Day 46 (21.2 miles)

Byrness to Jedburgh
– An unforgettable days walk in the border hills

Over dinner last night I’d met a few other walkers. Taff (a Scotsman) doing JOGLE (LEJOG the other way). Richard (a New Zealander) & Emma (from Sheffield) doing the last bit of the Pennine Way.

We all had breakfast together at 8am. I managed to be the first one out of the door to tackle my day (I had the furthest to walk). Today I’d be leaving England & I’d reach the my final country for this walk. Scotland.

My guidebook describes the climb out of Byrness as “brutally steep” – that’s pretty accurate, but I reckon a good steep climb at the start of a walk sets you up for the rest of the day.

Once I’d reached the top and onto the ridge, I had a range of Cheviot Hills ahead of me that would flirt with the Scottish border all the way to Kirk Yetholm & the end of the PW. My route would only take me along the ridge as far as ‘Chew Green’ – the site of a Roman army camp, then follow ‘Dere Street’ – a Roman road older than Hadrian’s wall, to Jedburgh. But I had 7 miles of easy walking through the hills with incredible views of the surrounding landscape, it was magical.

As I approached Dere Street and my queue to leave the PW. I could see for miles in all directions. The weather today would be hot sunshine for long periods between the heavy, brief, haily downpours. I’d have plenty of time to prepare for the downpours.

As I crossed the border into Scotland and walked along Dere Street the views continued to be fantastic. I don’t think I’ve seen anything this spectacular since Cornwall!

Following Dere Street to Jedburgh couldn’t have been any simpler. Just walk in a straight line for about 14 miles. Parts of it have been adopted into quiet country lanes, but most undulates through the Scottish countryside with only very big, ‘Brown hares’ for company.

Some stats:
Mileage count: 808.9
Pint count: 179
economy: 36.2mpg
Malt Whisky count: 8