Well, we did it! 62 miles (100km) in 28 hours of walking. Miscellaneous blisters (photos available!) and minor sprains, but nothing to stop us enjoying the magnificent scenery and fresh air in the remoter parts of Border Country.

We set off from Melrose 6.30pm Fri 11^th Sept with Cindy driving support vehicle to Maxton Kirk 10 miles away. After climbing the Eildon Hills we donned head torches for the rest of the journey, much of it by the River Tweed (beautiful in daylight but we couldn’t see it). At Maxton we camped by the Kirk and were up and off at 6am after breakfast by the camper van, along Dere Street and down to the River Teviot, through fields and lanes to Cessford Castle for a half hour lunch break. Then on to Morebattle and up a steep and long climb onto Wideopen Hill. It was hot! There was hardly a breath of wind… but at the top we enjoyed a 360　degree panorama right across the Borders almost to the sea. Down to Town Yetholm for a 20 minute break and then we followed the end bit of the Pennine way for a couple of miles before crossing the border into England. Down to Hethpool and we had completed 36 miles altogether. Cindy picked us up and delivered us to Kirknewton where Christian Aid had organised a camp for those (including us) doing the 26 mile Midnight Marathon along the remainder of St Cuthbert’s Way. Food and bed by 9pm. Up at 2am (can it really be Sunday?)for the earliest breakfast we had ever had… then away in the dark at 3am across the hills to Wooler. We got lost briefly, unable to see any of the other walkers, but we soon picked up the trail again. Daylight saw us crossing vast tracts of varied countryside with 24 others, past St Cuthbert’s cave where monks had hid the saint’s coffin from the Vikings and on to Fenwick where Christian Aid gave us a meal and sent us off on the last leg to Holy Island….. almost 7 miles, most of it on the Causeway. We got a heroes welcome arriving at the back of the group (after all they had only done 26 miles…we had done 62) at 3pm and enjoyed a short pilgrims’service led by a monk (Brother David) and then retired to The Ship, a local hostelry. Home by 9pm… what an amazing experience! One we will never be able to repeat…. Incredible scenery, perfect weather, and wonderful fellowship. MIKE, IAN, MATTHEW & STEVE