Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Walk & Event Reports

Wednesday 8th May 2019

Bluebell Walk - Langholm

Leader: Nancy McLure

Report & Photos by

Nancy McLure

The weather did not look too promising at 9.45 but the rain soon cleared and it was great walk. Five others joined me and we set off in a northerly direction taking in the woods near the pheasant pens. The colder weather has meant the bluebells are still very blue and looked stunning against the fresh green of the trees. We had a look at the different stages of pheasant breeding before we reached the beautiful Duchess bridge over a very shallow River Esk. We then crossed the road to Eskdalemuir and followed the track to the Becks admiring the variety of wild flowers growing in the felled wood. We enjoyed our lunch at the end of Gaskell’s wood before negotiating the rather steep entry point of the Kernigal wood and eventually following a mountain bike track to the ancient oak tree, aptly named The King of the Kernigal. The carpets of bluebells in the next section back into Langholm were breathtaking and we also met Colin Waitt and his dog walking the same way. He carves animals and birds out of wood for a living and he outlined his plans for a two-headed dragon from a felled tree in the Buccleuch Park. This is part of plans to update the park with an Alice in Wonderland theme. We concluded the walk with refreshments at the Buccleuch Centre with no muddy boots or wet gear in sight. Thanks to Alison for backmarking and thanks to all who came.

Nancy