Day 10 St. Mary’s Loch to Traquair

Click/tap on the image to get a map of the day’s walk

After an excellent breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at Hartleap we took some time to wander around their stunning ‘showpiece’ garden – surely one that should be opened to the public once a year at least.  It’s beautiful.

Noelene drove me back to the start of today’s walk at the southern end of St. Mary’s Loch and I set off in good weather at about 10 o’clock continuing along the path that follows the eastern shore of the loch, past the sailing club and caravan site and thankfully away from the ‘madding crowd’ – there were a couple of people about, more than I’d seen for a few days, on the trail at least!

The walk along the shore went through an ancient forest of impressive trees (Douglas Fir?) and at the head of the loch crossed a road onto a good path which meandered over moorland, through more forest and climbed over Blake Muir.

It started raining and for a couple of hours the waterproofs were continually on and off once again, though as usual I was just as wet inside as out, which does rather challenge the concept! I continued along a trail through another large stand of commercial forest and onto a long and quite gentle downhill path to a road (the B709) to Traquair, which is where I thought, sensibly enough, the Traquair Arms was located. It wasn’t. So I then had to walk about 1½ more miles into Innerleithen, which is where it actually is.

After checking in and doing my usual post-walk boot cleaning, prepping for the next day, etc., we had a drink in the pub – a very nice Tempest Brewery IPA – and then to the bright lights of Innerleithen to the excellent Saffron Indian Restaurant for a very good curry. Then, as on all nights on this walk, to bed earlyish for a fairly good sleep ahead of tomorrow’s longer walk – though the bed was too soft and the duvet of Arctic thickness. Hey ho!

Click HERE to download the .gpx file of today’s walk

Some Photos From Day 10