Blogs from Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

On August 19 we drove southeast to visit Abbotsford and Melrose Abbey. Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, is a stone baronial mansion with landscaped gardens built in the 1800s . The interior is filled with hundreds of the artifacts that he collected (weapons, taxidermy animal heads, suits of armor, a large library, paintings.) Not far away is Melrose Abbey, a partly ruined monastery that was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of King David I of Scotland and was the chief house of that order in the country until the Reformation.... read more

They lied. It was only to be 23 km and it ended up 34 km and 44000 steps. (As per Fitbit.). Ok.. we did get a little lost in the forest coming down from the saddle out from Melrose but that was well less than “1” km. I’m Tired!! Feet tired!! It was a grand trip up the hills out of Melrose. There were about 130 steps to climb and many more Km’s To the saddle. All fantastic. Going down from the saddle was nice as you are walking through forest. The markings need to be clearer, larger and bold. I need to share that signage on this leg was less than perfect. This part of Scotland and England are often wet. They really need a little tender loving care to put small gravel in the ... read more

Terri had a restless night and waking early was packed “almost” before day break. We ate an awesome breakfast and took a walk around Asenby and Asenby ‘s lovers lane. What a nice hamlet in central north England. Tony and Jacqui drove us to Northallerton station to catch the train. We travelled through the country side with a bite and drink as my grandfather said “ going to beat the cars”. It was a pleasurable trip, very relaxing with 4 seats all to ourselves. We traveled past Holy Island on the English coast where our final destination will be for our walk ?and our good friend Dave will pick us up. We arrived at Tweedbank via Edinburgh where Dave picked us up and enjoyed a great risotto dinner with him. Inevitably conversations ended about the Camino ... read more