L2L Day 60 Leadhills to Abington - 10.5 miles

After yesterday's epic, the prospect of a shorter walk today was very welcome and in contrast with yesterday, the weather was perfect.

The photographs and newspaper articles on display in the hotel told a story of Leadhills in it's hayday being a remote but groundbreaking democratically run community. Worthy of reading more.


The Curfew bell which sounded the start and end of each school and working day.

Also, the town has the oldest subscription library in the UK.


We set off, passed the Leadhills Golf course


and followed the track of the disused narrow gauge railway for a couple of miles 




to North Shortcleugh where we climbed a steep track of broken stone and soil between Dun Moss and Harryburn Brae.



After reaching the top, we were descending on the North side and came across a poorly sheep which we tried to help but it's back legs  seemed injured so we realised we'd need to call in to the farm at the end of the trail.
Within the next few miles we found two other dead sheep so having called at the farm and found no response, we reported it to the RSPCA. ( A few hours later I had a call from the RSPCA saying that they were sending an officer to investigate)

It's horrible to see an animal in distress.


A Red Admiral butterfly.

 As the route got closer to Abington the sound of traffic became more apparent.


Crossing the M74 


Primroses still in bloom in Abington.

Our accommodation for the night was at Days Inn Hotel at Abington Service Station. Not an obvious overnight stop.

Just to add to the perversity, to celebrate our arrival, we sat in the sunshine enjoying a 'tequila', 


did some people watching and chewed the cud. a) why are the electric charging spaces closer to the building than disabled spaces. b) How few people reverse park. c) people without any apparent blue discs drive nose-in to disabled spaces

Tony wanted a momento of his trip so bought some appropriately themed tea cups. 


Apart from anything else, it would have been unseemly for us to be seen outside a service station drinking beer from bottles.


We eventually retired to the last spot still in the sunshine and out of the breeze, which we jokingly called the Garden of Doom. 


We sensed that noone in their rght mind would have ever sat there but there was at least an apple tree which was breaking into blossom.  Every other plant seemed to have given up hope.

Over a supper of burger and chips we met Peter Smorthit - a truly inspirational guy. For charity, he's currently propelling himself by wheelchair from Lands End to John oGroats. But not only that, when he gets there he'll turn around and return all the way back to LandsEnd.


Peter is a phenomenon.


Zoe and her mum Barbara had travelled down from Glasgow to meet Peter and cheer him on.

We watched Peter leave through the car park, wished him well and then enjoyed a very good burger from Burger King,  an ice cream and an early night.

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