Scotland’s oldest continuously inhabited house, the wonderfully unchanged Traquair House in the Scottish Borders. Parts of it date back at least as far as 1107, when King Alexander I of Scotland signed a royal charter at Traquair. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/innerleithen/traquair/index.html
The majestic and amazingly complete remains of the abbey church at Jedburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. It was founded in 1138 and developed over several centuries, despite repeatedly falling victim to cross-border conflict. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/jedburgh/jedburghabbey/index.html
And the troglodytes win. With help from the media - Guardian INCLUDED. No one ever looks at the very successful roll out in the Scottish Borders (Conservative council). Grumbles maybe, but I know of no one who wants to go back from safer, more pleasant towns and villages. But what can you expect from a Starmerite?
A lovely day, bright but a bitter northerly breeze. We ran along the road before climbing up to Fatlips Castle and from there cross country to Minto, over the Mintos and back along the old Borders railway. Damp, but relaxing. 24.5k, lots of climbing.
And better still, partner has been out for some emergency this morning, so we’ll meet in St. Boswells later this afternoon and get out along the Tweed. And a coffee. 🥳
The amazing Norman carving on the Edrom Arch near Duns in the Scottish Borders. This is all that remains of a church that was built in the early 1100s and demolished in 1732. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/duns/edromarch/index.html
And now for something different - exploring the Borders.
I found the exact spot the River Clyde starts as a confluence of a couple of other smaller rivers from the south at the appropriately named Watermeetings.
Mainly small roads, took us past Lindean Glassworks where we took a short break to ogle some of their lovely work. Now now only open by appointment (unless you are lucky) until June 18k, road with some tracks.
Pheeew. Made it on Sunday with a last run from Galashiels, up to Maigle Hill, Torwodlee Broch and return. The Broch is one of three in the Borders and is overlooked by one at last weekends run.
A gorgeous day and a stiff run 480 metres of climbing and steep with it. Slowest run of the month. 2 hrs 5 mins.
A fundraiser with two colleagues (one cycling, one swimming) for the Borders Food Banks.
We drew lots to swim 1k open water, run 1 half marathon a day, and cycle 50 miles every day for March, to raise funds for Borders food banks.
I hate food banks, an indictment of the callous barstewards in Westminster who can not even be excused of knowing the cost of everything. Funds matched by our company (we are employee owned) and as of last night a total of £41000 and a few pennies).
22C here in the Borders and we are roastin’. Early morning, or evening runs for us at the moment. 8.3k through the woods, along the old railway and then back through the tree lined banks of the Teviot.
The dug has had breakfast and retired to a corner of the kitchen (it has a stone floor).
Back to Scottish sunshine (the liquid sort). Ran a new route near Stow. Only 11k, but a good loosener and the dug loved it.
Mobbed by lambs (who knew no better until one of their ma's told them off), the dug took advantage of the situation to address a group of the unrulier ones. He lectured them on paying attention to their local dug and reminded them that the twilight barking informs him any unruly behaviour.
We were at Ancrum and decided to run along the Borders Abbey Waye from Harestanes across to the Waterloo Memorial via the ‘Count’s Folly’ a C18 observatory and summer house.
The High Street in Melrose, an ancient town in the Scottish Borders. There are traces of an Iron Age fort to the south of the town and a Roman fort to the east; and since 1136 it has been home to one of the great Border abbeys. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/melrose/melrose/index.html
Hermitage Castle, in a remote corner of the Scottish Borders south of Hawick. This is a castle with a truly forbidding reputation and atmosphere, and in our picture is oddly reminiscent of the figure in Edvard Munch's "The Scream". More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/hawick/hermitagecastle/index.html