After yesterday’s epic walk we both found we were reluctant to put on our boots and start walking again, despite the fact that it was an easier and shorter walk. We discovered that Victoria and Greg, the New Zealand couple we had met in Byrness and whom we had also met on our walk yesterday, were at the same hotel and it was difficult to leave the breakfast table, knowing that they were taking a day off! We have to wait until Tuesday for our next rest day!

Today we followed St Cuthbert’s Way for most of our walk. The terrain was varied, sometimes on clear paths, then woodland, followed by struggling through waist high grass. The promised showers arrived but fortunately didn’t last long, but we have wet boots after walking through long grass! Our walk ended on a lovely path alongside the River Tweed to reach our accommodation at Dryburgh Abbey Hotel: a taste of luxury!

A Backward Glance

England and Scotland have not seen eye to aye down the centuries and Northumberland and the Scottish Lowlands have seen some of the most bloody conflicts in their Histories. Saint Cuthbert’s Way, which we were following today, celebrates someone who had a very different approach. He was Prior at Melrose Abbey and the Abbey at Lindisfarne Holy Island. Saint Cuthbert’s Way links the two. He had a reputation for being very gentle, wise and conciliatory, keeping a peaceful relationship with the Roman influence during his time (7th Century). His greatest achievement however was keeping his body incorrupt centuries after its burial! For our part, the walk along Saint Cuthbert’s Way was mainly through tall thick grass, woodland lanes and latterly along banks of the beautiful River Tweed. On our way we met an interesting 49 year old chap called Chris who, having completed the Pennine Way (268 miles), decided to walk the Saint Cuthbert’s Way, adding a further 62 miles. He’d been around the world involved with children’s work and had many relevant stories and anecdotes which he shared with us. Lovely bloke. Arrived at our luxury hotel stopover and were promptly put in Room 101! A bit rude I thought.