heavy and we finished the day at Mount Hooley, not too wet. We drove onto our accommodation at Kirk Yetholm Hostel, where we have stayed before. It was lovely to walk together and share walking stories.

From Isaiah 55

The trees of the fields will clap their hands and we’ll all go out with joy.

It was lovely to be on the St Cuthbert’s Way today winding through the green countryside. It was a different season but it felt more like being on the End to End again. I am thankful for friends to share it with.

God grant us a quiet night

JAL 24.09.2019

Our post LEJOG walk westwards from Longdendale to meet up with our North -South route today reached Dunham Massey in Cheshire.
This was the fourth part of our walk.
Part one was from Broadbottom to to Haughton Green via Werneth Low.
Part two was Haughton Green to East Didsbury
Part three was from East Didsbury to Dane Road via Jackson’s Boat
Today we did Dane Road to Dunham Massey via the Bridgewater Canal.
Each walk has included public transport to the start of the walk and back from walks end.

We still have to go onto Lower Walton to complete the link.
Today was a very warm September day and the Bridgewater Way was busy with walkers, as was Dunham Massey when we got there. A picnic in the park was followed by Snugburys. It was almost like being back on LEJOG again.
The park is home to a herd of Fallow Deer. Their dappled coats make great camouflage in the trees as the sunlight filters through the branches. Some are dark coloured and some light. They were enjoying the bumper crop of acorns, as were the grey squirrels.

From Psalm 42

Like a deer pants for a stream of water so my soul pants for you, my God.

On a hot day we seek shade and cool water. Yesterday, young people the world over sought to energise the global population to respond to the climate crisis. May we all listen and respond to their leadership.

God grant a quiet night

JAL 21.09.2019

As the butterfly summer ends
With thistledown blowing across the valley,
I see your faded wings and broken bodies
Littering the path and wonder
How far you came on your journey:
You gave it everything you had
To finally find yourselves beaten
With only the promise of a hungry caterpillar
To take us through the winter months.

A wide range of butterflies are still active this month: painted ladies,  speckled wood, red admiral and small tortoiseshell have all been spotted locally. 

JAL Longdendale