Day Four

On the morning of Day Four, we headed further North. Our first stop was the Ford and Etal Estate. We wanted to visit the two Antiques shops in Ford Village, but one was unfortunately shut. The other however, was quite delightful, The Horseshoe Forge. It was used as a Blacksmiths shop until the early 1970's and it still contains the forge fireplace. Just look at that Doorway! They had a wonderful range of reupholstered furniture and some vintage clothing. I was very good and came away with just a 1970's hat. 

We then carried on further North and crossed the border into Scotland through Coldstream, or as it said on the sign, "The First True Border Toon". Love it. We headed on to Kelso as we knew there was an Abbey and also a Tourist Information Centre. They Abbey was wonderful, a slight Pinkish tone to the stone. I must say, the Lady in the Tourist Information Centre was wonderful. She gave us so many ideas of things to do in the Scottish Borders and gave us the best suggestion, like ever, but more on that to come.  Kelso itself, was rather wonderful. It had a feeling on a somewhere like Brugge. It has a cobbled square with four cobbled Roads leading from it.

So, the wonderful Lady in the Tourist Information Centre, said that we simply had to go to Scotts View. So off we went. Boy, we were not disappointed. The view overlooks the Valley of the River Tweed and it reputed to be one of the favourite views of Sit Walter Scott. I can see why. It was amazing. The bend in the River, the lush green trees and fields and those hills - those hills!

We sat at the Scotts View for sometime because it was so breathtakingly beautiful but also so we could have our Picnic. We also read some of the leaflets we had been given and decided to go to a Tartan Maker in Selkirk. On the way to Selkirk we went through Melrose - such a pretty, pretty village! Their Abbey was even Pinker than Kelso's.

You see, I have a Scottish surname, a very old Scottish name, one from the 12th Century. We have three Tartans and there's still a Clan Chief. But I have never owned any of our Tartan, only seen pictures of it. Gosh, this place was a delight. We spent an age looking through the Tartan Catalogues, just marvelling at the beauty of them all. We found our three Tartans - the modern, ancient and weathered. We bought my Husband the family Scarf. Lochcarron was so beautifully done, so many nice little touches like Spools of Thread, it was just a shame we had missed the Weaving Tour.

Whilst in Selkirk we also stopped at the Baxters Shop - it was the size of a Supermarket! We only stopped for sheer curiosity but the whole Deli vibe to the place was lovely. Good job our bellies were full from our Lunch otherwise we would have spent a fortune!

Our next destination was Jedburgh and it was time for another Abbey. The arches just blew me away on this 12th Century Augustinian Abbey. While we were in Jedburgh we saw a War Memorial and I just happened to glance at it and see a my family name. I've never seen my family name on a Memorial commemorating an individual. It was really strange.

I love, love, love this sign! It really made me giggle.

We decided to take the A68 out of Jedburgh, through the Nortumberland National Park to get back to the Caravan. We saw huge wooded areas being felled on the Lothian Estate. It gave the landscape a rather eerie,  We wound our way up and down the hills, round and round bends and then saw a sign saying Border Crossing parking 1m. Well, we just had to stop and there was the most amazing view of the Scottish Borders and a very large stone with Scotland on one side and England on the other.

Whilst we were there we got buzzed by this Beast...and the another one followed. It so so very loud! I was quite sad to leave Scotland but it was getting late in the day and we were a long way from Woller.

We then continued on the A68 to the village Otterburn through the Otterburn Ranges, complete with their MOD Red Flags, before routing North to Rothbury. By this time our tummies were rumbling for our Dinner, so we went to the Anglers Arms at Longframlington. Steak and Ales Pie for me and the most mammoth Fish and Chips for the Boy. It is a lovely pub that had a genuine Pullman Railway Carriage as a restaurant. The pub is full of interesting signs and things to read on the walls and the service extremely friendly. Completely yummy food too!

Fortified by our Dinner, we wanted to watch the Sunset and took the Road to Ingram. We followed the Breamish Valley Route and it was the perfect end to a lovely day. Hundreds of Sheep with their Lambs, not a soul to be seen, the River Breamish running alongside the the Road, beautiful Iron Bridges and more of those hills. Lush green hills. Oh how I love hills especially when they converge in a Valley. Plus the sunset was pretty spectacular too.