May
Route
Walk leader | Lance |
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Route | Minto – Minto House – Lilylaw – Spital Ford – River Teviot – Craigend Burn – Minto Craigs – Fatlips Castle – Minto Kames – Minto Hill – Minto. |
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Weather | 10/10: Sunny and warm for most of the walk. A bit breezy higher up. Clouded over a bit in the late afternoon. |
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Walkers | Lance, Julie, Ron, Sandy, George, Diane, Richard, Ken. |
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Excuses | Bernie - family 21st birthday Ashley - in Thailand |
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Comments |
It was the biggest turnout for a while. Joined by Martin and Jeanette. We started at the pretty hamlet of Minto, with its nice church and war memorial. There were some attractive buildings on the estate. We passed a herd of cows with curly dark brown coats. We had to climb across a fence when our way was barred by a padlocked gate. We came down to the river Teviot and walked along the bank passing a solitary white horse before being met by about half a dozen friendly horses who had to be shooed out of the way so that we could get through the gate. We climbed up through the woods around Craigend Burn to Minto Craigs. Lance disappeared to the castle as the entrance key was required by other people visiting later. After a stiff climb up, we reached Fatlips Castle. On the way up we passed a group of children, one of whom was screaming his head off. We went up the spiral staircase of the castle to the dark main hall and then on to the parapet. There were comprehensive views of a large part of the Scottish borders as well as into England. Notable were the Cheviot with traces of snow remaining on it, Eildon Hills and the Waterloo Monument on Peniel Heugh. There was a wooden gun carriage in the castle's cellar. Lance passed on the key after receiving the correct password. We found a lamb that had got on the wrong side of the fence from its mother and Ken mended a metal gate using a stone as a hammer. We crossed the disused route of the Waverley line. Ruby sent some curious cows crazy. Lance, Julie, Martin and Diane climbed to the trig point on Minto Hill, where a couple of black and white dray horses were feeding. There were good views of Ruberslaw Hill. Note: Fatlips Castle. An earlier pele tower was built in the early 16th century by the Turnbulls of Bedrule, when there were no trees on the hill. This was destroyed by the English in 1545. The current building dates from 1857 for the Minto family. The origin of the name is uncertain, but one idea is that it derives from the look of the Turnbull family. Other stories include that of a goat on the Dunion which warned of the approaching English, or that gentlemen were traditionally allowed to kiss one of the ladies on entering. Wildlife/Flora/Animals: Buzzard, wagtail, sand martin and dead grey squirrel. Forget-me-nots, dandelions, bluebells, primroses, violets. |
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Meal | ||||
Auld Cross Keys, Denholm. Lance was impressed with the rare steak. Nice Black Forest trifles and other desserts. Helpful staff. |
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Photo Gallery |
May walkers
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Preparing for the off - Minto |
Interesting house |
Down the avenue |
Ruby finds a scent |
By the River Teviot |
Horses
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Approaching the castle
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Julie and Diane on top
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On the parapet
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Inside the castle
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Gun carriage
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Fatlips Castle
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View from the tower
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Trig point on Minto Hill
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Primroses
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Auld Cross Keys
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Denholm Green
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