Pennine way - Day 18: Windy Gyle to Kirk Yetholm

Free advertising

The last day.

21km

The End.

Just have to walk a little bit more.

That was the plan and of course in true English / Scottish weather fashion; it rained.

The taxi back to Windy Gyle, Mr. Gruber racing away, and off we set. No more days to go following our logic: it would be easy. The low cloud and Scottish Mist meant that we didn’t see much of this easy day. The rain made life pleasant. The fog made it grey. The wind made it loud. 

Bertha was still letting us know she had been through.

A fitting finale to our walk. 

A last reminder; ‘England my country, home of the free. Miserable weather.’ 

We had planned to climb the Cheviot, before entering Scotland. But, given that we couldn’t see it, we decided against going up into the cloud, sacred we would miss the top and just keep going. Apparently, not much of a view and boggy to boot.

FYI: The Cheviot is entirely in England.

The Glorious Twelfth wasn’t so glorious here. Rain and fog save the grouse. But there is still time for their party, tomorrow.

Right: Mr. Gruber

Vannessa and dog hadn’t got the taxi back with us yesterday. 
Having a plan to sleep in a mountain Refuge Hut. Just before the hut we met a walker, we asked if he had seen a lady and a dog. A popular question apparently, Mr. Gruber had also enquired.  He hadn’t and we worried, briefly. Another 20m and we were in the hut. No bodies.

The guest book contained a message from Vanessa. She and dog had spent a pleasant night and had even been visited by the air force. After she had made house, a helicopter came flying by hovering round until she went out and waved. 

Refuge Hut

They had waved back and left.

FYI: this type of wave is best accomplished with your arms below your head. As arms above your head 'Y' means yes, I need help.

The army must have a standing watch on the place – training. They had seen, and reported someone going into and not coming out of the hut, a lady too. So, they sent someone to check – in the form of a helicopter. Not bad service.

The weather

The walk into Kirk Yetholm is of course a big anti-climax. As is the end of any achievement.

Sometimes the journey is the important thing.

Almost

There

Finishing is both good and bad. We all took photos under the Border Hotel sign. In the rain. We had our free drink – we didn’t ask but I guess we look like walkers.

Son suggested turning around.

We had dinner, a beer, with my father and Mr. Gruber.

The End.

It even says so on the sign.

Now to plan for next year’s adventure. Somewhere hotter, geologically and geographically different. 

No bogs and maybe some wildlife – live wildlife that is.

		Cumulative
Distance Walked	21km	409km
Start Point	Windy Gyle
End Point	Kirk Yetholm
Via	Not the Cheviot
General Comments Parting gift That’s why we pay taxes The End

Our Other Walks

Walking Across Slovakia