Eriba Man

  This is night No.34/2020 living in the caravan. This is our fourth and final night at Melrose Gibson Park C&MC Site in Melrose. A dry night, and another dry day. In fact, it was quite mild with just a gentle breeze. Took the dogs around Melrose Church. After breakfast, we headed back to Maxton, where we walked yesterday. Parked at the same place next to Maxton Kirk, and followed a path east which follows field edges above the Tweed. Really good, enjoyable walk in ideal spaniel country. After the walk, headed into Kelso to see the ruins of Roxburgh Castle. First we stopped at the River Tweed as it enters Kelso. Watched a fly fisherman for a while. His oarsman was putting in maximum paddling but was getting nowhere in the strong currents! Headed back along the Maxton road, and pulled into a lay-by next to Roxburgh Castle ruins. This castle is probably the most pivotal in Scotlands history and has an incredibly long story. Very little of it remains, and it's not in the NTS or Hi...

  This is night No.33/2020 living in the caravan. It's also the third night at Melrose Gibson Park C&MC Site in Melrose. It rained heavily overnight, but was cleared when we went out for a quick walk around 0630. The day improved a lot, and it was nice and bright in the afternoon. First walk was down to Gattonside bridge, along the Tweed, and returning in a circular route alongside the Borders Railway. These seats on the platform just some up for me how mad this pandemic has got, and some of the ridiculous controls in place. Combined with the H&S rules of the railway network, this is just dumb. Returned to the van for lunch, then headed to the nearby village of Maxton. I've been here before when I walked St Cuthberts way, so it was a good opportunity to retrace some steps. The very historic Maxton Kirk. There's been a church here since the 1200's and they are all dedicated to St Cuthbert. The wall and hedge of the next door Glebe House. Then onto St Cuthberts wa...

  This is night No32/2020 living in the caravan. This is the second night at Melrose Gibson Park C&MC in Melrose in the Scottish Borders. The weather has improved quite a bit today. Only a couple of light showers and a very pleasant day. First walk today was from near the bridge to Gattonside. It's is another walk along the south bank of the River Tweed, returning alongside the new Borders Rail line. Some fine old trees on the path. The old railway bridge which is now back in full action. We climber up by the side of the bridge onto a track which runs parallel with the railway all the way back to the start of the walk. After lunch, headed 5 mins along the road to Leaderfoot to walk along the Leader Water Walk. It is a lottery funded path which was opened in 2010.  First stopped and looked at the very old bridge which crosses the Tweed, but is now just a pedestrian crossing. The Leader Water path leads 3 miles to Earlston, but we cut of half way along to do a circular route...

  This is night No 31/2020 living in the caravan. We're now pitched at the Melrose Gibson Park C&MC Site in Melrose.  Been here many times before, and it's a place I'm really fond of. Melrose is a lovely town and everything is literally on the doorstep. A Co-op, shops, great walking, all from the site. The only thing that spooked me a bit was a bit of 'Nemesis' moment. I have only ever left one negative review of  site, that being Lower Wensleydale in Yorkshire. I then encountered the same warden in Old Hartley near Blyth, and you'll never guess who the warden is here! The rain yesterday was quite unreal. It battered on the van roof all night, but when I got up around 0630, it was a dry, clearing morning. After breakfast, we headed out to Berwick Pier and the beach north of there. What a difference from yesterday.  The drive to Melrose from Berwick took around an hour. Got a nice 'hedged in' pitch. After setting up, it was off to Galashiels to use on...