The day before the final walk to Easter Road.
I didn’t have a lot of mileage left to cover and there wasn’t a specific route in my head to walk so decided to head to somewhere totally new to reflect the many times I’ve done this on my journey. Abbey St Bathans and Edin’s Hall Broch, just outside Duns. Never heard of either of them until today’s walk.
After a beautiful drive through country lanes, we arrived in the little/tiny village of Abbey St Bathans – originally a priory established in the 12th century. And set off along the Whiteadder Water. We took a left at ‘Toot corner’ aiming for the Broch but decided to take a detour to climb to the top of Cockburn Law to take in the views. The weather was feeling particularly wild and undecided so after a short stop being buffeted around at the top we headed back down. We did get lost for a while in the gorse bushes (blind leading the blind) but eventually made it to the Broch itself.
We had a look around and selected an iron age room to have our lunch in. It’s memories like these I will always treasure. Sitting inside a 2,500 year old broch, in the middle of somewhere totally new, with 3 fabulous friends, munching on a cheese sarnie (or coronation chicken wholemeal grain deluxe if you’re Shirley Mc). Moments in time.
The final part of the walk was a bit of a comedy as the weather took a turn for the worse and we were englufed in a swirling hail storm with nowhere to hide. I don’t think I envisaged ever walking any of this journey backwards but needs must in these situations – my poor hail pummelled face couldn’t take it anymore.
We finished off the day with a rickety bridge and some baby lambs who must have only been a couple of days old. The circle of life.
Debbie's 500 Miles for Parkinson's UK 