Photo Gallery - Selkirk to Melrose: 26^th Jul 2009 

Leaders: John Rafferty & Jean Buckley

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan   Duncanrig Rambling Club's recent Sunday excursion struck a suitably religious note as the walks took in part of the Borders Abbey Way, the main walk being a nine and a half mile route from Selkirk to Melrose while the alternative followed a seven and a half mile circular route further up the River Tweed at Dryburgh. In spite of the dull, wet skies in East Kilbride walking conditions were favourable with just a hint of possible rain. The ramblers in the main party set off on somewhat muddy paths which offered fine views of the distant border hills over the flowering rosebay willow herb and raspberry plants laden with fruit. The path took them past bushes of ripe blaeberries and early-ripening rowans over a short stretch of farm road then onto Lindean Moor where the partially harvested winter fodder left attractive bright green stripes across the fields as they followed the well-marked grassy tracks below Cauldshiels Hill on their way to a lunch stop at Cauldshiels Loch, the home of a family of swans. The swans were keen to enjoy the lunch provided by Duncanrig but the cob didn't welcome too close attention to his 3 cygnets and made his feeling clear with a loud hiss. A wok had been left by the fire for the convenience of hungry fishermen and we suspect the "Wok Walk" will provide a useful shorthand reminder to identify this route in future discussions. The sudden threat of rain curtailed the lunch stop but no sooner had waterproofs been donned than they were removed as the sun broke through as the ramblers descended past Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, on their way to the Tweed which provided a scenic accompaniment as they made their progress along its banks for the final 3 miles towards Melrose sitting below the Eildon hills. The alternative walkers, meanwhile, had been following the meanders of the Tweed south past Dryburgh Abbey then east before turning north overland towards Scott's View, the viewpoint at Bemersryde Hill where the route returned to Dryburgh via the monument to William Wallace and the end of the walk. Both parties met to spend a cosy social hour in Melrose before their return to East Kilbride.