ON Sunday, November 16, 24 walkers assembled at the Council car park in Newtown St Boswells for a Tweed walk.

The weather was on the dreary side, but dry, and we were hopeful the mist would lift.

The A group set off east, walking down past the Mart, where we turned left to head down through the woodland coming out at Dryburgh suspension bridge. We are now on the St Cuthbert’s and Abbey ways. On across the bridge we took a climb up to look at the amazing monument called the Music of Nature with its beautiful lady figures.

On we went passing the gates of Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, where we turned down a track to our right then followed it down to the river.

We had an easy walk along the haugh, turning up a small incline through the woods, where there are loads of fungus. Coming out at the hamlet of Clintmains, we continued down and across the B6404 onto Meroun Estate, where the maps came out to find the best route through. We decided to go right and pass the Kirk on the estate, turning down a grassy track that we prayed would take us out at Meroun suspension bridge.

We eventually came out at the river and swung east for a mile and thankfully the green bridge appeared through the mist. With care, one at a time we crossed. Boy does it swing and this was a still day.

All safe across, we turned west and headed for Maxton Church for lunch.

Duly fed and still heading west, we went down through the woodland and down a lot of steep stairs to the river. Again we turned off to the left, climbing another set of stairs, passing Benrig House with its amazing Crystal Well, which was used to power electricity for the big house above.

The weather was holding out, be it muddy under foot, and we were almost home.

Over St Boswells golf course and back up to the village, however we should have followed the track for Dryburgh suspension bridge, and came out at the A68 instead. We headed back for a mile to our cars in Newtown, having completed 11.4 miles.

The B group, all six of them, had a good walk to, and around, Mertoun coming back by the golf course and through The Holmes, where they were amazed at all the donkeys at the Sanctuary. They clocked about eight miles.

The next walk is on November 30, meeting in Selkirk at 9.30am. This is a moderate walk, for further details contact Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214.

Marion McQueen.