Each stage has been different, enjoyable, refreshing, eye-opening and full of interesting sights.
I've been looking forward to completing the route ever since I started, and just over a year later, I finally have!
It has been a funny week for the Anxious Ambler with a few health-related issues that have stalled me slightly. I won't go into too much detail here, now (although I think it could make for an interesting blog post sometime soon). But one small thing happened this week that I will share - because I'm sure you've been concerned about the state of my wee pinky toe post-West Highland Way.
My pinky toe hasn't been sore since I wrenched my boots off in Fort William. However I've been ignoring the post-blister state of the wee yin ever since then. On Wednesday the moment took me and I decided to have a look....then I couldn't resist just removing that wee bit of loose skin....then....I pulled my toenail off. I've lost a toenail! I couldn't help but feel...happy!? Only proper athletes lose toenails right? And now I'm one of them!
With a decent forecast for Saturday I decided it was time for me and my nine toenails to finish off the Borders Abbeys Way. After a lazy morning, Dave and I made our way south, eventually leaving Hawick at 12.50pm.
Ahead of us was 12 miles to Selkirk. 12 miles?! Without meaning to sound too flippant, 12 miles just seemed nothing now. My post-West Highland Way self is just itching for another challenge. In fact I have one up my sleeve - 12 mile walks are extremely good training. And I really don't want to turn my nose up at any walk, as I'm genuinely thrilled to get out there, and move. I just want to keep walking!
The first part of the walk took us out of Hawick quite quickly, and soon we were in the countryside. Thus began a stroll through the Border fields that would last for around...12 miles. This perhaps wasn't the most exciting stage of the walk, but it was simply pleasant and straightforward. And a great time of year for it, with wee lambies hopping around everywhere...
Not only did we see plenty of fluffy white things (sheep...as well as clouds), we also spotted a hare, a wren, and a majestic pair of roe deer, their white fluffy bums disappearing into the trees. As scared as I am of sheep, the two guard geese we passed near Ashkirk were pretty intimidating!
We plodded up a single track road for a while, before joining a forestry track and heading onto the Buccleuch Estate. The glimpes of Bowhill House were quite incredible. The panoramic views across to the Eildons were wonderful.
Soon we were free of the fallen trees, and shimmying our way round more fields, farms and fear-inducing sheep.
Eventually we reached Haining Loch, and the Haining mansion - impressive stuff. The ruined dovecote was also a favourite sight of the day.
On the downhill stretch into Selkirk we were joined by Dad and Robbie (this is becoming a common occurance!), out for a stroll. And a lie-down.
It has been such fun - I've had great weather, fantastic company, great walking, and have found an even deeper appreciation of a beautiful part of Scotland.
It went a little like this (not always in the right order or direction, but I found my own way):
St Boswells to Melrose, April 2012
Selkirk to Melrose, June 2012
St Boswells to Kelso, June 2012
Kelso to Jedburgh, November 2012
Jedburgh to Hawick, March 2013
Hawick to Selkirk, April 2013: this post!
I'd thoroughly recommend any and all of this walk to everyone. Fresh air, scenery, friendly people and Borders banter. Ye cannae whack it.
So what's next?
More long-distance trails in stages, and hopefully in their entirety. I hatched a plan last weekend, whilst down on Yellowcraigs beach, to walk the John Muir Way pretty soon. Which seems appropriate to say on this day - John Muir day! There's also a very exciting Munro plan being formulated too....watch this space!
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