300 Annan to Clarencefield

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

It’s a dull morning. I cross the River Annan via the road bridge and join the tail end of the Annandale Way. There are relatively few long-distance hiking trails in the area, but this is one of them.

01 Bridge over River Annan, Ruth Livingstone walking the coast of Scotland

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299 Gretna to Annan

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

It’s my first proper walk in Scotland, and I’m freaked out by the absence of public footpaths on the map. First thing to do is visit the tourist centre (as suggested by Alan Palin). Rather bizarrely, the centre is located in Gretna’s large retail park.

01 Gretna Green retail park, Ruth coastal walking in Scotland

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298 pm Rockcliffe to Gretna

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

Rockcliffe is a pretty village, and slightly raised above the low-lying ground on either side. After lunch I continue walking north, parallel to the river, along a quiet lane that’s bright with daffodils.

20 leaving Rockcliffe, Ruth walking from Carlisle to Gretna

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298 am Carlisle to Rockcliffe

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

Today is going to be one of those weird days when I “walk the coast” without being anywhere near the coast. It’s also going to be a longish walk (for me), because I’m determined to reach Scotland before I have to return home this evening.

Yes. Today it’s Gretna Green or bust!

I park my car in Carlisle, near the castle, and set off towards the river. The skatepark is empty at this time in the morning, so I can take plenty of photographs of graffiti without feeling awkward.

01 graffiti, Ruth in Carlisle, Skateboard park

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297 Glasson to Carlisle

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

Today I drive to Glasson, park beside the Highland Laddie Inn, and set off along the road towards Carlisle

01 setting off for Burgh on Sands, Ruth's coastal walk, Cumbria

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296 pm Bowness-on-Solway to Glasson

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

This final part of my walk (the part that should have been after-lunch, but wasn’t because of the shut pub) turns out to be the nicest part of the day. Running on the shore side of Bowness is an Edwardian promenade, called The Banks, restored in 2002. It provides a shady walk and great views across the Solway Firth.

a01 Solway Firth, Ruth's coastal walk, Bowness, Cumbria, Hadrian's Wall

Here they’ve built a pretty pavilion, and this marks the beginning of the Hadrian’s Wall Path. (Unfortunately my photos are poor due to difficult light conditions.)  Continue reading →

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296 am Whitrigg to Bowness-on-Solway

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

I park on a patch of rough grass near Whitrigg Bridge, where the wind hurls itself against me and the River Wampool flows fast and furious.

01 Whitrigg bridge

From the bridge it’s only a 100 yards or so to where I ended my walk last time at Whitrigg – not really a village, just a collection of houses around a T junction – and here I turn left towards Anthorn. Continue reading →

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295 Abbey Town to Kirkbride

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The weather forecast today is dismal. Dark clouds. Showers. Poor visibility. I drive to Abbeytown, sit in my car, watch the raindrops sliding down the windscreen, and wonder if it’s worth setting off at all.

My route today is entirely on the road.  So, no mud and no barbed wire fences to worry about. Only a spot of rain. I decide to get out and get on with it.

01-road-from-abbeytown-ruths-coastal-walk

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294 pm Silloth to Abbeytown

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The B5302 is not exactly a busy road, but there are no pavements and just enough traffic to keep me jumping onto the uneven grassy verge at regular intervals.

I startle another flock of sheep, who think I’ve come to feed them. They bleat plaintively and pursue me for several hundred yards.

a01-hungry-sheep-ruth-walking-the-english-coast-solway

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294 am Silloth to Abbeytown

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

This was a walk of two halves. The first half was easy and pleasant. The second half… well, I’ll talk about that in another post.

It’s another dull day today, I’m sorry to say. But Silloth is a lovely place and – despite the dismal weather – I’m enjoying my stay here.

01-silloth-ruth-walking-the-english-coast-cumbria

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