Skip to main content

Day 57 West Linton to Kirknewton (near Livingston)

 

It makes such a difference to be out of the drizzle, mizzle and dreich weather and to see glimpses of blue sky.


We left West Linton this morning with blue skies rather than the pouring rain we had left it in yesterday.


The day began with a wander through the village until we came to the Cross Borders Drive Road. We climbed up a long drag alongside Faw Mount, where I began the descent back down to the car.

   


Garry chose to make a detour through a meadow and soon came to Baddinsgill reservoir. 

                    




Garry continued along the Drove Road passing Baddinsgill farm and reservoir where he joined the Thieves Road. This is where robbers and cattle thieves (reivers) would lie in wait in the undergrowth to raid the herds passing along the Drove Road.

                                                 


Once he was out of the farmland section, it was over moors and over the pass between two hills, know as the Cauldstane Slap. Descending from the Cauldstone Slap gave far reaching views north towards Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth (and the Forth Road and railway bridges).  The Cauldstone Slap was a useful route through the remote Pentland Hills.

                                     

                                              

As he continued down the path, the route became much more boggy. Here, me and Alfie had walked for a mile over bog and some boarded sections, and waited for Garry for 10 minutes (mainly to avoid a muddy slope climb). (If you can zoom in, you can see him in the distance).

                                                  

We walked back to Little Vantage together, trying to avoid bog and cow pats (unsuccessfully for me!)  and then Garry continued onto Kirknewton railway station. This part began on the busy A70 for a short while and then on a country lane, passing some farms and ending up in Kirknewton.

12.6 miles walked for Garry and 6 for me and Alfie. We are to the South West of Edinburgh now and can see planes flying to and from Edinburgh airport from our Airbnb.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 86 Nybster to John o'Groats (The final day!)

                                                      Lands End to John o'Groats complete! Winding back to yesterday evening, Garry and I had a stroll around Wick harbour.        Much later in the evening, a surprise visitor, Will, arrived in Wick after 15 hours of train travel from London. I've never seen Garry so surprised! A later night than originally planned before the final walking day! This morning, I dropped Garry and Will at Nybster where they began walking northwards along the A99. Me and Alfie headed to park up at John o'Groats.       We met in John O'Groats village and walked together to Duncansby Head, which is the true north easterly point of mainland UK, with some incredible sea stacks. It was pretty windy there!        From Duncansby Head, we walked back towards John O'Groats vil...
2 comments
Read more

The day after...

     We started from Land’s End on May 3 rd 2025, full of enthusiasm and apprehension and finished at John o'Groats on August 9 th 2025, weathered, weary but full of pride. Garry has walked   1112 miles through trails, bogs, lanes, fields and roads. I’ve walked   nearly 38% of the miles, a total of 421 miles, largely walking small sections each day whilst being the support vehicle for collecting and dropping Garry at the start and end of the routes.   We have walked through 25 different counties and districts/burghs (a different system in Scotland). We have stayed in 28 different places, mostly Airbnbs, but also a hotel, a ‘micro-lodge’, at a family member’s house and home. 40 nights have been in Scotland and   60 nights have been in England. We’ve had 13 rest days and 86 walking days.     Thank you to the following people who have walked with us at some point along the journey; Craig, Paul and Anita, Isaac, Sarah (on 3 occasi...
2 comments
Read more

Getting ready.....

We have a complete route planned now! We aim  to set off from Land's End on 3rd May 2025. We have decided to take on the challenge of walking from Land's End to John o'Groats, starting in early May 2025. It is likely to take 3 months and cover 1200 miles so definitely a big undertaking. Whilst walking, we are taking the opportunity to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK. Many of us have either had cancer ourselves or have a family member who has been affected. Garry was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2023 and following a successful treatment is cancer free. Marie's brother Liam, sadly died in April 2024 following a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer. We have both had family members and friends who have not survived and others who have made successful recoveries with the amazing support of the NHS. If you are able to donate it may be your donation that funds the research that finds a cure. Whatever you are able to give, we truly appreciate it. Marie, Garry an...
Post a Comment
Read more