Scotland (whoo hoo!)

We have spent the last few days working our way to Berwick via Belford.   The last part was along the coast path.  A highlight was having to phone the signalman when our path crossed the main rail line.

At Berwick we had our tea and then decided to walk the last few miles to the border for pictures.  As our footpath reached the A1 we found roadworks and a convoy system, so we waited for the traffic to stop and ran along the A1 for the last few hundred metres.  

Crossing the main line near Belford.

The real main line.

Almost every field had signs like this.  I understand that it is a local dialect phrase meaning "get orf my land".

Walking along the A1 for a bit.

Berwick at last.

Alnwick

We are having a few slow days as we ran out of steam.  We have been hot, very very wet and slightly lost.  Today we followed a footpath that just stopped in the middle of a wood and we had to fight through brambles and then cross the A1.

Newcastle

Over the last few days we have been working our way to Newcastle, via Durham.   This has meant a lot of walking along busy a roads, sometimes in the sun, often in rain showers, and today in a cold wind.  I prefer the cold windy days.

Northallerton

We got a bit wet today.  We met a man from South Bank who gave us some money for the GVCAC, which was a nice surprise,  if he reads this perhaps he can drop me a line as I have forgotten his name?

Ripon (off)

Started the day with a £15 bus fare and ended it in the Little Chef. 

Knaresborough

A short day and a bit thundery.  We did manage to walk via Hell Hole (images below, but not as exciting as it sounds).

Isaac found a potato.

Hell Hole

Wetherby (Saturday 27 July)

A bit of a rubbish day.  Set off late.  Had planned a route that crossed the river Wharfe on a footbridge but found it was closed when we got about half a mile from it.  The detour would have added 4 miles so we walked into Wetherby and gave up for the day.

On the plus side we got free cakes from the butcher in East Keswick.

The very annoying sign just as we were about to cross the main road and walk down to the river.

Each of these trees was planted in 1920 to commemorate someone killed in the Great War.   There is also a small memorial with two seats in the shade.   I now judge every village on whether I can buy cold drinks and sit in the shade.  East Keswick scores very high as it has several benches and the butcher gave us free food.