WITH the winds eased compared with the previous two days, nineteen members of the Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club met at Melrose, all appropriately dressed for the wet conditions forecast.

Owing to the conditions, the proposed walk was reduced in length and commenced by walking to Newstead along Priorswalk, the route used by masons when building Melrose Abbey.

On reaching Newstead, apparently reported to be one of the oldest villages in Scotland, we started a steady climb towards the Eildon Hills, passing near Rhymer’s Stone, the spot where Thomas the Rhymer was whisked away by the Queen of Fairies only to return after seven years having been given the gift of prophesy.

On reaching the boundary of the Eildon Hills it was a short distance before we left the hills using the path in the direction of Newtown St Boswells. At this stage the rain had eased but the conditions underfoot began to deteriorate becoming slippery and muddy.

Passing through Eildon Hall Woods, then along edges of soggy fields, we reached the Bowden to Newtown road, crossing straight over we continued until reaching the St Cuthbert’s Way. Following the St Cuthbert’s Way with the muddy conditions becoming serious and unavoidable in parts, we reached the village of Bowden.

Taking advantage of the shelter in the village, lunch was taken.

Adjacent to the shelter is the Pant Well being one of two surviving public water supplies dating back to 1861, the well being fed by a natural spring on Bowden Common.

Having finished lunch it was time to head for the Common, with two options to get there the leader decided to stick to his proposed route knowing that it was the muddiest option, so we continued down the main street before taking a hedge lined track towards the Curling Pond now a small wildlife reserve, continuing in single file over the common we reached the road to Melrose at Longleefoot.

It was now necessary to walk a short distance along the road to reach Bowdenmoor Reservoir, with the prospects of more muddy slippery conditions ahead, four ladies decided to continue back to Melrose along the road.

The remainder of the group continued alongside the reservoir passing through another soggy field to reach the Eildon Hills, after a short climb we picked up a narrow path which contoured around the north side of the Mid Hill then descending through more mud to reach the St Cuthbert’s Way, which took us back to finish at Melrose having clocked up 8.5 glorious muddy miles.

The B group, all two of them, sensibly stayed local to Melrose and presumably avoided the bad conditions experienced by the A group.

The next walk will be on Sunday, January 25, starting at Denholm village hall at 10am, followed by lunch at The Cross Keys.

Further details from Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214.