Day 52 Byrness to Jedburgh (SCOTLAND!!)

 

52 days of walking and we've reached Scotland!

A grueller of a day for Garry with a 17 miler. The day started with all of us (Alfie is much better now) climbing out of Byrness, a rocky climb of 700 feet for just under a mile. Views of Scotland to the north and England to the south.

                                         

Here, rather sweatily, I turned to descend and left Garry to continue into a flatter boggier section, on his last part of the Pennine Way.

The path meandered across Houx Hill and Emmet Law, where Garry spotted a couple of mountain goats.  The path took Garry across the border between England and Scotland three times. There were no celebratory signs or signposts. 

He descended to Chew Green Roman Camp and met a friendly couple who recognised him from the Hadrian's Wall experience. Shortly after the Roman camp, Garry said farewell to The Pennine Way (with a cheer) and embarked on Dere Street, an old Roman road. 

   

         

To begin with, it wasn't obvious where it went, but easier once out of the high fells. 

Garry followed Dere Street, almost directly to the meeting point, a couple of miles east of Jedburgh.

Once me and Alfie had returned from our steep rocky descent (all 700 feet of it!) I drove towards Jedburgh, saying goodbye to England and crossed into Scotland at Carter Bar.

There was an unsmiling McCoo salesman there pretending to play the bagpipes!

What an achievement for Garry, to have walked 683 miles form Land's End and into Scotland (17 of those today)!

Tomorrow the route is a little less, 15.5 mile and continues along Dere Street, passing through a couple villages along the way and ending in Melrose.