Towford Circular via Chew Green

Today's walk involved a longer car journey than usual (about 70 miles), taking us over Carter Bar into Scotland, taking the first right onto a c road to Edgerton Mill which we followed for about 3 miles before turning right at Pennymuir. After crossing a ford at Towford we parked on the grass verge near a cattle grid.

Now for the walk! From the cars we set off in warm sunshine crossing a stile to join a footpath signposted 'Dere Street' - an old Roman Road running from York through the Cheviot Hills to well North of the Tweed in Scotland. We followed a clear track leading up to a stile and gate, only to find that the farmer had strung a strand of electric fence across the access. Very considerate! Syd lifted the wire with his walking pole and the rest limboed underneath. The path continued up the hill with views to the North of the distinctive 3 Eildon Hills, the Trimontium, at Melrose.

We continued along the track following the Border Ridge around Gaisty Law. The rain eased and the mist lifted occasionally offering us glimpses of the surrounding Cheviot Landscape.

We eventually joined the Pennine way and followed this south to Chew Green, the site of a Roman Fort - although a lot of imagination is needed to picture what it looked like. The rain had now ceased and we stopped here for lunch.

We drove back over Carter Bar and stopped at The Knowesgate Inn for refreshments. The beer was of poor quality! But apparently the coffee & tea were OK.