Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

305 am Southerness to Sandyhills

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

The day gets off to a wintry start. Stong winds and dark skies over Cumbria. I take a quick photograph of Southerness lighthouse and zip up my jacket. There’s rain coming.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged beach, hiking, photograph, scotland, travel | 12 Comments

304 New Abbey to Southerness

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

I return to New Abbey – and this time I have a proper camera with a full battery. Unfortunately, the light isn’t as good as yesterday, but I take some reasonable photographs of Sweetheart Abbey.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged abbey, beach, hiking, photography, travel | 12 Comments

303 Dumfries to New Abbey

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

Today the sun is shining for the first time since I arrived in Scotland. So I’m looking forward to taking some great photographs.

But when I switch on my camera… oh no… the battery is flat! What a shame. I have to use my iPhone to take a few snaps of Dumfries.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged abbey, marsh, photography, scotland, travel | 10 Comments

302 Glencaple to Dumfries

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

I catch the bus from Dumfries to Glencaple and it drops me off in the car park. Criffel looms across the river, dark and sullen.

The day is as dull as yesterday. Maybe duller. What a shame. All my photographs turn out looking muddy. Continue reading →

Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged bridges, hiking, photography, river, travel | 16 Comments

301 Brow Well to Glencaple

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Ruth Livingstone

Today I planned to park at Glencaple, then take a bus to Dumfries, where I would change to another bus to get back to Clarencefield. It would be a late start to my walk and a precarious beginning… but at breakfast my kind host steps in and offers me a lift. Yay!

We drive in convoy to Glencaple, and then he drops me off at Brow Well.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged marsh, photography, scotland, travel | 10 Comments

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.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged hiking, marsh, photography, travel, Wells | 9 Comments

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.

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Posted in 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 20 Comments

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.

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Posted in 17 North West England, 19 Dumfries and Galloway | Tagged hiking, photography, river, travel | 42 Comments

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.