Hadrian's Wall Path: There & Back

Caught the first No 93 bus of the day from the centre of Carlisle to Kirkandrews on Eden to walk back to our hotel.  We arrived to start our walk at 1pm.  This late start is why we've used our bikes on the previous days.   The weather was good again and we soon got into our stride.   Passed a homemade swing in a tree.  Someone had made it to resemble a horse:  it was brilliant although my photo taken balancing on uneven ground on a 45 degree slope, doesn't do it justice!  We also crossed Sourmilk Bridge which, we found out later, was near Milestone 69.   On our way to Grinsdale we passed two women walking the path West to East.  They were much younger than us so we did say we would meet them again later when they would inevitably catch us up and pass us.  They did, in Grinsdale however we could see they had missed the path and after we waved them back, they overtook us again. The walk along side the river was at the top o...

Found the perfect place to park in Burgh by Sands -  a Village Car Park with a donation box.   Find it on the other end of the recreation ground next to the Greyhound Inn.   Today we set out on bikes to cover the long flat stretch of road back to Drumburgh.  We decided to head into the wind on the outward journey and coast back with it on the return.  A good plan. This three mile stretch of road follows a dismantled railway line which serviced Port Carlisle.  The road is open to marshes on one side and an embankment on the other.  I can imagine how bleak this section of HWP could be on a drizzly December day with the tide lapping at your feet but our day was bright and sunny with no fear of flooding. It was a huge feeling of elation returning to where we had arrived the day before:  a true sense of "we did it".   The return ride was far more leisurely with time to talk to the cows and sheep and admire Boustead Hill from the emb...