Ten members for this walk left Canonbie at 09-00 and walked to the south end of the village passing some early daffodils from where we headed for the Esk riverbank and followed it downstream pausing briefly at the confluence of the rivers Esk and Liddel Water.

Not far from the border we crossed the A7 and up a minor road for just short of a mile then onto a track through Woodhouselees Plantation leading to and through Tinnishall farm.

 

Taking the next left along more tracks these returned us to Canonbie at approx 11-10 for coffee and an additional member who was joining us for the second half of the walk, the first half being 6.3 miles.

Suitably refreshed eleven of us departed at about 11-30 and headed north along the old A7 crossing the river Esk bridge which we would cross again on our return nine miles later!

 

After passing the sawmill and crossing the Byreburn we took the route up through the woods passing Fairy Loup waterfall on the way, after identifying the location of the old Byreburn railway viaduct but sadly no remains of it we emerged onto a minor road. Turning right uphill and pausing briefly at the south end of what was the viaduct we continued onto the highest point of the day before taking a left and a couple of field paths down to Rowanburnhead.

Along the track passing the "tin man" where we had a group photo taken before stopping at Rowanburn for lunch, 10-44 miles.

 

After observing three "runner ducks" we followed the old Langholm railway line southwards towards Riddings viaduct. This viaduct is currently undergoing some refurbishment work so we continued to the north end of it hoping to gain access to it but it was all fenced off so not able to access it. However in connection with the work a flight of steps had been built which gave access to the riverbank (Liddel Water)on the Scottish side, the other end being in England, some of the group descended/ascended then back to the original route.

 

Along a minor road then a left down to the Liddel Water and followed it downstream to almost the confluence of it and the Esk. 

About half a mile before this a brief stop was made to explain why the England/Scotland border line leaves the river before returning to it.

 

After turning twice near the confluence it was upstream alongside the river Esk to Canonbie stopping briefly at the church graveyard to tell the group about a tragedy that took place in 1696 when 28 people perished and their gravestones are up alongside the wall.

From here a short walk back across the aforementioned bridge to the car and finish at approx 15-45, having walked 16.25 miles.

 

Andy Armstrong