L2L Day 55 Gretna to Langholm - 14.5 miles

Having crossed the border yesterday evening, today was going to be the first day in Scotland.

Tony had the foresight to order some packed lunches. Wow! What a packed lunch. Ham and cheese salad sandwiches decorated with a bunch of grapes and nasturtium flowers, a lump of cheese, a tube of Pringles, an apple juice, a 100g bar of chocolate, two danish pastries and a pot of yoghurt with a metal spoon - all in a canvas tote bag. Each!!!


There is a flourishing business for weddings here in Gretna Green. Our hotel had had 12 weddings yesterday with two big wedding parties the previous evening. Crazy!!



We'd both had a look at routes for the day and we decided to follow Tony's suggestion which meant I could relax and not bother looking at the map all day - a luxury!!!

Once under the M6 and the West Coast Main line to Glasgow we were out in beautiful open countryside. The land looked good and many of the fields must have only recently been cut because the grass was almost a fresh lime green colour.


Initially along farm tracks



and over fields (at one point through someone's garden) we eventually found our way along quiet undulating metalled roads.


The rain came and went


and after about 7 miles, we found a convenient log on which we could enjoy a flask of coffee ......with a special ingredient that Tony had secretly brought along.


What a brilliant way to celebrate being in Scotland - and it's not even midday yet!!!!  Slainte!!


We then continued climbing gradually before getting on to the moors and followed a straight forestry track for miles



We eventually found some shelter from the cool breeze to enjoy our extensive lunch 


before descending steeply towards Langholm.



At the hotel, we got talking to staff about the Common Riding - two of whom were planning to take part. Meanwhile outside the Town Hall, we watched this year's newly elected 'Cornet', who will carry the town's Standard on the day, being photographed with a number of his predecessors. All very impressive. 


Comments

  1. TT19 May 2026 at 23:59

    Tony has the right idea...he knows how to live!!😄

    ReplyDelete

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