John Buchan way

We head back to the gardens late morning to collect our walking boots and put together a packed lunch. Then, we head for Stobo, to pick up the trail at Easter Dawyck.

The map and path disagree, but we soon find ourselves on a earmarked, muddy route at the edge of a field. Kerry sinks ankle deep, so starts off with a wet foot. But we get into our stride.

It’s a warm, overcast day. Ideal for walking. We climb up, out of the Stobo bakery and descend into Manor valley. There’s a herd of black cows with calves, so we hop into the next field to get around them. Getting back onto the path involves jumping a barbed wire fence - which we manage without injury or ripped clothes.

A picnic by the stream near Cademuir, and then it’s up the bridle way and across the top of the heights towards Peebles. It’s relatively busy here, with runners and families and youth all wandering about in the spring green.

We stop at Roddy’s to make use of the facilities before collecting my car and heading home. And then into town for a meal with Angus and a Rozi Plain gig.

But Angus is stuck in Kinghorn because of a signal failure, so Kerry and I eat alone. And then it turns out that due to calendar clumsiness we’ve arrived at the gig 10 days late - it was on the 8th not the 18th.

Disappointed, we head home to rest.