Eildon Hills.

Pretty much dry everywhere today but not a lot of blue sky and sunshine around alas.July and August seem to be a helluva time of year as the weather is always unsettled.There was a promise of some short lived sunshine to the south east however and as there are no big hills in that immediate area another easy stretch of the legs was in prospect for the elder of the two blue sky boys :)


Along the M8 ,on to the Edinburgh bypass,the best thing since sliced bread in our opinion,and down south along the A7 to Melrose.They start them young as far as rugby is concerned in these
parts.Rugby training was in progress near the car park and I`d guess the participants were all aged about 2 to 3.I kid you not..!

Took a while to find the route out of Melrose and up to the Eildon hills but following our noses as usual paid results.If you head uphill from the central piazza on the B6359 then keep an eye out for a small sign 10 feet up a house wall.The path starts down the alley at the side of it.It`s pretty unlikely looking at first but it is the correct access route.

Turn right at the telephone box....



A couple of hundred metres of steep duckboards and you soon break clear of the trees and on to a broad grassy path all the way to the summit.Very popular wee hill walk this one.



It was indeed sunny t-shirt weather and Bob was elated."Just think of how miserable Scott and the others are up in Suardalan" he chortled.I sniggered in agreement and that was without knowing that Jools had forgotten to take his goretex jacket with him :)

The path leads up to the col between the two summits...



Small hills as I say and we were soon on the summit beside the trig point.


A bit of a wind was blowing and we could see the greyness heading towards us from the east.We thought to ourselves that it would make sense to pay a quick visit to the other top before the cloud hit us and then head down to Newstead and walk back along the River Tweed.

Looking back to Mid Eildon.St.Cuthbert`s Way crosses over the col in front of me..



We passed 10 minutes or so at the next top with a guy from West Bromwich who had the misfortune to have picked the previous fortnight for a hillwalking holiday in Scotland.I think there may have been the odd dry day....

Descending North Eildon ..


We debated whether we could beat the weather and have a quick flog up the shapely wee hill opposite,Black Hill on the other side of the A68, but opted for the lazy option and left it for another time.


Bob inspects a pear tree in Newstead,tantalisingly just out of reach.....



Not a lot happens in Newstead.....



We hit the banks of the Tweed...



As well as being the worst months for settled weather it`s also the worst for birdlife.Everything has flown the coop and and the activity of the previous few months has subsided.Two grey wagtails and a couple of mallards was the sum total for an hours walk along the river.Same at my house too,most of the house martins and the swallows have buggered off already with just the odd straggler left.Come to think of it I didn`t see any at all today...

We walked along the top of the wall for a quarter of a mile....


....which led us back into Melrose which by this time was packed with tourists around the abbey....



The rain had now started but it didn`t seem to stop this old worthy going for her carry oot in the Ship Inn....


Bob disappeared into the National Trust shop for a few minutes and came back out with a few leaflets for future cycling trips :-)


Eildon Hills from back at the car park...



Pic of Jools sans goretex on the hills above Suardalan.He`d also forgotten his sigg bottle but improvised by recycling a wine bottle....pic courtesy of Scott


Not the best day I`ve had out this year but quite pleasant nevertheless.Got a bit of sunshine and stayed dry and that`s what it`s all about until the year is up :)